"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Everyone should visit the Grand Canyon at least once if they can. There's no sight like it anywhere else in the world, IMO. We also saw the Utah end of it on our last road trip, and that's even more spectacular.
When I first laid eyes on the Grand Canyon, I actually gasped. I was struck by the vastness and also by the incredible quiet. At the particular lookout where we pulled in, there weren't many people that morning, and not much in the way of wind, and the silence was almost palpable.
I went to California several times when my older brothers lived there, driving through Arizona within an hour's drive of the Grand Canyon, but never went there. "Probably not that great."
Finally, I decided to check it out. On the next trip I went again, which turned out to be the last time. Now I wish I had gone sooner and not wasted so many trips without stopping there!
Where I live there are places which get labelled 'Australia's Grand Canyon' for tourists so I've reflected on comparisons for years. But our canyons have vegetation and wildlife and can be noisy. Also none are as deep or quite as vast as the GC.
That sense of stillness and quiet you mention would be unique to the GC, with its vast bare walls and exceptional depth. It's true, there probably is nowhere like it where you can have such an experience.
I've been in the Himalayas which are supposed to be recent uplift, more angular and sharp than other ranges, and it's quite different because you never see much of it in one view.
The GC has a long list of vegetation and wildlife.that varies by elevation. The beauty at every viewpoint changes with the time of day, and season. Visiting is highly recommended. It never ceases to amaze.
Yes Deborah, but compare to this which some call Australia's Grand Canyon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grose_Valley or https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/cycling-trails/burramoko-ridge-hanging-rock-trail
and really, we should call them something else because totally different. Noisy wildlife is screeching cockatoos who play around the trees in there, and their sounds echo. There are quieter birds too, but once the cockies show up their noise takes over. Black Cockatoos especially sound like some sort of Jurassic dinosaur.
I'm lucky to live a walk away from similar places and used to spend mornings during the lockdown years at a clifftop watching the birds wake up at dawn.
A tour guide I know took American tourists who disagreed when he labelled it 'Australia's Grand Canyon' and that got me thinking, and I realised they were right.
Everyone should visit the Grand Canyon at least once if they can. There's no sight like it anywhere else in the world, IMO. We also saw the Utah end of it on our last road trip, and that's even more spectacular.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first laid eyes on the Grand Canyon, I actually gasped. I was struck by the vastness and also by the incredible quiet. At the particular lookout where we pulled in, there weren't many people that morning, and not much in the way of wind, and the silence was almost palpable.
ReplyDeleteI went to California several times when my older brothers lived there, driving through Arizona within an hour's drive of the Grand Canyon, but never went there. "Probably not that great."
ReplyDeleteFinally, I decided to check it out. On the next trip I went again, which turned out to be the last time. Now I wish I had gone sooner and not wasted so many trips without stopping there!
It's a heck of a hole...
ReplyDeleteWhere I live there are places which get labelled 'Australia's Grand Canyon' for tourists so I've reflected on comparisons for years. But our canyons have vegetation and wildlife and can be noisy. Also none are as deep or quite as vast as the GC.
ReplyDeleteThat sense of stillness and quiet you mention would be unique to the GC, with its vast bare walls and exceptional depth. It's true, there probably is nowhere like it where you can have such an experience.
I've been in the Himalayas which are supposed to be recent uplift, more angular and sharp than other ranges, and it's quite different because you never see much of it in one view.
The GC has a long list of vegetation and wildlife.that varies by elevation. The beauty at every viewpoint changes with the time of day, and season. Visiting is highly recommended. It never ceases to amaze.
DeleteYes Deborah, but compare to this which some call Australia's Grand Canyon:
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grose_Valley
or
https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/cycling-trails/burramoko-ridge-hanging-rock-trail
and really, we should call them something else because totally different. Noisy wildlife is screeching cockatoos who play around the trees in there, and their sounds echo. There are quieter birds too, but once the cockies show up their noise takes over. Black Cockatoos especially sound like some sort of Jurassic dinosaur.
I'm lucky to live a walk away from similar places and used to spend mornings during the lockdown years at a clifftop watching the birds wake up at dawn.
A tour guide I know took American tourists who disagreed when he labelled it 'Australia's Grand Canyon' and that got me thinking, and I realised they were right.