Driving from eastern California through Nevada and into Utah we have realized something about ourselves. We both suffer enormously from what I would call landphobia. While you can find plenty of information online about a having a fear of water, open water, deep water–all under the term aquaphobia, there’s not much out there about an intense fear of being far away from a significant body of water. If you’ve grown up near the ocean or lakes you too may be susceptible to this condition.
One of the great things about New Zealand is that you’re never really that far from the ocean. By the time we drove into Nevada we were a full day’s drive from the ocean, and landphobia was setting in. Dry throat, dry and burning skin, visions of cool refreshing water on the horizon–all signs of landphobia. How long would it take if we drove straight to Michigan and the refeshing waters of Higgins Lake? When you start considering driving through the night to get to water in a car whose headlights go out every once in awhile you know that the fear of landphobia has a death grip on your decision making abilities. We finally made it to Great Basin National Park, and the inevitable sign that says, “Most people see the Great Basin as a desolate landscape, but if you look closely it’s teeming with life.” Why do places always phrase things like that. It’s like saying, “You might think this place sucks but give it a chance.”
Great Basin is an incredible place–no apologies needed. And, yes, there are crystal clear streams running down from the snow covered peaks–and birds, butterflies, deer, wildflowers, etc. We spent a few days there checking out 5,000 year old Bristlecone Pines, hiking the 13,063 ft Wheeler Peak, and enjoying a campfire for the first time in months.
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Tags: National Park