15
That weird smell at the Grand Canyon overlook that nobody warns you about
Was at Mather Point last Saturday around 10 AM and everyone was just standing there taking pictures. But I kept catching this faint whiff of stale beer and sunscreen mixing together and realized every single visitor had a plastic cup or water bottle in their hand. Does anyone else notice how tourist spots like this just become giant outdoor living rooms where nobody actually looks at the view for more than 30 seconds before checking their phone?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
anderson.jason5d ago
That's funny you say that because I had the same thing at Yosemite last year, I just walked a bit further down the trail and found a quiet spot.
10
gavin_knight395d ago
...and that's the thing, it wasn't even stale beer exactly. What you're picking up is probably the cheap vodka in those plastic screw-top bottles people smuggle in, mixed with whatever fruity sunscreen gets slathered on at 6 AM. I work near a national park and I've seen folks fill their Yeti mugs with mimosas at the parking lot before hiking out. But your comment about phones is what gets me - I timed myself once at Horseshoe Bend, and the average person spent maybe 45 seconds actually looking before they pulled out their phone to find the perfect angle. The overlooks just become backdrops for selfies now, not places to look out from.
3