dokodemo

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November 14, 2004

The Grandest Canyon

Yeah the Grand Canyon is one of the 7 Wonders of the World, and everyone is supposed to see it at least once in their life. I visited because I felt compelled. Yeah its great and all that, but to be honest, its not among my top destinations. To be fair to the canyon, I was a lame tourist and gave it only a cursory glance. I did not ride a mule to the bottom, I did not raft down the rapids of the Colorado, I did not even take one step down off the rim. I would certainly love to do all of these things at some point, and I know I wouldn't regret it, but all in all, I would rather see a brilliant blue glacier lake in Montana, or the more modest walls of the Box Canyon in Wupatki or an orca breaching from a ferry in Puget Sound. I think the very grandeur of the Grand Canyon was a turnoff for me. Too large to comprehend, it felt to me like the popular girl at school whom cannot keep me from looking, but will not ever deign to get to know me personally. I guess I like the natural outcasts of the world... the socially-stunted dry lakebed at the blackrock desert, the enigmatic and unfriendly folds of the badlands, and other places where I feel like I might be the only person wise enough to truly appreciate them. The Grand Canyon is like the fireworks in Washington DC... while undeniably spectacular, huge, brilliant... after the 18th or 19th sub-finale, I kindof get bored and wait for it to end. Its a lot more fun to dangerously light a single bottlerocket and let it go out of your hand.

Not that I'm complaining. I spent the night at the Mather campground, and walked about 8 miles along the rim. It was quite nippy, and whenever I stopped to take photos, I got cold and had to move on. Taking pictures of the Grand Canyon is like flinging paint at a skyscraper and hoping to cover it. Its totally futile, but addictive. That being said, I have a bunch of half-assed photos of the Grand Canyon, maybe just to prove to myself that I was there. Have a look if you want, though I prefer my badlands, gila forest, and yellowstone photos.

Posted by dokodemo at November 14, 2004 01:45 PM

Comments

Posted by: tonx at November 14, 2004 02:58 PM

Posted by: lisey at November 14, 2004 04:54 PM