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Shocking!  Erosion is a Beautiful Thing Shocking!  Erosion is a Beautiful Thing
The Jeeping lifestyle hinges on things to see and places to go.  Today we flashback on this article from last year by Del Albright... Shocking!  Erosion is a Beautiful Thing

The Jeeping lifestyle hinges on things to see and places to go.  Today we flashback on this article from last year by Del Albright about how Mother Nature created such a vast array of “things”  for us to see — and how we need to ensure we have responsible access to now and in the future.

The Editors


When I wrote this, I had just returned from a marvelous visit to southern Utah and several National Parks. I couldn’t believe how beautiful erosion could be. Yes, erosion.

This area of the United States has been eroded over time to some of the most spectacular scenery I’ve ever experienced.  Many ModernJeepers have enjoyed Moab, Utah for Easter Jeep Safari, enjoying what basically is “erosion.” But think about how we perceive that word today: erosion.

The beauty of Nature caused by this ugly word…

It seems we’ve tweaked words in different directions these days than they were originally meant. Now erosion supposedly needs mitigation, yet some of our most treasured national parks were formed by erosion. Death Valley, the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon NP, Zion, Cedar Breaks, Arches National Park, etc. were all caused by wind and water erosion.

The Canyonlands of the Grand Canyon from Deadhorse Point State Park, Utah

Yet, ask some of our self-proclaimed “environmentalist” friends, and you’ll hear the bad things about erosion. Interesting. What about the beauty of nature’s own creations?

There’s another tweaked word: environmentalist. You won’t hear me call the radical protectionists environmentalists. No sir! The real environmentalists are folks like those in organized recreation groups who fight to preserve our resources for the public instead of from the public — folks like you.

Radical protectionists or anti-access folks are names that better fit the folks who run around spouting book-learned ecology and advocating excluding us from our public lands. It’s unfortunate that the anti-access folks get the attention they do; but that brings me to another word that’s been misused: access.

Access means passage and freedom of entry. It does not mean entry for only those who recreate by non-motor means. It should mean access for all. It should mean sharing our public lands and sharing our trails — for all users. In my opinion, it should not mean a mandatory ride on a shuttle bus to see our public lands for which we’ve already paid for and hired folks to manage.

I am certain of one thing. When you stand on a wind-swept sandstone formation that breaks off below you hundreds of feet down, you can’t help but behold the beauty of a word like erosion. But words like erosion, environmentalist, and access have all taken on multiple meanings these days. My suggestion to you is to ensure the words you’re speaking are the words your listener is hearing.

One never knows.

Read more on ModernJeeper about getting involved in your public lands here.

Enjoy the gallery of some fine erosion…

Arches National Park, Moab, Utah offers wonderful examples of erosion by weathering, wind and natural causes.  Arches are caused mostly by wind and natural erosion. Bridges are caused by water erosion.

Stacie Albright plays with eroded rocks in San Rafael Swell, Utah.

Water erosion in places like Death Valley is the main cause of the most interesting formations like grotto-filled canyons.

 

The famous “Balls” or “Jump Rock” outside Moab, Utah.

 

 

Grand Staircase Escalante, Utah.

Castle Valley, just outside Moab, Utah

 

Zion National Park is unequaled in views of eroded rock and hillsides.

 

Too much runoff and cause more than just erosion.

Exposed “slick rock” in Moab, Utah, from weathering and erosion.

 

Balanced Rock of Arches National Park.

Weathering and erosion pulled this giant rock down nearly blocking the road.

 

 

Eroded Zabriski Point of Death Valley

 

Erosion (mud waterfall) in progress along Wall Street of Moab, UT.

Be sure to take your family and friends to see some of America’s wonderful “eroded” areas and keep in mind how words get twisted as much as some canyon walls.

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Photos by author.

Del Albright Ambassador

Internationally published author; WorldWide ModernJeeper Abassador and 2014 Inductee of the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame. Del has been involved in the Jeeping Lifestyle for longer then most of us can count. His educational and mentorship programs have helped developed warfighters in the ongoing battle to keep Public Lands Open to the Public.

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