Kelly Cooke: Class on Aesthetic Tourism 12/3

Aesthetic Tourism

Kelly Cooke


Pilgrimage has been used throughout time for religious devotions. More recently, pilgrimage has also been transformed into an experience that can occur on wilderness trails. Long distance through hiking on trails such as the Appalachian trail and the Pacific Crest trail can result in a spiritual journey. While wilderness hiking, the trail is experienced and interpreted as more than an object. Sauntering through the wilderness is the result of viewing the trail with spiritual value. The alternative to sauntering is a more recent development in pilgrimage along wilderness trails or religious walks referred to as aesthetic tourism. Some approach the trails simply for it's beauty, which will be received. The trails will be what the person hiking them makes of it. Perception is key. While white blazers pilgrimage through their journey, many called yellow blazers cheat their way through it. That is a choice. The white blaze hikers experience an unbroken pathway through the wilderness which heightens their journey, whether for aesthetic or for pilgrimage. The aesthetic tourists see the trails as objects that reflect beauty and sublime. One distinction within the aesthetic tourists is whether they are simply tourists or sojourners. Sojourners experience the constituents of nature as more than objects and they also view themselves as visitors among the trail. This subdivision of the tourism transforms the values of the hiker. The scenic side of long distance hiking seems arbitrary but is actually important because it paved the way for spiritual journey among the trails. While the scenic side of trails may ignore the spiritual aspects, could it be necessary for the existence of pilgrimage on the trails?

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