The little desert town I call home currently pitches “Do it like a local” for their marketing campaign.
Meaning, explore the local sites and trying to sustainably (e.g., “Don’t bust the crust!”).
For me, however, doing it like a local means exploring places typically ignored when people visit Moab. When you have one week to explore an area, you often want to see the highlights. You tend to hike Delicate Arch or the Fiery Furnace rather than local trails hidden in plain sight, or you’ll #crush the Whole Enchilada rather than ride a lesser-known local track.
And that is true of any place. In my old stomping grounds, you’d hike Longs Peak or climb the Flatirons rather than hike 13ers or do Seal Rock.
The well-known Mesa Arch. Many might know this photo as Windows 7 wallpaper.
Except as a local, I want to explore places I usually would not see as when you have limited vacation time.
I, or more typically with Joan, can hike for the sake of hiking.
- What’s in that obscure wilderness area in the middle of town?
- I think I’ll spend a morning exploring the Rock Images and other sites above the river.
- Hmm, we want to connect the dots with the canyon system and explore all the side canyons.
Etc.
We hike, we explore, and we savor.
As a local, I have the leisure of finding what is in the nooks and crannies we call home.
Since the total population of the area (Moab proper, Grand County, and nearby San Juan county) currently tops at only about 10,0000 people, these obscure places tend to be lonely. Sure, Moab has 3 million visitors; but those 3 million visitors don’t want to hike like a local too much. 🙂
So we explore the odd canyons, meander along the creeks, and explore signs of the people who came long before any Euro-American settlement.
We always do it like a local. And that means seeing things very local.
I can’t wait to see more.
Want to learn more about Moab and what to do? Check out my “Quick and Dirty Guide to Moab.”