More Than Just Monday: Why Do We Visit the National Parks?
Amid growing crowds, I'd like to ask a fundamental question.
Hey Folks,
Jim here, finally back in the office after a whirlwind trip to Easter Island (more on that later). Boy is it hot! Summer seems to have cranked up the heat just about everywhere in the US. What are you doing to cope and still get outside? Seriously, I need tips.
Just Why Do We Visit the National Parks?
I thought this week I might pose the question, why do you visit the national parks? Is it to see a specific view or hike a specific trail? If so, why? What is it about that trail or that one view that compels you to hike it and see it? I ask these questions on the heels of a few articles we’ve published warning visitors against planning trips around some of the most popular hikes in our national parks. Allow me to explain.
First I ask why do we visit the national parks in my header for this newsletter. Above all, I think I visit the parks and our public lands to escape the toils of daily life and marvel at the wonders of nature while drinking in its restorative power. I also go to gain a better appreciation for the character of the place I’m visiting, hoping to come away with a better understanding of what makes the area so special.
It’s my belief that these tasks cannot be accomplished, and indeed are spoiled by attempting to hike overcrowded trails or cram into successively mobbed vista points to snap a picture. Yet trails like Zion’s Angels Landing, The Narrows, Yosemite’s Half Dome, and many more routinely see crowds bursting at the seams like it’s Black Friday circa 2008 – to what end I ask?
Is hiking Angels Landing around peak season any more impressive than navigating the lines at Disney World in the summer? Sure it’s a better picture and it’ll cost you less money, but put some mouse ears on and some Disney swag in that backpack and you might as well be in line for Space Mountain.
So I ask you again, why do you visit the national parks?
Of course if you’re short on time at the Grand Canyon, wade through those crowds at Mather Point and take in that spectacular view. But think twice before you set your mind to tackling a specific trail or capturing a specific image and ask yourself that question.
Anyway that’s just my point of view.
Have an idea about another trail we should write about? We’re all ears!
The Latest From the Brothers
When I was a kid I remember my Mom reading about Easter Island and being endlessly fascinated by the mystery of the incredible monolithic achievements of the people on this tiny remote island in the Pacific. Stories and photos from far away places like that always stirred my imagination and at some point mid-childhood, I told myself and my brothers that someday I would take my mom to see the Moai of Easter Island.
I guess it became a kind of prophecy that I had to see fulfilled, so when an airfare deal to Santiago, Chile fell into my lap some months ago I knew this was it.
Getting to Easter Island is no easy day, and Delta didn’t make life any easier by cancelling our initial overnight flight to Santiago after hours on the tarmac and rescheduling it to the following night giving us precious little time to make the connecting flight to Rapa Nui (the actual name of Easter Island). As Will and I often joke when making our films, “sleep is overrated”.
More delays, airport confusion, and several mad dashes later and we were on our flight bound for Rapa Nui and the mysterious island we’d wondered so much about. Suffice to say it was the trip of a lifetime. Driving a small rented SUV and accompanied by our wonderful local guide, Teva, my Mom and I learned all about the fascinating history and culture of this amazing island and it’s people.
The weather was about as bad as it could be possibly be – driving rain with 30mph sustained winds and gusts of 50mph – but we weren’t deterred at all. Hiking through the quarry of the Moai and walking underneath the giant Ahu’s while soaking wet and cold only added to the adventure and mystical qualities of the place.
What’s Next For More Than Just Parks?
We’re getting ready to roll out our latest film this Wednesday!
The image below is a sneak peak of what the film is all about.
Here’s the Deal On Paid Subscriptions
You love national parks. We love national parks. We love writing about our national parks. Do you love our writing about national parks enough to cover the next bundle of firewood?
Have An Idea for Us?
We actually love getting your emails & comments and responding to them.
If you’re new, all of our old newsletters are archived here for you to reference in case you miss one or want to look back at an old one.
We recently updated our current offerings here on Substack to include more national park resources. We’ll be adding more soon!
Public Lands News Round Up
A momentous week in public lands news! I've rustled up the latest right here in case you missed it:
New California gray wolf pack spotted in Sequoia National Forest, 200 miles from nearest known pack
Judge sides with young activists in first-of-its-kind climate change trial in Montana
BLM Rule Will Protect Public Lands from Contamination and Neglect
The U.S. privileges private property and blocks public land access
My Take: Terrific news about the latest national monument protecting almost 1 million acres of some of America’s most prized landscapes from the threat of uranium mining. As Theodore Roosevelt famously implored the citizens of Arizona, “Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it."
My Closing Thoughts
Now that it’s mid August I can’t help but start to peak around the corner in anticipation of fall. There’s something about the colors of autumn that give that brief time of year a special place on my calendar. Any fall activities you’re looking forward to this year? If you’re in need of inspiration check out our top park recommendations for the fall here.
That's all I've got! I hope you're enjoying our weekly check-ins as much as we enjoy sharing our thoughts and insights on all things public lands. Please do feel free to reach out and let us know what you think and share your thoughts on whatever it is we may be discussing each week.
– Jim
I visit the national parks for a number of reasons. Foremost, is to explore the varied landscapes through hiking or backpacking, and engage with the history and cultural aspects of different areas of the country. Your commentary elicits some similar thoughts and feelings I've had and that I write about in a forthcoming book about the meaning of adventure in our society. I argue we are smothering national parks and loving them to death. As enchanting and attractive as national parks are, we have to learn to spread out and explore other public lands (as well as other countries) that can be just as restorative and meaningful to visit such as the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands which are double the size of National Park lands, yet see far fewer visitors. Edward Abbey famously chastised Americans in 'Desert Solitaire' for our penchant for overly crowding these special places. I ask my readers, can we design a system of adventure in our society that is less invasive, yet more fulfilling for everyone?
Hey Justin, Will here - completely agree. There are so many other public lands out there of equal or great beauty to many of our most popular national parks. Really looking forward to checking out the book!