by Brian O'Riley | Sep 14, 2023 | Fireside Talks, National Park
We have been talking a lot about bears lately. Most recently in “Where’s the Park, Papa?” Patrick McManus tells us: The park bears aren’t what they used to be either. Most of the bears you see along the roads look as if they’ve spent the past five...
by bill-youngs | Sep 14, 2023 | Fireside Talks, National Park
By Motorboat in Ross Lake National Recreation Area and North Cascades National Park During the fall of 2012 I spent several days at Ross Lake with my son, Ted, and my granddaughter, Oona, age four. Reviewing a video I made of the trip now several years later, I find...
by Brian O'Riley | Sep 14, 2023 | Fireside Talks, National Park
Again and again in History 453 we have encountered the question, what is wilderness? I would argue that one of the most useful concepts in answering this question is to do away with absolutes — with the idea that “wilderness” is an absolute. —...
by Brian O'Riley | Sep 14, 2023 | Fireside Talks, National Park
Tanzania Journal (2) Recurring Introduction: During August, 2021, I went to Tanzania with my family — eight of us in all. During this Fall Quarter I will post notes and images about our Safari for our course on the American wilderness. Now, of course, Tanzania...
by bill-youngs | Sep 14, 2023 | Fireside Talks, National Park
Fireside Talk: From Cheney to Patagonia November 18, 2021 During this Fall Quarter we have often discussed the concept of degrees of wilderness, both subjective and objective. Every Fall during the past ten years, I have taught the History of the American Wilderness...
by bill-youngs | Nov 21, 2022 | Fireside Talks, National Park
(Original post: 2016) This post is based on a visit I made several years ago to Peaks District National Park in England. As I wrote this I was at a hotel in Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. I mentioned this to underscore the worldwide character of the national park...
