Half Dome’s iconic picture is understood to many around the globe, however past this easy picture is the story of a mountain born of distinctive geology, reworked into an ecological island within the sky, and whose steep faces have impressed people for over 7,000 years. This e book explores the historical past of Yosemite’s Half Dome.
The e book begins 500 million years in the past and continues to the current day. Study Half Dome’s molten beginnings. Uncover its distinctive summit ecology. Hear the origin story that the Native Individuals knew. Really feel the exhilaration of the primary people to climb its steep faces. Learn tragic tales of dying. Tune in to the administration of a mountain that belongs to all. Lastly, discover inspiration from the wonder that our planet holds.
This e book is a superb useful resource for anybody visiting Yosemite, hikers and climbers who want to attain the summit, lovers of mountains, and readers of historical past. Included are a number of maps of the world, historic photographs and drawings, a timeline, and an index.
INTRODUCTION
For a number of years, I had the fortune to dwell within the shadow of Half Dome. I noticed its many moods by means of each season. I watched lightning pummel the summit and avalanches cascade down the granite slabs. On clear evenings, shadows chased the final golden rays of daylight up Half Dome’s face, and I loved the present from one of many Valley’s peaceable meadows. I additionally noticed people from around the globe create distinctive and exquisite connections with this spectacular mountain. For me, the sight of Half Dome all the time jogged my memory that I used to be house. For a lot of others, this granite monolith is a logo of power, freedom, wilderness, and perseverance towards the unimaginable. Numerous hikers and climbers view their ascents to the summit as emblematic of better challenges that they face of their lives outdoors of the mountains. As I witnessed the experiences of the mountain and the people who got here to witness it, I used to be impressed to inform Half Dome’s story.
Typically we hear the tales of a person’s ascent of a mountain. We study of the trials confronted by climbers and of their bodily, emotional, and religious struggles to succeed in the summit. Much less usually will we hear the story of a mountain. Whereas mountains might “converse” to our hearts and minds, they don’t converse our language. They’ve all the time been silent, unmoved guardians of a rarefied panorama the place people might go to however by no means stay. If a mountain may inform its life story, what wouldn’t it say?
The story begins with the geological historical past—Half Dome’s delivery and formation. It then explores the distinctive ecology of the summit of Half Dome. Following which are the Native American tales that talk of its religious creation. Readers will study Half Dome’s first encounters with Europeans. I’ve devoted ample house to a number of the most vital climbs on the Dome. All through the e book, I discover the historical past of the mountain as a public house. No mountain is with out tragic tales, and people too are on this e book.
The hope of this e book is to create a stronger connection between this land and the folks drawn to it. Once we perceive somebody’s (or one thing’s) story—the occasions which have formed their identification on this world—we are likely to have extra compassion for them. Why would we’d like compassion for a block of stone, so grand and previous to be nearly past our comprehension? The pure landscapes of this world have few defenses towards our eagerness to construct civilizations and tame the wilds. It’s more and more troublesome to search out wild areas on this planet. Our human presence dominates the panorama. We’ve grown distant from the land, inflicting us to lose compassion for the earth that has given us life. In a manner, we’ve got misplaced ourselves. But there’s hope within the wilderness that is still. We will nonetheless expertise these sacred areas. We may give ourselves to them, and obtain a lot in return, for nature is the perfect drugs.
Writer : Reidhead & Firm Publishers; Illustrated version (April 19, 2019)
Language : English
Paperback : 174 pages
ISBN-10 : 1940777798
ISBN-13 : 978-1940777795
Merchandise Weight : 7.2 ounces
Dimensions : 5.25 x 0.44 x 8 inches
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