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I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

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Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#171

Post by jabroni_salad »

visiohex wrote: post #7

The ironic thing about the "best" national parks these days is that they are so overcrowded the experience can be genuinely miserable. I would gladly take a "sub-par" or boring park where I can actually be alone with nature over sitting in a two-hour traffic jam in Yosemite or Yellowstone just to see a tree.

I did a second visit to yellowstone during the winter and it absolutely ruled. Most of it is closed to only commercial operators but the Lamar Valley area is fine if you can get a vehicle with studded tires.

Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#173

Post by magiclaw »

vjvjvjvjghv wrote: post #46
jobs_throwaway wrote: post #19

> Every day hike in Zion Canyon is kind of like waiting in line at Disney World. You’re waiting in line in a magical place, but you’re still waiting in line. You ask a dead-eyed park ranger to recommend you a less popular hike, and he spits in your face. There is no such thing as a less-popular hike in Zion Canyon. You will wait in line on the trail and you will be grateful you piece of shit. Yeah, you can safely dis…

With most parks the crowds quickly disappear once you are 2 miles in. That's the case pretty much all over the world. I remember in Iceland there were these huge crowds at a water fall close to the bus stop. I hiked 3 miles in to another similar waterfall. There we had less than 10 people.

> There we had less than 10 people

In Iceland, 10 people is a huge crowd.

Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#174

Post by coldtea »

Aurornis wrote: post #138
coldtea wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or is was written for people who understand humor and hyperbole in making a point.

Or the point the writer is making is inherently bad and no amount of humor or hyperbole will change that.

It's quite solid: most of these places are oversold, overcrowded, not that interesting, or a combination of the above.

Of course you can't explain humor.

Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#175

Post by jobs_throwaway »

pokstad wrote: post #110
jobs_throwaway wrote: post #19

> Every day hike in Zion Canyon is kind of like waiting in line at Disney World. You’re waiting in line in a magical place, but you’re still waiting in line. You ask a dead-eyed park ranger to recommend you a less popular hike, and he spits in your face. There is no such thing as a less-popular hike in Zion Canyon. You will wait in line on the trail and you will be grateful you piece of shit. Yeah, you can safely dis…

I just went to Zion last week. There was an hour long wait to get on the shuttles due to crowds. The River Walk trail to the Narrows was so congested you would bump into people. The Emerald pools was packed with people despite being a 500’ climb. It’s a very popular park during spring break.

Yes, the shuttles are the disneyland portion of the park. The backcountry is just as beautiful and way, way, way less people.

Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#176

Post by jobs_throwaway »

ghaff wrote: post #141
pokstad wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just went to Zion last week. There was an hour long wait to get on the shuttles due to crowds. The River Walk trail to the Narrows was so congested you would bump into people. The Emerald pools was packed with people despite being a 500’ climb. It’s a very popular park during spring break.

I visited Zion a fair bit when I had pretty regular business travel to Vegas. Probably wouldn't go back today. The shuttle is something of a nightmare if you don't pay to stay in the park and I think my favorite hike is still closed due to rockfall.

I never paid to stay in the park. Simply do the traverse.

Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#177

Post by jobs_throwaway »

oliver236 wrote: post #56
jobs_throwaway wrote: post #19

> Every day hike in Zion Canyon is kind of like waiting in line at Disney World. You’re waiting in line in a magical place, but you’re still waiting in line. You ask a dead-eyed park ranger to recommend you a less popular hike, and he spits in your face. There is no such thing as a less-popular hike in Zion Canyon. You will wait in line on the trail and you will be grateful you piece of shit. Yeah, you can safely dis…

no one is an idiot. no one has that identity. people do not have more or less value. we are all worthy of respect. someone can act with idiot tendencies, but they are NOT an idiot.

[flagged]

Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#178

Post by tstrimple »

sharno wrote: post #122
vjvjvjvjghv wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With most parks the crowds quickly disappear once you are 2 miles in. That's the case pretty much all over the world. I remember in Iceland there were these huge crowds at a water fall close to the bus stop. I hiked 3 miles in to another similar waterfall. There we had less than 10 people.

Power law: The number of people decrease as a power of the distance you travel away from popular spots

It doesn't help that basically all the hikes in Zion are popular hikes. There was definitely waiting involved in the Angels Landing hike and that was well beyond 1/4 mile from the parking lot up a significant incline before you even reach the chains to begin climbing up. Lots of passing and waiting once you hit the chains. Tons of people. The very top was quite crowded but we went before the permitting system was in place.

Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#179

Post by vjvjvjvjghv »

magiclaw wrote: post #173
vjvjvjvjghv wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With most parks the crowds quickly disappear once you are 2 miles in. That's the case pretty much all over the world. I remember in Iceland there were these huge crowds at a water fall close to the bus stop. I hiked 3 miles in to another similar waterfall. There we had less than 10 people.

> There we had less than 10 people In Iceland, 10 people is a huge crowd.

Not at the tourist sites. They are quite crowded once the busses come in .

Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#180

Post by BeetleB »

ghaff wrote: post #143
BeetleB wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's been over a decade since I went, but I went there (and Bryce Canyon) twice during the winter. You practically have the whole park to yourself! With Bryce Canyon, it's best to go before snowfall, though. Once the ice sets in, they shut down a lot of the trails. Also went once to Arches in winter. Awesome (except again, a lot of trails too slippery).

Yeah. I went through Bryce in the winter and you couldn't do a lot of hiking below the rim. The trails just weren't signposted or set up for it. Beautiful from the rim with the snow but the canyon itself wasn't really accessible.

Yeah. The first time I went it was the week after Thanksgiving. No snow yet, so I could hike.
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