Jason's little sister Carly and me. Thanks to Jordan for the photo!
I always joke that Glacier National Park is in my back yard. It's easy for me to take a day to hike a portion of the 700 miles of trails that wind through the park or to schedule a whitewater rafting trip or maybe just pack a picnic lunch and eat it next to a clear-water river.
The thing is, I rarely do it.
The thing is, I know people who've never done it despite living here most of their lives.
Maybe it's because the park is so close that people take it for granted. I know whenever I leave Montana for the city I can't wait to get back. It's just so, so...nice here. But oftentimes when I'm here, I'm anxious to get out.
And it's not just me with the weird mindset.
I was in New York this past weekend and talked with a few guys who've lived in the City their whole lives and have never ventured to the Statue of Liberty. Even more interesting, the farthest these guys ever traveled from home was when they crossed the river into Jersey for what I can only imagine was hair gel and wife-beater tank tops.
(Yeah, I know the Statue of Liberty is rife with jackass tourists, but I'm sure there's something else to go see.)
So after thinking about all of this on the plane back to Montana, I decided to step a little out of my comfort zone and start taking advantage of where I live. I drove the two hours back to my hometown of Whitefish for the fourth of July and took my dad up on his offer to do a six-mile hike up to Apgar Lookout in Glacier.
I invited my friend, web designer, and Glacier Park newbie Jason Lengstorf and his little sister to join my dad, my brother, and me on the hike.
And despite the scorching sun, the lack of water and food (we did not plan ahead), and sore-as-shit legs, we all had a great time.
In fact, I don't know why I don't hike more often.
So from here on, I plan on taking advantage of the Montana outdoors. Whether it's hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, or just playing frisbee or eating lunch in the park, I'm going to start venturing out a bit more to see what I've been missing in my back yard.
Maybe you should too.
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Do you have any national parks, museums, or any other cool attraction that's really close by that you've never explored? Let me know in the comments!
Posted Jul 06, 2009 by .
This entry is filed under outdoors.
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Comments for This Entry
Ha Nate - I can definitely relate to what you were saying about the City -
I was eating with my brother the other day, and telling him about how I was dieing to go back to Vegas or Miami -
And he reminded me, hey dummy, do you realize you live in New York City and those places are toy compared to here?
That woke me up - yeah, we definitely under-appreciate and under-utilize the places, people and resources we have in our lives -
Thanks for the wake-up call bud -
Yea Nate I hear ya.
Not too far away here in Banff National Park, Alberta (google image that shit) and I completely take it for granted!
I might just have to take the same vow
I can totally relate.
While I don't live in New York City or close to a park massive and beautiful like the Glacier National Park, I do live close to many nice spots in this corner of the province of Ontario. Just last Saturday afternoon, when I was driving back home from Toronto, I decided to get off the 401 (a superhighway like I-90 for you, Nate) and drive on this Lakeshore Road that I've always been curious about. Sure it meant that I wouldn't get home in 2 hours, but I had time to kill. I decided to go for the experience; now, I know what a beautiful scenery that this Lakeshore Road offers. I may even return just to admire the beauty of Lake Ontario, lush-looking farmlands, and cliffs that I saw along this road.
And, get this! Last Friday, 5 of us who have lived in Ontario for most of our lives - 3 have lived in Toronto all their lives - got together to welcome our mutual friend who was visiting Toronto from a small town outside of Edmonton, Alberta. We all met up at the CN Tower. One of the first questions that our out-of-town friend asked us was "How many of us have been up the CN Tower?". I was gobsmacked to realize the answer.
All of the three Torontonians have never been up on the CN tower in their lives! Another friend hasn't been up on it since she was a young girl and doesn't have many memories of it. Now, I went up on it for the first time 3 summers ago and was going up for my second time on that day.
This story totally parallels to your point: do appreciate what your town and your area offers. I think we're all too gung-ho on travelling outside of our home town/area. We need to start appreciating what is available near to us. It's time to start preaching "staycation", not "vaca(te)-tion"!
I've also noticed that whenever I travel, I do miss certain things that I used to take for granted. Last March, I went to Hong Kong and was just aghast in the middle of a very modern city, I have to boil water to drink any water or else buy many bottles of water. It was so good to return home and gulp down as much water right out of the tap!
Great blog, Nate. Great timing too as it's summer time when many people have more free time and/or holidays during an economic downturn!
I was just thinking about this myself. I'm from Plymouth Massachusetts, home of the Pilgrims, Mayflower, and the first Thanksgiving. I live a mile from Plymouth Rock, and I see it whenever I go downtown. I used to work at Plymouth Plantation. We have a great waterfront and downtown with tons of shops, restaurants, and museums. My town has a lot of history. Since moving with my wife I really miss the place, and being there for the long weekend was a great time getting to see my town again. There is a lot I want to learn about it, though, and there are plenty of books about our history. Great post, Nate.
Behind my new apartment is a 2000+ acre park. I have hiked there every Sunday since I got moved in. I even got lost yesterday, thankfully some trail nymphs showed me the way out.
Well, I haven't been to any other province in Canada -- talk about not exploring your backyard!
We have a hugely rich and diverse culture that I haven't experienced. From oil tycoons out west, to the fishing towns in the east, and crystal clear lakes up north -- I have seen none of it!
I've only left my timezone once for a recording trip to Nashville. On that note, however, I've lived in random places within a 2000 mile line running North-to-South.
Have you ever been up here, Nate? We all sound like Berardi, so I think you might enjoy it (or think we are all super brilliant dudes with PhDs ).
I just went to one of our state parks in PA about an hour outside of Pittsburgh (where I live) yesterday. It was awesome. I plan on going back some time soon. There is so much more I want to do and explore including hiking.
We don't have too many "historic" or places of grandeur here in the midwest, but I'm a pretty outdoorsy kind of guy. I take it in whenever I get the chance. I hope to make the 8 hour trip out to the Black Hills this fall for a 100 mi. mountain bike ride. That'll be a "treat". ha ha.
I live about an hour (depending on traffic) from Washington DC. While we have hit a lot of the must-see stuff (museums, monuments, etc.) there are plenty of cool things we have never been to. Two of my brother in laws live near Daytona, and I go to the beach more than them. It seems taht taking your surroundings for granted is pretty common...
I have lived in western New York state all my life and just within the last month have taken to bike riding around the area. I am very very impressed with the quality bike paths in our area that I had not been aware of until now. My wife and I joined our nieghbors on a 70 mile ride that took us to Niagara Falls (how great is that?..to be able to ride on both sides of the Falls) into Canada and down the river into downtown Buffalo and back home. It was such a great time. So your point is very well taken..sometimes we need to better 'explore' where we spend the majority of our lives..and worry less about trying to 'get away.
I always thought hiking was for hippies and tree-huggers until I hooked up with a rock climber chick that wanted to show me The Pinnacles outside of Richmond, KY. I figured, sure, I'm bored and I was about to finish up undergrad and leave Richmond so I might as well check it out while I am here.
She didn't tell me we would be walking multiple miles at about a 45 degree incline. Getting away from my loud ass music in my headphones and gym, but still getting a burn in my quads was kick ass.
The view and conversation was unmatchable when we got to the peak and could see out into multiple cities. Definitely not something to take advantage of, good post hoss.
Wife beaters and hair gel...thats awesome. And pretty much true.
I live in Niagara Falls and work at the Fallsview Casino that overlooks the mighty falls. Talk about taking it for granted! We were showing some contractors around the hotel and as we kept walking and talking they simply stopped and stared at the falls then whipped out their cameras for some good aerial shots. We gave them ffor a few minutes to take it all then returned to the job at hand. Good times!
Nate,
Sounds like a badass place.
Here in KY I make sure to enjoy the "Land Between The Lakes" (http://www.lbl.org) and Kentucky Lake (http://www.kentuckylake.com). I spend time boating, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, etc. in these amazing "backyard" areas of mine.
Here is another idea some people may enjoy. Take the backroads (or avoid highways on GPS) on fairly long trips. I have done this from St. Louis to home and from home to Louisville. Talk about seeing some awesome scenery, people, attractions, etc. It takes a little longer but adds to the adventure and makes you slow down and enjoy life a little more. Instead of hauling ass down the highway to your destination.
I live in Texas.
I've probably seen .000000005% of everything Texas has to offer.
I really want to do some bouldering at Hueco Tanks, go to Reimer's Ranch outside of Austin, go to Enchanted Rock, etc. etc. etc. There are tons of state parks, trails, rivers that I would probably die of old age before I saw all of them.
That said, when I get that damn degree (two and half more years!), I'll have some more time to travel. Until then, it's anywhere I can drive to in half a day that I can go visit.
Thanks for the all the comments guys! I really had no idea a lot of other people feel the same.
It's way too easy to get stuck in your comfort zone, whether mental or physical and I'm glad at least a few of us are going to start stepping out of it more often.
That said, I'm off to really step out of my comfort zone and bottle my first batch of homebrew. Should be...interesting.
I'll keep you posted.
-Nate
I just tried the avoid highways function last weekend doing a relatively short drive between Ohio and PA. It was much better than the Turnpike. I can't wait to try it out on a longer drive.
I heard someone say this incredibly true, but succinct quote during a conference that addressed a certain disability: "Staying within one's comfort zone is a disability that anyone can have".
Enjoy the homebrew.
Jersey has more than guidos. Think about some of the coaches that come out of NJ. Even-Esh, DeFranco, Marion just to name a few. Think about it
Steve,
I heard that Ferruggia is a closet case Guido. Ha ha ha ha.
@ Steve
Agreed. I still stand by my original comment though. :)
Jason, Zach. and Joel are all friends of mine, too. Great guys.
-Nate
Hey Nate,
I'm currently stationed in Northern Japan and the wilderness is pretty extensive. I've hiked alot of the trails and found a few cool temples but have yet to go camping in the area. I plan on conquering it this summer. Keep on truckin'
Pete
I just moved to Arizona, so it is hot as hell here right now, but there are a ton of places I have been checking out. It's nice to be out in the wild from time to time. It helps me decompress from work, side jobs, family, etc.
Love the book by the way! I am gearing up to start the whole program in fall.
I'm a student at Georgia Tech, and it took me until my fourth year to go visit the Chattahoochee River.
Now I spend every warm day I can there, floating down in a cheap float from Wal-Mart, jumping off 10 meter rocks where you can't see the water until you are in the air, and enjoying the hot sun, cool water and great wildlife sites. Add beer and good friends, and it's like heaven.
And to think, I missed out of three years of that opportunity. Good think I'm taking the redshirt and spending a fifth year here.
P.S. Nate, love the site, love the book, recommended it to friends. Keep up the good work.
Hahaha, I can't believe that gravatar is actually working now. This must be a 17+ site.
when i'm at school upstate in Ithaca, I'm always out and about at the gorges and parks and trails. It is great.
PS you are looking huge dude
Damn Nate! Your chest is the thickest I have ever seen it. Thibs program is working well for you.
I ran the Grouse Grind in North Vancouver with my brother-in-law. I like to cinsider mysel fin shape but doing the equivalent of 2500 bodyweight lunges in an hour kicked my feeble a$$. Fun, though. I felt like I earned something.
Then I just climbed Sulfur Mountain in Banff last weekend. Funny, I've been there dozens of times and never done it. The unwashed masses rode the gondola. I earned my way to the top the hard way.
Canada_K, are you also on PN? Your username looks familiar.
I did that walk up the Sulphur Mountain back in 2002 during an one-day visit in Banff on way out to Vancouver. It was so worth going up the mountain starting from downtown Banff and then coming down the gondola and then hitching a ride back into town to catch our bus ride.
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