Lindsey Pritchett - Ethnotourism as a Means of Encountering the Phenomena and Numina of Place

The twentieth century, in the United States, brought forth the creation of numerous trails that span thousands of miles. Collectively, there are at least four major trails that reach beyond the thousand mile mark. These are, running from North to South, the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and the recently completed Continental Divide Trial. The American Discovery Trail is one that runs from East to West, spanning the entire length of the U.S.A. It has become increasingly popular for Americans, or people of other nationalities, to travel to these trails and to engage in a form of enthnotourism titled “thruhiking.” The act of thruhiking takes the hiker on a long term journey, lasting anywhere between 3-6 months, sometimes even longer. This form of ethnotourism is to engage in the “culture” of the wild by cutting off from the outside world and the reliance on technology. In doing so, the individual opens themselves up to experiencing the phenomena and numina of a place, such as Native Americans do. Instead of having a primarily aesthetic relationship with place, we build a physical relationship through the struggle of reaching the place. The Appalachian Trail is a prime example of this in that you have to physically carry yourself and your world on your back to reach the sacred mecas dotted along the trail. On the trail, we encountered Laurel Falls. It was majestic and surprising. Also, it was a very private, intimate experience with nature as there were no roads or marks of civilization at the waterfall. It was a prime example of nature left in its own primitive state. Niagara Falls is another waterfall in America, perhaps one of the most grandiose in the world. Yet, the entire place is marked by tourism and gimmicks. The need for “souvenirs” of the experience is seen in the gift shops that line the place and they offer scenic boat tours that take you very near the base. This commercializes and detracts from the power the place holds. The power of the place is diminished to the aesthetic whereas, at Laurel Falls, the waterfall holds power because it is shocking. The sound of the waterfall echoes throughout the trees and there are rocks where you can sit and enjoy the view of this obscure structure. There is a sense of self-empowerment that is felt, too, in standing before the waterfall. Being the first surprise along the trail that we encountered, it seemed to say “there is something special about this place and, while the trails may be difficult, there will continue to be pleasant happenstances that will make the struggle worthwhile.” There is a sense of a “once in a lifetime” experience in standing before a waterfall in the wild whereas, at Niagara Falls, one has the thought that you can easily purchase a bus ticket and return at a later date.