50 pages • 1 hour read
John McPheeEncounters With the Archdruid: Narratives About a Conservationist and Three of His Natural Enemies
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1971A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Part 1, Pages 35-75Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 1: “A Mountain”
Part 1, Pages 35-75 Summary
McPhee, Park, Brower, and the two medical students continue to explore the region, taking a path towards a copper deposit near Plummer Mountain. The group leaves the main trail, attempting to navigate difficult terrain full of thick vegetation, ledges, ravines, and cliffs. Park leads, despite his new boots hurting his feet. McPhee is experiencing pain due to a bone spur in his foot, while Brower frequently questions their route.
Eventually, they reach a broad alpine meadow named “the Golf Course” (36) by the developers of Kennecott Copper Corporation, which has been exploring the development of a golf course in the area. Park admires the area’s potential for mining, seeing the mountain’s rusty-looking rocks as indicative of copper deposits. Brower, however, opposes mining, arguing it would create a massive crater and destroy the wilderness. He references his time with the Sierra Club, which campaigned against such projects with provocative ads, including one claiming Kennecott’s mine would be visible from the moon.
They discuss the implications of mining, with Park arguing for its economic benefits and minimal environmental impact, citing successful reclamation projects in New South Wales. Brower counters, emphasizing the irreversible damage to the pristine wilderness and advocating for long-term conservation. They come across a Kennecott drill site, marked by a galvanized pipe and marked as “Kennecott's Drill Site No. 3” (40), symbolizing the looming threat of mining in this untouched landscape.
They wonder whether there really is copper around the area. Scanning for green rocks, which would signify the existence of the metal, they at first find no evidence of copper. Park identifies mineralized areas but sees no visible copper. They reach a trout stream, where they plan to cross and explore Miner’s Ridge. Park drinks from a spring, commenting that it could produce a copper nail if left long enough. They discuss the feasibility of extracting copper from seawater and the technological advancements needed for such processes.
The group finds another galvanized pipe in the streambed—evidence of previous prospecting. They decide to hike towards Image Lake, a small mountain lake, despite the difficult terrain. Park talks about the necessity of minerals for modern life, detailing their various sources and uses. Brower, however, emphasizes conservation and the intrinsic value of wilderness.
By mid-afternoon, they rest at a small stream, cooling their sore feet in the cold water. Park finds a blue-green stone, revealing the copper they’ve been searching for all day. Enthusiastic about their discovery, they search for more stones, with Brower and the two medical students also finding samples. The hikers fill a bag with stones, and then rest. Park explains the outdated 1872 mining law allowing unrestricted exploitation of public lands. He suggests modernizing the law to include environmental safeguards and smoothing the tense relationship between mining advocates and conservationists.
Despite painful feet from ill-fitting boots, Park leads the group towards Image Lake. Along the way, Park reflects on his long career and the importance of geology, while Brower emphasizes the need for conservation. Nearing Image Lake, Park confirms they are past the mineral deposit, noting the volcanic nature of the surrounding rock.
After a strenuous hike, the group arrives at Image Lake. Park and McPhee are exhausted, while the medical students are still energetic. Brower is elated, yodeling as they search for a campsite. Image Lake, though small and crowded with campers, still offers a scenic reflection of the great mountain. Despite the crowd, Brower feels the wilderness remains untouched after people leave.
Around a campfire, Park and Brower debate the impact of a potential copper mine. Park, seeing little harm from the mine, argues that miners appreciate wilderness and logging can be controlled. Brower insists mining would irrevocably damage the delicate ecosystem and divide the Glacier Peak Wilderness. He stresses the importance of preserving wilderness as a genetic reserve and limiting human impact.
Later, Brower sleeps on higher ground for more warmth and less humidity, while Park and McPhee, too sore to climb, sleep below. In the morning, they descend Miner’s Ridge towards the Suiattle River, navigating steep slopes and rough trails. Park’s painful feet force him to wear sandals. The trail becomes easier as they reach lower altitudes. The journey ends at a road, where a bulldozer works in the river.
Part 1, Pages 35-75 Analysis
The conflict between industrial interests viewing Nature as a Resource and environmental conservation remains central to the narrative as the group navigates the rugged terrain toward a copper deposit near Plummer Mountain. Park leads the exploration with an eye keenly focused on the potential for mining. Park’s admiration for the area’s mining potential comes from his perspective of opportunity and economic benefit. He argues that mining, if done responsibly, can coexist with the environment. Park’s references to successful reclamation projects, such as in New South Wales, illustrate his belief in the possibility of minimal environmental impact. However, Brower counters this viewpoint by highlighting the irreversible damage that such projects could inflict on pristine wilderness. His reference to the Sierra Club’s provocative ad campaign, which claimed that Kennecott’s mine would be visible from the moon, underscores his conviction that mining would devastate the landscape. The group’s discovery of a Kennecott drill site, marked by a galvanized pipe, among other signs of industry, serves as a tangible reminder of the looming threat of industrial encroachment in the untouched wilderness. The group’s search for evidence of copper yields only a few green stones, showing the elusive and often speculative nature of mineral extraction. This moment crystallizes the ongoing debate in a scene easy for readers to envision.
The difficulties the two interlocutors have as they climb the mountain are symbolic of their position in relation to the nature they are exploring. Park goes on the train in new boots—a mistake that any experienced hiker would know to avoid. As a result, his feet are constantly aching. Nevertheless, Park continues on the trail, eventually changing to another uncomfortable pair of shoes: “He finally took off his boots and put on his open leather sandals, deciding that bruises all over his feet would be preferable to the pain in his heels. His difficulty notwithstanding, he kept knocking rocks apart all day” (70). Park’s choice of boots and his perseverance against pain on the trail symbolizes the the industrialist’s relentless pursuit of resources despite the environmental and personal costs. It illustrates his unwavering belief in the necessity of resource extraction, even when faced with significant obstacles, and his willingness to endure discomfort for the sake of economic progress. This contrasts with Brower’s approach, which emphasizes harmony with nature and the importance of conservation, highlighting the fundamental differences in their philosophies regarding human interaction with the environment. Brower is described, throughout the hiking trip, as being at ease with the natural environment. Unlike Park, he is wearing comfortable, broken-in boots. He moves throughout the mountain with experience and is overjoyed by the contact with nature: “Brower was yodeling with pleasure. Brower yodels badly. The happier he seems to be, the more and the worse he yodels” (58). Brower’s yodeling transcends human language, symbolizing his symbiotic relationship with nature.
As the group reaches Image Lake, the scenic beauty of the area, despite its small size and crowded campsite, serves as a backdrop for the ongoing debate between Brower and Park. Around the campfire, their discussion encapsulates the fundamental tension between preserving wilderness as a genetic reserve and the perceived need for resource extraction to support human progress. Brower’s insistence on limiting human impact contrasts with Park’s view that mining can be controlled and that miners, like conservationists, can appreciate the wilderness. The narrative concludes with a descent towards the Suiattle River, symbolizing the journey’s return to civilization and the practical realities of industrial activity, symbolized by a bulldozer working in the river. This final image reinforces the persistent and pervasive influence of human activity on natural landscapes.
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