07-04-2021, 02:54 PM
Galen Clark: Yosemite Guardian by Shirley Sargeant
Galen Clark was one of the original pioneers to visit and live in Yosemite Valley. He helped discover (white man) the Mariposa and Fresno Groves of Big Trees. (Why don't we know about the Fresno Grove of Big Trees. They were chopped down). This book was written in 1963 and it's odd the author got to talk to people that actually knew Clark, who died in 1910. Clark was responsible for the hotel area that eventually became the Wawona Hotel. He had a range of mountains and one peak named after him. He was the last person buried in the Yosemite cemetery.
But even after reading the book, I'm still unsure why he is still so revered. He was a terrible businessman. He was constantly in debt. I think he died still owing his brother money on a 50 year old debt. He was one of the first and last Guardians of Yosemite when it was still just the Yosemite Grand and not the National Park. I got the feeling he told really good stories to people who knew him, but those stories aren't recorded. For a long time he was Mr. Yosemite. Everyone that came to the park wanted to see him, but again it's at a remove from the story and you don't get a sense of him.
Galen Clark was one of the original pioneers to visit and live in Yosemite Valley. He helped discover (white man) the Mariposa and Fresno Groves of Big Trees. (Why don't we know about the Fresno Grove of Big Trees. They were chopped down). This book was written in 1963 and it's odd the author got to talk to people that actually knew Clark, who died in 1910. Clark was responsible for the hotel area that eventually became the Wawona Hotel. He had a range of mountains and one peak named after him. He was the last person buried in the Yosemite cemetery.
But even after reading the book, I'm still unsure why he is still so revered. He was a terrible businessman. He was constantly in debt. I think he died still owing his brother money on a 50 year old debt. He was one of the first and last Guardians of Yosemite when it was still just the Yosemite Grand and not the National Park. I got the feeling he told really good stories to people who knew him, but those stories aren't recorded. For a long time he was Mr. Yosemite. Everyone that came to the park wanted to see him, but again it's at a remove from the story and you don't get a sense of him.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm