davesenesac
Trail Wise!
Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
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Post by davesenesac on Sept 15, 2019 15:38:15 GMT -8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNrg4tXPWCA&fbclid=IwAR0aCXq4QmVqz3itcVXke_1tteI8wjGISoHAw5KGMZXUR6GMFPL6GLo9zig&app=desktop
The linked video might more properly be titled, "Is Photography Ruining the Outdoor experience for Millennials with smartphones that flock to locations they see on social media?" There are still vast numbers of worthwhile outdoor locations that social media throngs are not aware of. Especially beyond road side areas in our many wilderness areas. That noted, there is a minor list of destinations in wilderness that have become social media hot spots, especially along popular thru trails, but as a backpacker visiting such backcountry over decades, there are vast areas that have not. I will add that many of those that visit such places crawling with other people, probably actually enjoy being in the resulting gregarious circus. In other words it is a crowd thing.
And I can say the same about many front country areas where as soon as one wanders off 100 yards from roads, trails, and use routes, one will see few footprints. That noted, it is true if our social media behaviors and attitudes continue like this for decades into the future that a time will come when even many of the great number of unknown locations I know about down to their exact GPS coordinates will eventually become public knowledge. And that will be a sad day for the human spirit.
Additionally it is true that numbers of these new visitors to outdoor parks have a poor environmental ethic, some due to ignorance while others due to a careless inconsiderate attitude that reflects cultural attitudes where most of them come from, our massive urban areas. In our Sierra Nevada wilderness areas, I've seen a significant increase in trash and illegal rock campfire circles and most are being built by people that obviously know what they are doing is against policy but have chosen to selfishly inconsiderately disregard such.
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balzaccom
Trail Wise!
Waiting for spring...
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Post by balzaccom on Sept 15, 2019 20:48:50 GMT -8
I don't know the answer Dave, but I have a few thoughts. 1. Young people do seem more interested in "epic' experiences than in collecting large amounts of material goods. I think that is a step in the right direction. But it also leads to the crowding and overpopulation of "iconic" places in our national parks, and resulting problems. Permits, quotas and the like strike me as reasonable solutions to those issues. That also means that I will probably never raft down the Grand Canyon, even though I'd like to do that. 2. The fact that there are more people in the parks and in our wilderness areas does mean greater impacts, but it also means more voters who are willing to vote for and support candidates who believe in the preservation of our national parks and wilderness areas. That's good, I think. I just wish it were happening faster. 3. You and I both post photos of magical places (yours are light-years better than mine) and by doing so we encourage people to explore the natural world--I probably do this more explicitly than you do. But I think that we also both strongly encourage people to Leave No Trace and exhibit thoughtful and careful behavior in those places. Not everyone takes all of our advice. 4. The first location that came into my mind when I read your initial post was Glen Canyon and Horseshoe Bend--where I took more photos of the crowds taking photos of the scenery than I took of the scenery itself. Turns out, it was a major focus of the video. 5. I am sure that I will always be able to find places that speak to me quietly, far away from the crowds. I may have to walk or drive farther, or avoid the trailheads most recommended, but that's OK. The "epic" experience I am seeking is not a view or selfie of an iconic landmark--it's the experience of being in solitude in the wilderness.
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Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
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Post by Westy on Sept 16, 2019 5:22:17 GMT -8
No worries, keep the photos streaming!
The trend is always driven by Top Ten, Ten Best, anything with the words, iconic, must see, bucket list. The phenomenon is global and certainly not exclusive to the great outdoors. Even the pundits on this forum seem to steer readers to the places they like the best. Couple all this with increase in global population, technology, access to travel and presto chango!
Heck, last October after hiking up Mount Washington, NH, we stood in line with at least 100 others for the summit photo with a sign.
Essentially it's called global economic growth and accessibility.
Limits, permits, costs, fines for non-compliance, will all increase to meet demand. Peripheral places of today, will be found and become the iconic spots of tomorrow.
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FamilySherpa
Trail Wise!
Tangled up in Rhododendron
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Post by FamilySherpa on Sept 16, 2019 5:25:20 GMT -8
Dang millennials ruining things for everyone else again. Good thing no other age group uses smart phones.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Sept 16, 2019 6:17:17 GMT -8
Someone posted a similar topic a few months ago.
One of the first things I do when exploring a new area is to Google it.
If nothing shows up, then the areas has promise.
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Post by hikingtiger on Sept 16, 2019 9:08:55 GMT -8
after hiking up Mount Washington, NH I'm sure there were several also waiting to buy their "This car climbed Mt. Washington" sticker. Saw a couple of those stickers in Acadia last week. I hope they'll pardon me for not being impressed.
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Post by johntpenca on Sept 16, 2019 11:31:14 GMT -8
Could not sit through the REI footage long enough to hear the host's points; got bored. Technology, affluence and population growth in general is shrinking the world. It is a natural progression of discovery, publishing and public awareness; accelerated by technology. Increased visitation and eventual over crowding of the more exotic or "adventure" locations is a natural result for those with the means to go there. To me it is a sad but inevitable result of so many factors. balzaccom posts a reasonable perspective. Though I do feel the younger set are less interested in preservation than moving to the next box to check off and tell their "friends". Just another facet of disposable experiences.
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reuben
Trail Wise!
Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on Sept 16, 2019 12:41:14 GMT -8
More people, more exposure (internet, instagram, etc.), and new generations searching for "epic" as balzaccom said. Good on them for getting out, but it's not all about selfies, and it's always about safety. There are still plenty of places in the world where solitude and wilderness can be found together, but they're probably don't have Yosemite, Alp, or Himalaya in their name. Shoulder and off seasons are still good bets if you can handle the weather. True, 18 foot snow drifts may put a crimp in that plan, but options are out there.
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reuben
Trail Wise!
Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
Posts: 11,141
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Post by reuben on Sept 16, 2019 12:44:15 GMT -8
Dang millennials ruining things for everyone else again. Good thing no other age group uses smart phones. LMAO, but FamilySherpa speaks the truth! I've been to some concerts lately where the gray hairs (I'm getting there) were busy holding their phones up to record the show and blocking the view of others, as well as madly texting prior to the show and taking selfies to post. Whatever happened to just getting stoned and seeing the show? I outgrew the first part, but not the latter. Le sigh.
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reuben
Trail Wise!
Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
Posts: 11,141
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Post by reuben on Sept 16, 2019 12:45:21 GMT -8
I'm sure there were several also waiting to buy their "This car climbed Mt. Washington" sticker. I'll believe it when I see their car sign in at the trailhead.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2019 16:42:07 GMT -8
I'll answer yes. And that from a photographer that started out with a Minolta SRT 101 and slide film.
Because of my schedule, I have to hike close to home. One of my favorite haunts in WV was a real wilderness at one time, but is now absolutely over run on weekends. I was buzzed by a drone while having morning coffee in what used to be a solitary camp site. Makes me sad. It used to be all about solitude, the experience. Now its just another photo-op with a selfie stick.
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Post by autumnmist on Sept 16, 2019 19:59:39 GMT -8
johntpenca, "telling their friends" seems to be a basic trait of those obsessed with selfies, photos and sharing their lives, sometimes too personal aspects of those lives. It's as if they collect adventures w/o really experiencing them. It's a very shallow approach, and to me, one which bypasses the "real" experience of just sitting down someplace where no one else is, and appreciating the sky, the air, the peace, the trees, lakes, or mountains...or lack of them. Every moment has to be an adventure, documented by photos.
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balzaccom
Trail Wise!
Waiting for spring...
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Post by balzaccom on Sept 16, 2019 20:18:42 GMT -8
johntp, "telling their friends" seems to be a basic trait of those obsessed with selfies, photos and sharing their lives, sometimes too personal aspects of those lives. You are obviously too young to remember my father and his endless slide shows of our summer vacations. Millennials don't do anything different, they just have better technology.
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Post by k9education on Sept 16, 2019 21:01:08 GMT -8
I've often wondered if social media is what is driving the droves of people to the trails. I no longer frequent many of the trails I used to hike several times per week because there is rarely a time when they are empty. Cold and wet days are less crowded, but rarely so that I am willing to hike those trails. There are still plenty of trails I can hike in peace, but most of the more scenic hikes are out these days due to the overwhelming crowds.
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Post by autumnmist on Sept 17, 2019 7:01:21 GMT -8
You are obviously too young You can't possibly know how amusing that is to me, not just b/c of the recollections but just the concept of "being too young." At my age, I wish I was "too young".
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