Are you from New England? Planning a trip out west? Are you prepared?
For what, you might ask. Let me share with you some of the surprises I had in my venture to the Grand Canyon state.
I hail from Connecticut originally. My ancestry revolves around three states: New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. As you New Englanders know, the terrain is green, grassy, hilly, and covered with plants and trees.
I imagine the thought of desert inspires images of swirling sand dunes and cactus. I, too, had that misconception. Not every desert involves giant sand dunes and people begging for water. Roadrunners are not bigger than coyotes. And rivers aren’t over 15 feet wide.
First of all, if you are planning a trip to one of the National Parks out west, Grand Canyon National Park included, be prepared to drive… and drive. Distances make look small on a map, but they are quite long with little in between. As a side note, if you see a gas station, stop and get gas – it may be over 70 miles to the next one. Growing up, it took a mere 2 hours to get to New York City. In my currect location, it takes nearly 2 hours to get to the next town.
Secondly, you can see. There are no trees (well okay, there are trees at the Grand Canyon… and people out here tell me there are trees and I agree that there are some, so let me rephrase)… there are no trees out west unless you head to the mountains.
Sunrises and sunsets are incredible! Watching clouds roll in is amazing! The immensity of the sky will astound you. Lightning storms light the entire sky and are awesome and impressive.
Third, be happy – humidity is LOW. Even when it’s hot, the back of your knees don’t sweat, nor do you feel like taking a shower every few minutes. On the flip side, drink a lot. I had a doctor tell me once that I needed to drink more water than others who were born here because I am an Easterner by birth. Probably to help me remember to drink before I am thirsty.
Fourth, deserts are not flat. The Grand Canyon itself is proof of that. Yes, you can see miles ahead of you on the highways (which are not several lane roadways, those are called freeways out here), but along the way you will see mesas, and all manner of rock formations that are hard to imagine until you see them. Of course, occasionally, you will have to stare because it’s a wonder how that rock has balanced on that small stone for centuries.
Fifth, there is life in the desert. There are many species of plants besides cactus and sagebrush. Deer, elk and squirrels are common sights at the Grand Canyon. Jackrabbits, lizards, coyotes, and birds often peek out at visitors. Watching a hawk or eagle soar through the open sky is beautifuI and serene.
The biggest things to remember are to be prepared to spend a lot of time driving and douse yourself with sunscreen. Then, enjoy! I fell in love with it, which is why I’m still out here.
Leah Vest, Reservationist, GrandCanyon.com
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