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  11.28.00 This week's Modern Magellan features guest writer Tim Mars, who
has written about his experience in Yellowstone National Park. We hope
that you enjoy this issue.
Modern Magellan Editorial Team  The icy wind brushed past my face and reddened my uncovered cheeks
as I felt the lifeless twigs snap sharply under my feet. This was
the first time I had been on the western half of the United States,
and the cold Wyoming air was a sharp contrast to the warm Kentucky
sun to which I had become accustomed.I was well prepared for my first midnight hike in the beautiful Yellowstone National Park, and my backpack was loaded with the necessities of survival. My best friend Scott and I eagerly anticipated seeing what the locals had come to know as "The Cave." 
The Cave was located in a bluff that protruded from a wall of
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It was known only to the
people who spent a majority of time there, generally the workers
who were employed for summer jobs in the park (of which I was
one). It was a restricted area, which added to the danger and
excitement of the hike.In the darkness, the journey took on a feel of ominous beauty. The pitch-black night was an intimidating companion to the colossal landscape.  When we arrived at the canyon, we exited the densely wooded area to
realize that the moon was full, and the massive natural wonder was
perfectly illuminated. We stopped at the canyon and stared in awe.
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After a few moments, we began to search for The Cave. You see, The
Cave was very hard to find, and unless you had been informed of it,
you would not know that it even existed. Another one of the park
employees had told me about it and given me a brief idea of its
location. Scott and I searched for a boulder that was the landmark,
and after careful exploring, we found the location of The Cave and
prepared to enter.Before entering The Cave however, we had to climb over several boulders. Many of these were separated by gaps that could send your body rushing to the bottom of the canyon. Needless to say, it was exhilarating. After climbing the boulders, we had to actually scale down the side of the canyon to enter the area that nature had hollowed out for our enjoyment. We were finally in The Cave. 
Inside The Cave I sat in the "window" made of rock which provided
a breath-taking view of the canyon. The night sky was loaded with
stars that were all visible due to absence of pollution. We watched
the satellites circle the Earth and placed bets on which one could
go faster. I came to understand, on this particular voyage, the sheer immensity
of our beautiful planet. I realized how small I was, and how
beautiful life is.I felt as though I had become one with my habitat, and I wondered why I had ever lived in a city to begin with. Written by Tim Mars. Links to Yellowstone National Park Official Yellowstone Website Yellowstone.Net Yellowstone Links |
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