Biggest "nature" let down?

[TEO]

I honestly don't think I've ever had a nature letdown. Whenever I find nature that is closer to civilization than I expected, I usually find myself being glad that those who are a part of that "civilization" have a place nearby to go to that allows them to experience the outdoors.

It's funny, for all of my outdoor experiences in wilderness and wild areas, I get pretty excited about visiting Central Park too.

I concur. Whenever I'm in or near Central Park I can only be impressed at how marvelous it is to have such a resource in the heart of NYC. That said, I can empathize with the disappointment one might feel if you went somewhere expecting a wild experience and instead, found it to be otherwise. Or, finding a spot that has been disturbed somehow, for example, a pond polluted, a once-magical forest clear-cut, or blazes chopped into trees marking a herdpath. That, though, isn't nature letting us down, rather, it is fellow humans letting us down.

 

[jrbren]

I am drawing a blank. All the disappointments that are coming to mind involve bad weather. Planning ahead for a camping trip or to climb a mountain far away from home that I have to plan in advance of having a weather forecast and then having to cancel due to weather. Or getting to the scenic spot (often a summit) where I saw the great photos from others who inspired me to make the trip in the first place, only to look at the inside of a cloud (which looks the same from the summit of Camel's Hump as it does from the summit ridge of Iztaccihuatl, the crater rim of Rainier, or at 20K'+ on Stok Kangri in India, etc...).

I can't say I would be surprised or let down if I were to visit a place that is world famous for being remote and having solitude and find it overrun, like Walden pond. I would guess places that are remote and have real solitude are not world famous.

 

[jrbren]

That said, I think some of the most remarkable "wilderness" experiences can be found surprisingly close to civilization. Kinda like ol' Henry David - Walden wasn't "wilderness" even in his day.

amf

+1.

One of my best places to observe nature (wild life) is along the lower Lamoille river near Lake Champlain. Most of the paddle is within ear shot of US 2 where you can hear motorcycles and trucks on a regular basis. There are power boats present frequently in summer, but I know what to expect so there is no let down, and I consider a great "nature experience". This is just one of many examples. I see more wild animals at my house then I ever see hiking.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

I see more wild animals at my house then I ever see hiking.

Me too, actually. Turkeys, fox, fishers, deer, bear, coyote... that's more than hiking. But it's almost always through the windows, which is different.

Tim

 

[jrbren]

I concur. Whenever I'm in or near Central Park I can only be impressed at how marvelous it is to have such a resource in the heart of NYC. That said, I can empathize with the disappointment one might feel if you went somewhere expecting a wild experience and instead, found it to be otherwise. Or, finding a spot that has been disturbed somehow, for example, a pond polluted, a once-magical forest clear-cut, or blazes chopped into trees marking a herdpath. That, though, isn't nature letting us down, rather, it is fellow humans letting us down.

This reminds of one that may become a disappointment. I am not trying to get into pros and cons of major industrial wind farms here, but... I have done several trips to climb Bigelow mountain in Maine in mid May as part of my Sugarloaf marathon weekend over the past decade. Last year I noticed for the first time a major wind farm going across Flagstaff lake. Maybe it was always there I just did not notice it before. It is a pretty significant eyesore, I guess that would qualify as disappointing. I do not know how far they plan on taking that project, but the primary sponsor for the marathon is Trans Canada, who I think runs the project.

 

[jrbren]

And another one just came to mind, and I do not know how I missed it.
Colorado Lodgepole Pine Beetle kill. In the early 1990's we camped in the west side of Rocky Mountain NP and a beautiful lodgepole pine forest. Observed tons of elk and other critters in that valley. In 2008 I did another trip there, and the entire forest in that valley has been destroyed. I later learned the cause is pine beetle which are devastating forests throughout the region and are a major concern out there. That was a huge disappointment to see that valley in ruin.

OK, I better get back to work. Sorry for rambling.

 

[DSettahr]

Washington and Whiteface

I don't see anything wrong with having a couple of "developed" summits like Washington and Whiteface. Nor do I feel disappointment when I summit them to find the crowds there waiting for me.

I think that it is important to provide access to alpine areas in a select few spots for those who are unable (or even unwilling) to make the trek under their own willpower. By being able to provide access to the unable and the unwilling to spots like these, we can foster a sense of pride in their minds similar to the pride that we feel about having protected wild areas. Allowing members of society who aren't part of the hiking community to have a chance to experience the euphoric highs of standing on a mountain summit, and seeing just what it is that we are trying to protect, can go a long way when it comes time for public support for continued protection of these areas.

Besides, having the chance to drive to a mountain peak just might inspire someone to climb one in the future. And arriving to the top to see someone in a wheel chair enjoying the view doesn't feel like a "let down" to me.

 

[DSettahr]

That said, I can empathize with the disappointment one might feel... finding a spot that has been disturbed somehow, for example... a once-magical forest clear-cut

And clear cuts, despite having a bad reputation, do not destroy the forest when properly implemented. With proper sustainable forest management, the decision as to which method of harvesting to use (selection, group selection, shelter wood, seed tree, and clear cut) is made based on what tree species the forester wants to regenerate to make up the new forest. Different tree species have different shade tolerance levels- some can grow in the shade of other trees (like hemlock, beech, etc.), while others require full sunlight to grow (like birch). A clear cut is really the only option to get regeneration of many shade-intolerant tree species.

To make this post relevant, I feel let down in nature when I see unsustainable forestry practices (high grading- also known as "take the best, leave the rest."), or deforestation (clear cuts are not deforestation).

 

[erugs]

Looking up higher than Washington, I was disappointed going to a comet party, expecting to see the comet in a more exciting fashion than I could from my backyard. No one at the party had a telescope, though some there were amature astronomers and engineers/scientists. No one had a tripod set up to show how to get photos. I don't even remember any food or drink there that might have improved the experience.

 

[TEO]

And clear cuts, despite having a bad reputation, do not destroy the forest when properly implemented. With proper sustainable forest management, the decision as to which method of harvesting to use (selection, group selection, shelter wood, seed tree, and clear cut) is made based on what tree species the forester wants to regenerate to make up the new forest. Different tree species have different shade tolerance levels- some can grow in the shade of other trees (like hemlock, beech, etc.), while others require full sunlight to grow (like birch). A clear cut is really the only option to get regeneration of many shade-intolerant tree species.

To make this post relevant, I feel let down in nature when I see unsustainable forestry practices (high grading- also known as "take the best, leave the rest."), or deforestation (clear cuts are not deforestation).

Thanks for keeping me honest. I debated whether or not to include that line because it is highly subjective and I must say, I've even enjoyed hiking in and around some clear cuts. OTH, I can imagine the disappointment of someone who goes somewhere expecting an unbroken forest, only to find huge chunks missing. Or, revisiting what once was pristine, only to find that it is now being harvested.

P.s. Nicely put, re. Washington & Whiteface.

 

[roadtripper]

I do enjoy Walden, but whoever decided to put major roads right next to the pond made a tragic and irreversible mistake.

My biggest "nature let down" is Yellowstone. I refuse to even go there anymore during June, July or August. It's worse than Disneyland. You can literally get stuck in a traffic jam for an hour. Old Faithful had probably 10,000 people watching it erupt when I was there a few years ago. It's the most mis-managed national park in the country in my opinion. Not entirely their fault - it just can't handle the volume of visitors, even despite its size.

 

[Little Rickie]

Many years ago while I was taking a grad. class the instructor was surprised that I never went to Walden Pond. She kept on mentioning it was an almost religious experience with nature there. And I needed to experience this place if i truely loved nature. So myself and one other from the class (another outdoorsey person) drove down to Concord for this experience.

Well......it was a complete let down. First the sound of traffic not far off, after awhile of tuning it out the rumble of a train from across the pond but that was not the worse. As we started our walk we felt like cattle as the trails had what i would describe as "barb-less wire" fence.

That was my biggest let down.

Was it nature letting you down or was it someones elses experiences that let you down? You thought you would have had the same feelings as your instructer.

And I needed to experience this place if i truely loved nature.

And maybe you don't. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[Raven]

Yes, Washington can be a let down, especially if you have to wait in line for the summit sign. That's why I prefer Adams, but most of Washington is an awesome experience. To be honest, what bothers me more than the fact I can get a chili dog on the summit is the cog railway making all that godforsaken noise and leaving huge plumes of black smoke in my pictures. I have a special way of dealing with them however

Pikes Peak is similar. Awesome mountain to hike until you get to the summit which also has a large asphalt lot, buildings, and yes, a cog railway. Their claim to fame is the quality of their donuts apparently. I was unimpressed with them, even after hiking to the top. the moutain however remains a great place.

I agree some places like this need to be accessible for those who cannot access another way. I still however have to admit I roll my eyes when I see people milling about LOTC with lipstick and glasses of wine. I'm pretty good at looking at the glass as mostly full however regardless of these "minor annoyances." Then again, to each his/her own, so enjoy.

I have been pleasantly suprised many more times than let down by nature.

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Gotta defend Washington...

Agreed that on a crowded weekend or even on most summer days the summit of Washington is not what I would want to experience when on a mountaintop. "Take the road less traveled". Climb Nelson Crag or Boott Spur. Who says you have to go to the top? If you can't find what you're looking for there in a wilderness setting then good luck finding it anywhere.

I have been on Mt. Washington when the road is closed and the last train has run, watching a setting or a rising sun. I've been engulfed in fog and sunshine, looked out over the tops of clouds like I was a bird, and even though surrounded by radio towers and buildings which I could easily retreat to for warmth I have never felt so far from civilization.

I travelled to North Carolina to climb Mt. Mitchell. I thought, "This must be some mighty mountain, taller than Washington." It was like "A Walk in the Woods", with most of the same things that annoy people about Mt. Washington waiting for me at the summit. I guess that was a bit disappointing, but I still enjoyed the experience.

I guess a lot of what you take away from an experience has to do with what you brought there in the first place...

OH, I almost forgot... yes, I used to skinny-dip at Walden, too, and that is what I will remember... not Rte. 2 or the B&M...

KDT

 

[JohnL]

Walden Pond – My first trip to the Pond was way way back in college when a friend, who was taking an astronomy course, wanted to get away from the city lights to look at constellations. Clear night, loads of stars. It was quiet. It was peaceful. It was great. It was January.

Want to see more wildlife when you hike? Hike solo. You’re never going to see large animals if you hike with other people. Too much chatter. But you can bet the animals saw you. And they heard you long before they saw you.

Yellowstone – Went there a couple years ago during the last week of August(planned it that way). No kids (back in school). No lines. No crowds. No traffic jams (except when the buffalo crossed the road). Great weather and a great experience.

I cannot think of any ‘nature’ experience that let me down. But whenever I have had a life experience that did not live up to my expectation, it was because I did not manage my expectation properly. So you went to Walden Pond on a summer weekend and didn’t see Thoreau? C’mon. Think about it.

JohnL

 

[DougPaul]

Want to see more wildlife when you hike? Hike solo. You’re never going to see large animals if you hike with other people. Too much chatter. But you can bet the animals saw you. And they heard you long before they saw you.

It is even better to find a quiet spot, sit down, and remain reasonably still. Let them come to you...

Doug

 

[brianW]

Was it nature letting you down or was it someones elses experiences that let you down? You thought you would have had the same feelings as your instructer.



And maybe you don't. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

It was her build up of the place.......the fenced in trails were just to much for me.

Since I was a kid the Rock Pile always had summit buildings, expected crowds so no let down.

 

[SteveHiker]

Many years ago while I was taking a grad. class the instructor was surprised that I never went to Walden Pond. She kept on mentioning it was an almost religious experience with nature there. And I needed to experience this place if i truely loved nature. So myself and one other from the class (another outdoorsey person) drove down to Concord for this experience.

Well......it was a complete let down. First the sound of traffic not far off, after awhile of tuning it out the rumble of a train from across the pond but that was not the worse. As we started our walk we felt like cattle as the trails had what i would describe as "barb-less wire" fence.

That was my biggest let down.

You got it. But replace grad class with 10th grade English class and instead of driving from Concord ride 4 hours each way in a schoolbus from southern Vermont.


Another place that sucks is Lake Tahoe especially if you were at Crater Lake just a couple days before.

 

[gooly]

The Desert of Maine...

 

[Billy]

...My biggest "nature let down" is Yellowstone. I refuse to even go there anymore during June, July or August. It's worse than Disneyland. You can literally get stuck in a traffic jam for an hour. Old Faithful had probably 10,000 people watching it erupt when I was there a few years ago. It's the most mis-managed national park in the country in my opinion. Not entirely their fault - it just can't handle the volume of visitors, even despite its size.

I have the exact opposite opinion about Yellowstone. To me, Yellowstone is nature on crack. The mountains, broad valleys, wildlife, thermal features, rivers and waterfalls, etc. Pure nature to the n'th degree. Here's how I found "nature" there. Backpacked in the northwest corner of YNP, in Montana. In two days we saw one other hiker on the trail. We passed a backcountry campsite about three miles before getting to ours and found these nice grizzly claw scratches on a tree supporting the food pole. That's what we call an attention-getter.

We did another two-day backpack to Heart Lake about a week after the rangers had re-opened the area to backpacking. It had been closed because a grizzly was coming into campsites and pawing at tents.

Another tidbit about Yellowstone is that the Thoroughfare ranger cabin in the southeast corner of the park is the most remote residence in the lower 48 states....at least 30 miles in any direction to the nearest road.

Go to Old Faithful before 7am, or after 7pm, and you'll be amazed how few people are there. The pretty light at those hours goes without saying.

Yeah, bear jams and bison jams often clog the roads. When you're in a bad jam, pull over if possible, get out and enjoy the scenery. Not always possible, but often it is. When you're stuck in a jam and can't get out, smile and remind yourself you're in YNP, not Detroit.

The place is 2.2 million acres......with a little (very little) effort, it's easy to lose the crowds and find nature.

About Mt Washington: I'm appalled at the crowds and commerce at the summit. And every time I'm there, I suspend my righteous indignation long enough to buy some chili and Coca Cola, fill my water bottles, use the clean flush toilets, use the trash cans to dump the trash from my pack, and look at the pretty girls. Then when it's time to leave and I start hiking down, I resume my pure nature-loving state of mind, and bemoan that awful retched summit and everything it stands for.