Debbie Croft: Celebrating the way Yosemite inspires generations

With massive sheer cliffs of granite and sentinel pines on either side, a dark ribbon of pavement winds through the long, narrow river canyon on its way to Yosemite Valley. This magnificent piece of wilderness has inspired generations for centuries, resulting in photographs, paintings, drawings, stories, music and poetry.

“American Anniversaries” is a series of four musical compositions honoring Yosemite, written by Les Marsden and performed by the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra.

Recently the “American Anniversaries” project was awarded a generous grant. This will enable the orchestra to travel for live concerts in Yosemite’s gateway communities during the spring of 2016.

The MSO will open its 14th season with a concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, in the Fiester Auditorium of Mariposa County High School. The MSO is gaining recognition not only in the Yosemite region, but nationally and internationally.

For more information, visit www.mariposaartscouncil.org/mariposa-symphony-orchestra.

Earlier in October, Yosemite celebrated its 125th birthday. This event was the third of four historic milestones in the park’s recent history. Eight large birthday cakes were baked for the occasion and served after the crowd sang “Happy Birthday.” A thousand commemorative posters were given away.

“People were touched by the honoring of Yosemite’s earliest caretakers and the enthusiasm of its future caretakers,” said Ashley Mayer with Yosemite Public Affairs.

Visitors and park staff brought items to place inside a time capsule. A copy of the book “Inspiring Generations” was included, as well the 125th birthday commemorative poster, YNP pins, a couple of plastic toys, a park ranger uniform and a pine cone. The capsule will be opened in another 125 years on Oct. 1, 2140.

Scott Gediman, Yosemite public affairs officer, spoke of the 40,000 donors to Yosemite Conservancy who raised $15 million in 2015 alone for park restoration projects.

Also this year, YC contributed $1.6 million to numerous Youth in Yosemite Programs.

Youth programs span the entire range of a young person’s development – from earning a Junior Ranger program badge to restoring backcountry trails and receiving on-the-job training for future careers.

It’s no wonder the celebration of Yosemite and other treasured outdoor spaces is an ongoing event – one that takes place each time a visitor comes to experience the immense beauty of these unique and protected lands.

And each time I visit, it’s typical to see a photographer with a tripod and camera aimed at one of the falls, or an artist with her easel and paints and brushes, seated beside the road or in a meadow. The inspiration never ends.

As part of the birthday ceremony, an original song by Rain Perry titled “Yosemite” was performed by Johnathan McEuen. A CD recording was included in the time capsule. Here are a few lines:

“They don’t make landmarks out of ordinary spaces, only landscapes that have seen the most distress; 10,000 tons of ice are crushing you into a beautiful one of a kind; the thaw will come and you will be Yosemite.”

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 11:41 AM with the headline "Debbie Croft: Celebrating the way Yosemite inspires generations."