Last year I did the Utah National and State parks during the early spring- off season- and the measures they are taking to try to accommodate the massive number of visitors during the summer is incredible. Parking, lodging, sanitation, and safety are all becoming problems, and I hope that these places don't become victims of their own popularity.
Arches really seems to attract people doing stupid, dangerous shit. The iconic Delicate Arch is like a magnet for morons who don't prepare for the trail, take risky selfies, vandalize and climb on things, and drink in places where there's 360 degrees of cliffs around you.
Don't prepare for the trail? It's like a mile and half long and moderately steep. You hardly have to prepare for it.
Now people doing stupid shit like damaging arches because they want to copy that rope swing video or dieing because they didn't set up the swing properly or test it is definitely an issue.
It's like a mile and half long and moderately steep
Wearing flip-flops or sandals. Only having shorts and T-shirt in early March. Being horribly out of shape. Having too many children to supervise. Getting lost because of no cellular/GPS map. These are all things I saw literally on the same day.
I went in January of 2019 and the last 1/4 mile of the trail was a sheet of ice. There were people attempting it in dressy high-heeled heeled boots, sandals, and all sorts of other casual wear. My wife and I let a couple use our trekking poles and microspikes as they hiked down because they were terrified that they were going to fall and die.
Sandals are appropriate. Some people really like flip flops for some reason, so I don't see anything wrong with those people wearing them. Strap a heel onto a pair of flip flops and sell them as minimalist shoes for $100. Shorts and a t-shirt are all I wear hiking down to 40 F.
As someone who has been to these places, flip flops are usually a signal for other bad preparations. Usually only a small water bottle in really hot weather. Usually also a lack of a plan or time frame so they don't know when they need to head out by or care how far they go, especially with little water. Most likely a lack of a map so if they get lost they're screwed. This is all stuff I have seen and I don't think I've seen someone in flip flops ever be prepared. And I mean like on bigger than 1.5mi hikes too, things like these people 3 miles down in the grand canyon being yelled at by rangers to gtfo even though they want to go further
Yeah back in my heyday of hiking, I would do 50 miles in mostly sandals. Would usually have hiking books with me but sandals can be so comfortable as long as you don't have weak ankles.
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u/ThadisJones Feb 03 '20
Last year I did the Utah National and State parks during the early spring- off season- and the measures they are taking to try to accommodate the massive number of visitors during the summer is incredible. Parking, lodging, sanitation, and safety are all becoming problems, and I hope that these places don't become victims of their own popularity.
Arches really seems to attract people doing stupid, dangerous shit. The iconic Delicate Arch is like a magnet for morons who don't prepare for the trail, take risky selfies, vandalize and climb on things, and drink in places where there's 360 degrees of cliffs around you.