YOSEMITE: THE FATE OF HEAVEN

In 1851 the Mariposa Battalion came upon an unexplored valley in the Sierra Nevada while pursuing Native Americans.  Lafayette Bunnell, a doctor who accompanied the battalion, kept a diary during the mission.  They would be the first and last white men ever to see Yosemite unspoiled.

The documentary Yosemite: The Fate of Heaven was made in the late 80's and was part of the PBS series titled American Experience (season 2 episode 14).  The film is narrated by none other than Robert Redford, in which he recites passages from Bunnell's diary.  The film contrasts present-day Yosemite with Bunnell's experiences illustrating the devastation caused by millions of nature lovers.  Enjoy the film!