19 replies to this topic

[ski3pin]

Here are some sobering thoughts for this Independence Day weekend - as hordes flock to the outdoors -

 

Crowded Parks - Leave No Trace

 

and 

 

Crisis In Our National Parks

 

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Thanks Ski. Sure glad we have done a lot of traveling/camping over our many years.

Got to enjoy a lot of places that today are very crowded.

Will still get out there when we can and visit out NP/NFs.,just have to pick the better time.

Frank

[AWG_Pics]

Thank goodness there are many out of the way places that most people would not consider driving into. But a person must have an appreciation for raw backcountry, far from well travelled roads and overly hyped disney land like parks. Takes a bit of self reliance and being comfortable when no other people are around. Surprising how many people are uncomfortable when no other vehicles or people are visible. Maybe that is the WTW denizen's secret, eh?

 

One for instance: We drove along the southern side of Vermillion Cliffs last fall, then turned north on House Rock road. Drove about 4 or 5 miles, found a very nice boondock site. The next day we continued north on the dirt track, seeing no one for hours, but passing dozens of interesting places to explore and boondock. But as we got closer to The Wave trailhead we suddenly came upon dozens of vehicles and who knows how many people. It was heavily used until we hit the pavement again and drove to Kanab. People are generally social creatures, it seems. They love to flock. I guess my wife and I are somewhat lacking in that department. Give us the empty lands anytime.

Edited by AWG_Pics, 05 July 2021 - 04:22 PM.

[craig333]

That comfort level being alone may have a lot to do with it. My brother and I took the dogs out of town to avoid the fourth and camped near Ice House Reservoir. My brother commented to me "don't you get nervous being out by yourself"? I think there is something different about us and being comfortable by ourselves (or as near as you can nowadays). 

[daverave]

That comfort level being alone may have a lot to do with it. My brother and I took the dogs out of town to avoid the fourth and camped near Ice House Reservoir. My brother commented to me "don't you get nervous being out by yourself"? I think there is something different about us and being comfortable by ourselves (or as near as you can nowadays). 

Well Craig, as a fellow Sactown local, I'd be hard pressed to consider anything near Ice House Reservoir to be "out by yourself."

I'd guess that you may have been, per your brother, by your lonesomes but it likely was not more than two or three miles to pavement and a steady stream of traffic.

I find that people that get nervous for us alone in the outdoors have maybe seen too many horror films and often think in terms of "what if some psycho with a machete came upon you????"

[daverave]

Here are some sobering thoughts for this Independence Day weekend - as hordes flock to the outdoors -

 

Crowded Parks - Leave No Trace

 

and 

 

Crisis In Our National Parks

And those two stories are PRE-pandemic and we all know that things are much worse now.

[AWG_Pics]

Thank goodness for "Psychos With Machetes" for the peace and quiet we experience in the deep boondocks. What a strange world we live in!

Edited by AWG_Pics, 05 July 2021 - 10:28 PM.

[craig333]

Well Craig, as a fellow Sactown local, I'd be hard pressed to consider anything near Ice House Reservoir to be "out by yourself."

I'd guess that you may have been, per your brother, by your lonesomes but it likely was not more than two or three miles to pavement and a steady stream of traffic.

I find that people that get nervous for us alone in the outdoors have maybe seen too many horror films and often think in terms of "what if some psycho with a machete came upon you????"

Definitely agree. Not a place I would normally go for camping, Just a quiet place for a few hours.

[buckland]

What would be great is if we invest in more land set aside for us to enjoy ..... there are many people who want and desperately need to experience being out in nature. It is a boon economically to the area as well in the long run. 

Attached Files

•  Give the People What They Clearly Need: More National Parks - The New York Times.pdf   61.71K   5 downloads

[dennis 221]

an change the rule to 14days of occupied use! saw hundreds if not thousands of trailers dropped off in backcountry spots on are 2 month trip in the n.w.an not one was in use!!!