Is the Outdoors Trendy? (Pt. 3)
For the final discussion of the outdoors becoming trendy, we're going to look at the increased traffic to National Parks and trails. It's unlikely that newcomers have felt this shock but long-time hikers, bikers, and climbers will have noticed this to a higher degree.
Image sourced from: www.yellowstonepark.com
A memory that will forever be stuck in the back of my head is the first time my family visited a National Park. In the fall of 2010, we had our first genuine vacation to a place that breathes the essence of the American parks system; Yellowstone. On our itinerary was a visit to Old Faithful, a magnificent geyser that should be at the top of everybody's list of things to do in Yellowstone. I remember sitting on one of the benches, eagerly awaiting the eruption of steam and water, and as the time grew closer to witnessing this spectacle, hundreds of tour buses began squeezing through the already dense crowd, standing in front of everyone who had a bench seat and blocking their view. My step-father spoke up but it was no use. We resorted to standing on top of the bench to get any kind of glance at the eruption and we were not the only people irritated by this. Later that night, as we drove back to our cabin, I spotted a lone swan sitting in the Madison River. Backdropped by a fiery pink sunset, I jumped out with my mother's DSLR to get the best photo I possibly could. That is until a bus of foreigners stopped and scared the swan away with their loud and obnoxious chatter before I took the photo.
Jams, Crams, and Crowds Galore
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is one of the most popular long-distance hiking trails in the country. It used to be all that was required was a permit for northbound hikers but in 2020, because of the sheer number of applicants, the rules were tightened. According to Outside Online, permits are now required for north and southbound hikers, permit holders are required to start on a specific day to maintain the flow of traffic, camping was restricted to a slim corridor along the trail, and hikers were no longer able to skip the Sierra mountains due to bad weather and return later to finish them; they must be completed in a single forward push. Yosemite National Park, a personal favorite of mine, witnessed its biggest year in terms of visitors in 2022 and to avoid overcrowding, the park required visitors to pre-register for a park pass AND required them to arrive at a specific time window to be granted access. Even before these new regulations, the park struggled with available camping, parking, and accommodations for years.
What Can Be Done?
Though everyone has their reason for seeking the outdoors, it isn't hard to see the massive shift over the last few years from inside to outside, and this trend will likely continue, but what does that mean for our parks and trails? As traffic increases, park systems will begin implementing more strict regulations to maintain the natural beauty of outdoor spaces as well as ensure everyone's safety and the safety of wildlife. It is here that the answer can be found; try different parks. This mantra is not unfamiliar to most but there are some key points I believe people leave out when making this statement. Smaller, local parks generally don't receive the same amount of attention as larger ones, meaning less expensive camping, quieter and less crowded spaces, and greater opportunities to try activities and events without the worry of sold-out tickets or long lines. Another reason to seek smaller and more local is it provides us with a chance to redefine our sense of adventure. If we are no longer preoccupied with trip planning, saving enough money, and burning more fuel to get somewhere else, then we can spend more time relaxing, observing, and discovering new spaces. Simply put, it's about taking energy away from planning and putting it into enjoying. Over time, national parks and other areas will slowly adjust and find the best method to allow the maximum number of visitors without causing irreparable damage to nature, and while this will take some time, it will ensure that these incredibly popular spaces are preserved for years to come.
