Reply #10: cars, noise, airplanes and tourist buses [View All]

I really think zermatt, switzerland has figured it out right proper.
There, you must park at a big parking lot down the valley about 3-5
miles or so... and once you get to zermatt, city code is that ALL
vehicles are electric.. like golf carts. The noise is peaceful and
there is a sense of peace.

This in contrast to yosemite, grand canyon or other national monuments
and whatnot.... the cars, and noise are incredible. Walking down the
bright angel trail (main trail down the canyon from the tourist area
of grand canyon) is like walking down a crowded bike path, walking
through puddles of mule piss from the rich tourists who ride down in
to the canyon on mule trains, too lazy to use their legs.

THe rule with US tourist places is to go where the average tourist
does not go, for time-travel reasons. The north rim of the canyon is
much more pristine. The areas along the san juan river that have no
park status whatsoever are very pristine... and canyonlands, upstream
by a few hundred miles is really sublime.

I prefer going to the indian nation areas, as the local folks fill the
void that is soooo empty of feeling the land people of north america and
and their goodwill. I've nothing but respect for the hopi, navaho,
ramah, and acinto peoples amongst many, who have their own places
and gentle culture.

Marble canyon and the areas above the dam... at page...name!!! what
is that dam.. that creates lake powell... well, whaever, bullfrog,
ticaboo and the less travelled area roundabouts is relatively quiet
if you go off season and miss the water skiing and noise crap from
the salt lake water sports crowd....

Frankly, i have to wonder whether that whole region is not endangered
by too much tourism.... the easy access, 4x4 offroading in utah and
the whole mess needs to be cut back before the concept of pristine is
relegated beyond US borders.

You have no excuse for not visiting the grand canyon. You can fly
to phoenix tomorrow, rent a car, and be at the south rim tomorrow.
You can drive from there to "mexican hat" and head up highway 261 to
naturall bridges national monument and up to hanksville where you
can cut through capitol reef national monument and make your way down
the aspen glens thereabouts towards bryce canyon... down towards
kanab and marble canyon, the area clinton made in to a national
preserve as the one honourable legacy he's left us besides his dick.
;-)

If you've more time, canyon de chelley and mesa verde are not to be
missed, and as well, canyonlands and arches national monument.

There is a map you can get from the AAA called "Indian Country" that is
an excellent guidance. The winter is the best time to visit, as i've
been the ONLY visitor in monument valley on a winters day... something
that the summer cacaphony can only aspire to... and those desert
vistas are pretty much the same winter or summer, truth be told...
even more pristine in the winter for a real nature lover.