May, 2004 Massachusetts -- West Bound!

Nick, are these places in the order you visited them (on your list)? If so, wow, you were all over the place! I've been to some of the places you visited this summer, and wonder if maybe we passed each other on the road and didn't know it!

My bet is you'll be ready to go again soon, as soon as you rest up. I'm 51, and the wanderlust never leaves me, although I am always happy to be home when I get there.

Don't worry too much about getting older though -- you youngsters don't have a lock on physical activity. I have a hike planned to the bottom of the Grand Canyon this December, and I do not expect to be carried out. In fact, the last time I hiked it, at about age 48, only one person passed me on the hike out. I made it out at the same speed I hiked down (the norm is a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio). Age is not prohibitive, as long as you work at it and stay active. Bob

Great to hear that your still in good enough shape for a hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. But one thing I saw on my trip was that a lot of visitors were people who waited until they retired and were 65+. When I was backcountry hiking in Denali NP one guy said he wished he had come when he was younger when he had better knees and more stamina. There are plenty exceptions to this rule (ie the guy I might be traveling to Portugal with is about 45 and is in better shape than me), but most people have more physical ability at age 20 than at age 65.
Beyond the physical reasons, you're enriched mentally and culturally (sp?) as well. Things I can use throughout my life instead of just at the peak and tail end of it.

Which trail are you taking to the bottom MBob? The big pot hole was one of the only Nat'l Parks I didn't do a long hike in. The day I visited it was 100*F+, and supposedly much hotter in the canyon. I just walked out to Bright Angel Point and scrambled up the rock pile at the end for a nap and great view.

One thing I didn't do was list my top 5 parks and cities.

FAVORITE MOTHER NATURE:

1.Death Valley, CA

2.Kluane Lake, YK

3.White Sands Nat'l Monument, NM

4.Great Sand Dunes Nat'l Park, CO

5.Badlands Nat'l Park, SD

FAVORITE CITIES:

1.Seattle, WA

2.San Francisco, CA

3.Las Vegas, NV (Just the Restaurants & Fine Arts!)

4.Anchorage, AK

5.St. Paul, MN

I've done hikes along several of the trails in and along the Canyon -- I've done the Rim Trail from Hermit's Rest to the Village (tougher than it looks, by the way). Also, I've hiked to Supai several times since 1988, and in the main Canyon, I've hiked South Kaibab, Bright Angel and parts of the Tonto Trail and the North Kaibab. (Tonto, by the way, is an Indian word that means "fool." Or so I've been told.) I usually hike down on the South Kaibab, because the route follows the ridgelines and the views are better (it's steep, but spectacular, especially in the morning sunlight), and then the Bright Angel out (if going back up the south side) as it is longer and the gradient is less. I've not yet done the hike out to the North Rim, but that, and a raft trip, are on my list of "to do's."

Of your favorites, I think you and I may be a lot alike! Of them, I haven't been to Alaska or Great Sand Dunes, but the others, including the cities, are among my favorites as well. I also like San Diego, San Antonio and the way Santa Fe USED to be -- it's getting a bit too big to suit me these days -- too many crowded days and the roads can't handle the congestion. And, as you may have gathered, the GC is one of my favorite places.

One thing I wish I'd done from when I was younger is to have written about my journeys and experiences -- I didn't start doing that until a few years ago, and I have forgotten details of things I thought I would never forget. By the time you reach 50, you'll have done so many things that many of them will fade or blur together. You don't want to forget your experiences, so write them down now, even if it's just for yourself!

Make sure you keep us posted on your plans for Portugal -- I for one love travel of any kind, so it'll be interesting to see how that goes for you. I have no set plans at present, but my next overseas trip will likely be to Spain (if not to Scotland again, which is one of my ancestral homelands)! Bob

Nick,

I agree with Bob, seeing all of that in three months is rather incredible.

You need to come back and see Death Valley -- on the 15th they had a 500-year rain storm. CA hwy-190 from the Furnace Creek to the park boundary is GONE! Much of roads inside the Park are impassable. The park is closed and locals, like me, are itching to get in there and see what nature has wrought.

Thanks for the report!

Mark

MBob, I would love to take a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. I here you can do some great 1-2wk trips through portions of it for around $2k. That is definetly something I want to do before I kick the bucket. The North Rim of the GC had about 1/10th the people of the south rim, but the lodge they have there is a disgrace if you ask me.

I start my new job September 8th. I'm looking at apartments now, so hopefully I'll have a website back up and running in October. I have a collection of 50 or so shots out of 3000+ that I feel are simply beautiful. I think everyone will enjoy them. And I did keep a journal everyday, so I have a ~90pg book of my thoughts.

The only thing I didn't do on the trip that I really wish I had (and planned on doing originally), was to drive the length of the Baja peninsula. That is definetly something I will be doing within the next couple years. I managed to negotiate 4wks vacation/year for myself after 1yr at my new job, so my travels will continue. Although the bulk of my wanderlust was satisfied over the spring/summer, my eyes were opened to a million more things that I want to do.

&gt; Although the bulk of my <BR>
&gt; wanderlust was satisfied over the spring/summer, <BR>

I usually feel that my wanderlust has been satisfied for a couple of days after a trip, even long Summer vacation trips. Then, it comes back again and I start planning where to go next!

&gt; my eyes were opened to a million more things that <BR>
&gt; I want to do. <BR>
<BR>
I started thinking of a long bicycle trip, becoming an Adirondack 46er, a High Point hiker, travel writer, travel photographer, etc. Once you start, you can't stop. Not everyone understands - "You slept in your CAR???".

Glad to hear you had a good time. I enjoyed reading your posts and look forward to when you're able to write more about your trip!

Nick, I was wondering why you thought the North Rim Lodge was a disgrace? Just curious. Bob

(Snip) A bunch of people lugging suitcases, roaring air conditioners, catering services, etc. In my own humble opinion, national parks should be limited to ranger stations, toilets, hiking paths, lookouts for people who can't hike, and basic camp site sections. I'm definetly a person who believes that our national parks should be kept fairly natural, but accessible to those who might have disabilities.

Just my humble opinion of course.

Nick,

I have never visited a national park in the USA that was "kept natural" that is not the purpose of such places -- according to the congressional mandate that created them.

Plus, what you think of Hot Springs National Park -- the town street is the national park -- how would suggest keeping a city street "natural"?

Mark

I'd personally like to see less development in the parks. The basic neccessities such as restrooms, ranger stations, and walking/hiking paths. Things like septage dumps, grocery stores, lodges, and restaurants take away from the beautiful natural setting (IMHO). Obviously you can't dig up Hot Springs, but you can try to preserve what we have left. I guess I'm just more conservative with our parks than others.