While Kurt has been in Austin, he's had a chance to chat with a few folks close to the National Parks. One of his recurring questions has been, "What has been your favorite experience in the National Parks?" How would YOU answer that question? Use the comment form below to submit your favorite story. I figure that among the national park travelers that read this website, there must be some good stories out there. To get the ball rolling, here is my most memorable, favorite moment in the National Parks:
Bat Count in Lava Beds National Monument
When I was an interpreter in Lava Beds National Monument, I was told of a bat survey happening in the park. The survey was to be conducted by the park biologist team, but other workers in the park (like me) were invited to watch. Lava Beds National Monument has many lava tube caves, more than 300 have been cataloged, if my memory is correct. Some of these caves, but not all, provide shelter for resident and migratory bat species. The cave targeted for this bat survey was fairly remote, and required a bit of a hike to access.
A lot of people in the park went to see this bat count, perhaps 30 of us, including seasonals in the park from the Student Conservation Association, volunteers, and park personnel. We parked at the trail head, an hour or so before sundown. This whole group of folks trudged through the pumice rock trail. The instructions were, "hike two miles, then take a left, off trail, at the lone juniper, and hike another half mile". This is before GPS, and it was in a wilderness area, so with those brief instructions, we were on our own to figure it out. I'm not sure I could find that cave again today, if I tried.
We made it to the cave. We were all fairly chatty at this point, somewhat excited for what we might see. While we waited, we had excellent seats for a terrific sunset. Then, maybe 15 minutes later, the park biologist raised his hand, signaling for silence. Soon, a few bats trickled out of the cave entrance, followed immediately by hundreds upon hundreds of little bats flying into the night sky. I have no idea how they count all those bats. I just remember being in complete awe at the site of this cloud of creatures streaming from the cave. It is a memory that has lasted for so many years quite vividly in my mind.
Everyone there that night was touched by the event. Walking back to our cars was fun, we were all energized by what we had seen. Of course, after the survey, nightfall had arrived, so our walk back to civilization was done in the dark. We had flashlights (and we may have used them on occasion), but the light of the rising moon was enough to guide our way. What a great experience that was.
OK, there's my favorite park moment. What is yours? Use the form below to share your story with the other travelers here.
Comments
Picking one experience is difficult, but there is one that stands out in my mind: my first view of Delicate Arch in Arches NP. I had spent the previous two days in the park, hiking and photographing the surreal formations, as well as building myself up for the hike to Delicate Arch. The hike itself was awesome; climbing the steep slickrock slope was a great challenge with terrific views. But nothing compares to rounding the last corner of the trail and getting a visual (and emotional) kick in the rear as that fantastic rock sculpture comes into view. It's a place that every national park lover should see.
Wow, this is tough. I don't know if it was the night camping on Bar Island in Frenchman's Bay in Acadia National park, and watching the Pleiades Meteor Shower while my dog munched blueberries off the bushes around my sleeping bag (counted well over 100 shooting stars before falling asleep!) Or my one and only Blue Ridge Parkway from bottom to top road trip, taken in 1976 in Maggie, the metallic blue '56 Ford Pickup Truck. Or the Hike with Don Pace in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area learning about copper mining from 1640 on, and being shown the mines, and seeing the boy scout camp that used to be there through his eyes growing up on it in the 1950's and 60's, before the Tock's Island Dam acquisitions happened that formed the DWGNRA as it is today.
I agree - this is a REALLY tough decision - there are SO many!
But, if I had to pick one, it was at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park in 2005. Our plan was to hike the Kilauea Iki Trail our first morning. I'd always wanted to hike this trail that goes across a volcanic crater, but it was almost 5 miles long, and my husband was still only just starting to "be OK" with hiking - although I've been "outdoorsy" all my life, he is more of a city boy, so it is tough to convince him of the "joys" of hiking sometimes when you can get great views "from the car."
So, in 2005, he was just getting to the point where he wouldn't complain of a 2-3 mi hike - as long as significant elevation changes weren't involved, and he was consistently "comfortable."
Well, that morning, it started to rain - that typical tropical rain forest rain....that is, a steady, light, never-ending mist. We did bring ponchos, and although I'm ok w/ hiking in the rain, it didn't bode well for Jacob's experience.
Regardless, he was a trooper, and donned his poncho, and we took off.
It continued to drizzle the whole time, and I was constantly fretting about how he was "suffering" and how I'd never hear the end of it, and he'd never hike with me again.
Well, about 1 mile into the hike, we had descended through the tropical forest to the bottom of the crater and were about to start the trek across it. I turned around on the trail and saw Jacob in his cheap poncho, soaking wet.
Through the mist and fog, I could see him - he was smiling, and his eyes were taking it all in and bright as sapphires....and he said just one word looking out over the crater - "Wow!" Discomfort was the farthest thing from his mind.
It ended up being his most favorite hike in all the national parks we've visited to this day (he's now proud to say he's visited over 100 national park sites!).
Since then, he's upgraded to roadside camping in the parks, and this year he even did his first backcountry camping experience - pack and all!
But, I think it was this favorite hike in Hawai'i that I think that started it all - and it was one of my most memorable for that reason alone.
Tristan