Abbee Fries - The Beholding Eye: Five Views of the Same Scene – Pine Creek Gorge (PA Grand Canyon)

 

The Beholding Eye: Five Views of the Same Scene – Pine Creek Gorge (PA Grand Canyon)

Photo taken by Abbee Fries

Much of our perspective on life comes from our background and our upbringing. This is partially why many people have different opinions on certain circumstances and situations in life. I think different opinions and perspectives our extremely important when shared respectfully to help improve society as a whole.

            This is a photo of the beautiful Pine Creek Gorge also known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. It is 47 miles long and 1,000 ft. deep (“Pa Grand Canyon”). It was formed during the Ice Age and is now managed by the Tioga State Forest District as a natural area protected by the government (“Pa Grand Canyon”). Today, the canyon is used as a natural place for people to site-see, hike the trails, bike the rail trail, kayak and white water raft the creek, fish, snowshoeing, ride horses, bird watching, and simply just enjoy nature.

            From this view, 5 people could interpret this in incredibly different ways. Hypothetically, this is a completely different scene for an ecologist, hiker/biker, contract developer, spiritual being, and a small child. Despite being the exact same scene, these people will have completely different views of the scenery in front of them. That is what makes life such an interesting experience for everyone.

            An ecologist is someone who studies the environment and how everything interacts with each other. As an ecologist, this view is somewhat overwhelming because of all the interactions you know are happening beneath the surface to make this ecosystem what it is. An ecologist at Pine Creek Gorge would find the diverse ecosystem and geological formations in this area fascinating. The combination of forests, wildlife, and creek flowing throughout the middle of the gorge provides an immense amount of areas for an ecologist to study and observe. The PA Grand Canyon provides many opportunities for an ecologist to observe the interconnectedness of different species and natural processes within the canyon's environment. An ecologist might also be wondering about the amount and variation of native plants, animals, and insects in this area, as the more native organisms in an area, the healthier the environment is.

A hiker/biker at Pine Creek Gorge would love to explore this area because of its countless areas to participate in their hobbies. Avid hikers and bikers are drawn to the Pine Creek Gorge partly for its natural beauty and partly for the opportunities it has. The landscapes are breathtaking, the terrain varies based on the area you are in the canyon, and the trails are well-maintained. Pine Creek Gorge’s opportunities to conquer challenging, rugged trails, take a calming bike ride on the rail trail along the creek in between the canyon, and discover hidden parts of paradise with amazing wildlife along the way, makes this perfect for all levels of outdoor recreationists. Although, hikers and bikers should be warned, rattlesnakes like to sunbathe on the middle of the trail! These are some of the things that bikers/hikers would notice and think about while looking at this scene.

A contract developer might have a slightly different view of this scene. Based on their profession, they may be used to looking at areas and thinking about their potential in a business scenario. They might be wondering how they could attract more people to this beautiful area. The neighboring town, Wellsboro, could be considered by the realtor as they think about hotels, Airbnb’s, and restaurants in the area to increase the popularity of this place.

Someone who is spiritual by nature is likely observing and taking in the view around them, just happy to be there. No matter what exactly they believe, a spiritual being would be in awe of a place like Pine Creek Gorge.

A small child might not know the significance of a natural area as big as Pine Creek Gorge. Likely their parents brought them to explore and have some family time. If the child is old enough to walk, they’ll likely use all of their energy in the first few minutes and then be tired the rest of the walk or time there. They may not fully comprehend its beauty like their parents will.

Works Cited

“Pa Grand Canyon.” Wellsboro Chamber Of Commerce, 25 Aug. 2023,
wellsboropa.com/index.php/vacation-wellsboro/pa-grand-canyon#:~:text=Pine%20Creek%20Gorge%20is%20a,(West%20Rim)%20State%20Parks.