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Sunday, October 19, 2014

The wealthy in the Adirondacks

 While reading chapters 21-23 in Schneider’s book I was really surprised at the number of wealthy people that were attracted to the Adirondacks, and who decided to build great camps there.  I can understand traveling to the Adirondacks to relax in the wilderness by escaping the ‘evils’ and dirtiness of the city but it seems kind of strange to me to bring all of your luxuries and expensive amenities with you.  I thought the whole point of getting back to nature was to get away from all of the distractions of your usual modern amenities.


When I think about the visiting or experiencing wilderness, I think about hiking in a public place, camping in tent, and being low maintenance.  These millionaires obviously had different ideas; they viewed wilderness as something they could buy and enjoy while still enjoying all of the luxuries they have in the city.  They probably would never even imagine going to the Adirondacks if it meant that they had to tough it and be uncomfortable.  This has made me reflect on how people from different social backgrounds experience wilderness in different ways and that there is no correct way to experience wilderness. Both wealthy and poor can both obtain the same benefits and happiness from being in nature.
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1 comment:

  1. UnknownOctober 22, 2014 at 10:09 PM

    As we saw today after talking through our Great Camp designs, our social backgrounds definitely affect the way we go about experiencing the wilderness as a home (even a vacation home). We can often still leave our house, and our amenities, and go out into the playground that is the Adirondack Park, but we expect our plumbing and electricity to be there when we return. I also found it extremely interesting talking about the Great Camp owners' bringing their urban luxuries with them juxtaposed with the efforts of the philosophers at the Philosophers' Camp to leave all of that behind. Instead, they were attempting to absorb nature as they experienced it, bring it back to their city lives, and apply it.

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