Much Promise of Gold
2024-09-09, Day 3
Golden streaks of Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera) and ribbons of dark spruce descend the slopes along the lower reaches of Hoge Creek several kilometers upstream from its junction with the Donjek River, Kluane National Park, Yukon.
Taking in this scene as we picked our way amongst the many loose stones, I was somehow reminded of a history of native America class I took as an undergraduate in which we read translated portions of Columbus’s journals. Amongst the things I remember 30 years later is the singular focus Columbus brought to his search for precious metal, and above all gold. The phrase “much promise of gold” made frequent appearances, as did the observation that the natives were easily enslaved. Looking back on this history, it strikes me that I much prefer the ephemeral type of gold over which it is impossible to quarrel.
Much Promise of Gold
2024-09-09, Day 3
Golden streaks of Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera) and ribbons of dark spruce descend the slopes along the lower reaches of Hoge Creek several kilometers upstream from its junction with the Donjek River, Kluane National Park, Yukon.
Taking in this scene as we picked our way amongst the many loose stones, I was somehow reminded of a history of native America class I took as an undergraduate in which we read translated portions of Columbus’s journals. Amongst the things I remember 30 years later is the singular focus Columbus brought to his search for precious metal, and above all gold. The phrase “much promise of gold” made frequent appearances, as did the observation that the natives were easily enslaved. Looking back on this history, it strikes me that I much prefer the ephemeral type of gold over which it is impossible to quarrel.