The Great Outdoors

[japhy]

No elk this last trip out. The mule deer seem to be mostly in town (Saguache and Monte Vista), I guess they are eating out of dumpsters this time of year. The pronghorn are especially prolific between Saguache and Poncha Pass this year. As a kid I recall seeing very few of them. But now they are all over on the north end of the SLV.

[Deleted User 89]

where’s shirley/feral?

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/flori ... story.html

[ousdahl]

^^^

and heck, where’s tj?

cuz check out those countertops!

[Deleted User 89]

https://news.mongabay.com/2020/12/only- ... x-reveals/

[Deleted User 89]

fucking cool

https://www.toledoblade.com/local/anima ... 0201207088

[ousdahl]

Y’all suck

[jhawks99]

Prolly texans.

[Deleted User 89]

thought experiment: at what point does “graffiti” become “hieroglyphics”?

don’t get me wrong, i’m generally against modern campers etching things in rocks...i just find it interesting that etchings/paintings, at some point, cease being seen as destructive and become historical records or anthropological artifacts

there is a spot in Capitol Reef where water used to flow through a narrow canyon. pioneers etched names and dates in the walls of the canyon, which now due to 100+ years of sediment movement, are dozens of feet high on the canyon walls. these aren’t viewed, at least that i’ve seen, as vandalism

[ousdahl]

that's a good thought experiment!

while I'm not exactly sure when graffiti can or should become hieroglyphics, it prob shouldn't be considered as much in a busy national park.

or rather, imagine a hypothetical thousands of years from now: some other intelligent life who knows nothing about us finds Zion, and ponders in wondrous awe over the ancient dwellers here who left brilliant hieroglyphic art such as, "Keith from Houston took a dump here"

[jhawks99]

My buddy and I were in Capitol Reef a few years back. We checked out the petroglyphs that Native Americans had drawn. Next to that were some names that the earliest settlers had carved into the rock. Both were considered historical artifacts and no other graffiti was allowed.

Archeologists discovered an ancient fast food joint in Pompeii recently. The article said it was full of vulgar graffiti.

[Deleted User 89]

My buddy and I were in Capitol Reef a few years back.

amazing place, isn’t it?

one of my favorites here in utah. the “back country” areas along the waterpocket fold are something to behold

[jhawks99]

Loved it. He was recovering from the ass cancer and we didn't get too far into the park but what we saw was really cool. Sadly, the cancer came back and he passed away last year.

[ousdahl]

Stop the Rincon mine!!

Some MFers are trying to build a gravel mine at the confluence of the Colorado and Eagle Rivers in CO.

Sign the petition and tell them to fuck the fuck off!

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/170/278 ... am#updated

[ousdahl]

From an active conservationist and guide friend of mine:

https://www.vaildaily.com/opinion/bomba ... es-a-line/

[japhy]

thought experiment: at what point does “graffiti” become “hieroglyphics”?

don’t get me wrong, i’m generally against modern campers etching things in rocks...i just find it interesting that etchings/paintings, at some point, cease being seen as destructive and become historical records or anthropological artifacts

there is a spot in Capitol Reef where water used to flow through a narrow canyon. pioneers etched names and dates in the walls of the canyon, which now due to 100+ years of sediment movement, are dozens of feet high on the canyon walls. these aren’t viewed, at least that i’ve seen, as vandalism

I was at Casa Grande ruins in Arizona once years ago and saw a lot of "graffiti". After looking closer, the names scratched into the surface were dated and identified themselves as US soldiers from the 1860's. When we visit Penitente Canyon in CO there is a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe 50-60 feet up on the cliffs. It was painted by Penitente religious followers over 100 years ago. A quarter mile before that is spray paint from recent times. There are also petroglyphs in the canyon from 1000's of years ago. I think maybe it comes down to intent.....the soldiers had no more reverence in their demarkation of "I was here" than the kids who spray painted the canyon walls. If it is still there 150 years from now it may be interesting to anyone who sees it.

That reminds me, now that I am back home I need to start work on an obelisk to drop in the Great Sand Dunes somewhere.

[Leawood]

First, you need a bowl of gelato.

[japhy]

Driving through the aptly named, Bighorn Canyon of the Arkansas River twice in the last week. Saw some of the largest flocks of bighorn sheep I have ever seen. They were standing in a flat spot near the highway. Watching them lick salt off the highway in the winter near Empire does not have the same effect.

[thebones]

Over Christmas I drove up to my favorite place in Kansas. Coronado Heights. It was the evening of 12/22, when the winds were 45 mph sustained. It's built on WPA sandstone and the wind was whipping up sand and dirt against the all carved graffiti wearing it down.

But at the base of Coronado heights is the Smokey Hill Cemetery.

https://www.google.com/search?q=smoky+h ... s0qROdHZaM

Looks like a good place for one's bones turn to sand.

[ousdahl]

[Deleted User 89]

speechless...

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adve ... D24E026F2C