Adirondack Home
In my mind the Adirondacks clearly stick out as an obvious example of Cronon’s ideal that exists in today’s world. Interestingly (and I find, confusingly), though Cronon mentions the Adirondacks as an example of a national park created in the late 19th century, he does not later mention it as an example of the type of symbiotic relationship between man and nature that he envisions throughout the paper. Why do you think that is?
In almost every way, the Adirondack Park, which was declared a “forever wild” forest preserve in 1915, is Cronon’s ideal. It is home to the famed Adirondack Mountains and to 90% of all wildlife species found in the northwestern U.S. (Jenkins, X). But it is also home to another species: humans. Approximately 137,000 people live in the Park year-round. There are roads, towns, villages, hotels, and amusement parks within the Blue Line. In the foreward to The Adirondack Atlas, Bill McKibben wrote, “[the Adirondack Park] is the earth’s single great example of successful ecosystem restoration. But if that is all that the visitor notices, then they miss what may bet the park’s real glory—the fact that all this wilderness coexists with human settlement. That this is not Yellowstone—that it is something far more real, and hence far more useful as a model” (Jenkins, VIII).
As expressed by Bill McKibben, the coexistance of people and nature within the Blue Line defines the Adirondacks as a place. As McKibben emphasized, the Adirondacks are distinguishable from every other state or national park because of this single feature. By its very nature, the Park exudes a sense of morality that others have already identified as a model for how humans can—and should—live in this world (Jenkins, VIII). This is not to say that the Park is perfect; it has suffered serious deforestation and other man-inflicted wounds throughout its history. However, I think Cronon would have to agree that the Adirondacks currently stand as the best example of how to overcome the trouble with wilderness.
For anyone who lives or has lived in the Adirondacks-- does it seem like this is the case? Is there a particular sense of "home" in the Park (as Cronon indicates is important to overcoming the trouble with wilderness)? I suspect that the answer is yes, but since I have never lived in the Adirondacks, I don't want to jump to conclusions.
As you have noted, the Park is not without its imperfections. Although the blue line encompasses both wilderness and human activity, these two spheres are in constant conflict. As outsiders, we view the Adirondacks as a place to enjoy the wilderness and we forget it is the tourist attractions that ultimately provide the residents with a source of income. This past summer I worked at The Big Moose Inn, and much to my surprise, the question I was asked the most by people making reservations was “How close are you to Water Safari?”.
Yet although the residents of Adirondack Park wish to utilize its resources to benefit their local economy, it is also their home, and as Cronon says, they have an inherent interest in preserving it. The small population, harsh winters, and isolated towns make the Park a very difficult place to live, but these rugged characteristics are what the residents love about it and wish to preserve for for future generations. In this respect, I truly believe that Adirondack Park has overcome the trouble of wilderness.