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InspectorFadGadget t1_j8y2imm wrote

Reply to comment by SkyWizarding in Otherworldly Landscape in Utah [1080x1350][OC] by holy-shot

One of the most defining moments of my life was going into Canyonlands for the first time, up to the Grand Viewpoint, just after sunrise, after it had snowed all night, blanketing the upper altitudes of the mesa. I don't know if it was because it was so early in the morning, or if other people were scared the roads would be too bad to get up there, but our group was the only human presence up there for hours.

When people say pictures and video don't do things like that justice, it's something you hear so often that you write off as somewhat of a cliche. It's not. It affects your other senses and spatial perception in a way that is very hard to describe.

I felt like I could literally hear the "ohm" of the universe. And it was LOUD. Alongside the ambient sounds of quietly trickling water from all the snow slightly melting and draining down the rocks and cliffs.

I never thought it would have affected me in such a way. I don't think I was able to even say any words to my group for quite some time, that shit straight blasted my ass

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elianamaharani t1_j8y334c wrote

I hear you so much on this!!! I felt that way when I went to the Bisti Badlands in New Mexico. The silence was quite literally DEAFENING and brought me to my knees. The absolute stillness & lack of human presence, coupled with the majesty of nature, is mind boggling. I also definitely felt this way at Canyonlands this last year, when I went for the first time... but I wasn't as lucky as you, and shared the park with lots of other humans. Still absolutely breath-taking!!

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penywisexx t1_j8yhm56 wrote

The Bisti Badlands are amazing…I can’t wait to go back. I drove 14 hours to get there and camped in my Rooftop Tent in the parking lot. Woke up first thing in the morning and went exploring, I was so sore from driving so long the day before I could only hike for about 3 or 4 hours before I had to go back to my SUV. I’m going back next month and doing it again (probably doing a stupid long drive again to get there).

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BakedDoritos1 t1_j8yngok wrote

I have worked in that part of New Mexico on and off for several years and it has been a humbling experience to say the least. I could never convince myself to stay for a full night at the Bisti or Chaco (it creeps me out to sleep in the open desert at night) but the stars and landscape are unreal. You just feel so alone.

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Connie_Lingus6969 t1_j8zizqv wrote

I was in canyonlands during winter time and no one was around. It was so overwhelming, beautiful, gigantic that I couldn't stop crying while I was hiking around.

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MAdcock6669 t1_j903dan wrote

I feel this in my soul. We were in Canyonlands last January for 4 days and only ran across a handful of people the whole time. It was like having the world to ourselves. It was such a reboot for me.

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holy-shot OP t1_j8ydimi wrote

That‘s what I‘m always looking forward to on my photo trips besides getting a good shot. Well said!

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nope-absolutely-not t1_j903jgq wrote

I get you there. Even if you're not spiritual or religious, spending a few moments there you totally and completely understand how these places came to be sacred to the native peoples all over the Southwest.

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