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Last week, I ventured out to a Mountain called Mount Hua. My first source of amusement derives from
the fact that my professor shares this same name (though he denies any
correlation). The mountain is famous as
a religious site. Indeed, there are a
couple temples atop the mountain and a few prayer chambers carved into the
steep sides. However, I found this site
to be touched by modernity in ways that I found somewhat distasteful. It has become a destination for hikers, both
religious and recreational. So I am
inclined to excuse the transport systems and buses put in place to help people
arrive at the base of the mountain. But
then, I find cable cars running along either side of the mountain. There are food stands and gift shops littering
the top. Even Big Brother has found his
way atop the mountain in some of the more exclusive sights.
I have always fancied myself a bit of an outdoorsman. Growing up, I was taught how to read maps,
use a compass, pack a bag, and so on.
But one of the biggest lessons of all was a simple line, “Leave no
trace”. Essentially, when we find nature
untouched, clean and beautiful in its own right, there is no cause for people
to litter upon it and scar the landmark.
There are trails going up the mountain, simple and minimally
intrusive. These paths allow a person to
experience the might of the mountain. It
is a good thing for people to spend time out in nature. But there is something sacred about mountains
and nature in general. I believe this
sentiment was shared by those who put their prayer halls on this mountain. But my personal belief extends further to say
that such features in nature are meant to challenge us, to inspire, and instill
a sense of wonder. Those features are,
in some way, diminished when machines cover nature and circumvent the
challenges. Mount Hua was indeed quite a
sight, but the feeling that it was diminished persisted with every new hot dog
stand.
A particular perturbance was the presence of
cameras…everywhere. I don’t mean the
kind you yourself carry with you to recall the experience later. Chinese authorities have placed surveillance
cameras absolutely everywhere. One
exciting part of my hiking journey was a shimmy along a cliff with harnesses
and safety lines. This is about an
isolated a spot as you can find in the world.
Yet, as I rounded the corner and looked up, my eyes behold a big round
camera staring at us along our path. It
seems that nothing is left sacred.
Colton Stinger, of Elizabethtown, Ky., is a senior McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville, where he studies chemistry and political science.