I am a Utah native and every word you said resonated so much with me! I feel like we're cut out of the same cloth. Our family hiked Angel's Landing last year after the permit system started and I thought it was a MUCH better experience. Those who get a permit are willing to put forth a little extra effort to do it and I think value the experience much more. Throughout the hike there was nothing but a lot of respect for the landscape. We were the last ones at the top and enjoyed the sun setting and it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced.
Thanks @danielriding1! It does my heart so much good to hear you had a positive experience on Angels Landing. My treks to the summit have been a mixed bag over the past several years. There are definitely people who very much respect and reverence places like Angels Landing and I love connecting with them whether on the trail or online. I've thought long about the permit program and I hope the extra effort does serve to sweeten the experience. Thanks for sharing your experience and your kind words. Wishing you more wonderful experiences like your recent climb of Angels Landing! I also invite you to consider sharing this video with your friends and family. So much of the internet neglects the more respectful approach to exploring wild spaces. The message of stewardship needs ambassadors.
I'm also a Utah native and have hiked Angels Landing many times. This is the type of video that needs to be shared by the Park Service. Respect the landscape, nature and other guests. Enjoy the reverence of this majestic climb. I haven't been back since the reservation method, but I hope it has reduced the amount of visitors on any given day and the ambiance of the summit. Very great video and thoughts! Glad you are still alive to tell your story!
Thanks a ton @Snowbirdin! I don't know what affect my message will have. But I've long felt an obligation to share my experience and am grateful for the kind words and encouragement. I would love if the Park Service would aid me in sharing my message. But, having worked with the Park Service on numerous occasions, they have strict limits on the active or passive support they offer to "influencers". For now, I am hopeful that people will share this video with their friends and family and do their best to nurture a culture of respect and courtesy when exploring wild spaces. Wishing you the best in all your adventures! Thanks again for watching and commenting!
@@HomeInWildSpaces The Zion rangers are fantastic on keeping visitors safe and enforcing their rules. I reported people walking dogs on Watchman's Trail that were NOT service dogs. Pets are not allowed on the trails. Several other hikers called them out on it and yelled that pets are not allowed, to which the young adults responded with middle fingers and expletives. We called the rangers who met them at the trailhead and kicked them out. In 2021 when I was there, you needed reservations for low-capacity shuttle service and it was timed entry. Lots of shuttle jumpers trying to get on in the middle of a pandemic. The rangers also were cracking down on scalpers on Alltrails who were snatching up all the shuttle tickets and selling them dozens of times more (they were only a dollar on Recreation.gov). I was impressed with the rangers. You need to tell them about this ASAP. As an adaptive hiker with a spine disability, I am meticulous in my hiking to ensure I am safe. Had I been hit by a hike, I would have gone over the side. I've been to the 51 national parks in the lower 48. At least for other hikers, you need to report this. Thank you
Thank you for your commentary. I am a veteran hiker and deeply appreciate the sanctuary of nature. I don't enjoy a lot of activities any more because of the constant noise and cell phone distractions. Beautiful video.
Wow! So relieved you lived to share this experience. I have not been to Angel's landing since 2002. It is sad to see and hear the culture has changed so much on this trail and others. If people were off their phones and videos they might recognize the frailty of the location that they're in and respect the well-being of others. I would encourage people not to use the word "bucket list" because to me it cheapens the experience and seems to communicate taking these life experiences for granted.
I did this trail midday yesterday on a Wednesday. I was expecting terrible crowds because of our late start but was very happy to see only a few other groups on the climb up. Luckily we only saw responsible climbing.
glad you had a positive experience. I'm hoping the new permit system is doing its job and making the hiker safer and more enjoyable. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Fantastic video and commentary. As someone who grew up visiting Utah's national parks as our yearly vacation, I completely agree with your assessment of how social media has really damaged the experience. I also appreciate your commentary about the hike not being for everyone. I'm a decent hiker, but I know Angel's Landing is not for me. I'm prone to vertigo when there are even sloping drop-offs - it just wouldn't be safe for me or others just so I could say I've done it. Happy to live vicariously through the beautiful shots of you and others.
I really appreciate that you took the time to share your encouragement and support for the message of my video. That my story will reach people and encourage better stewardship and greater respect is all that I could ask for, and your decision to watch the video and comment helps me accomplish that goal. Thank you! I'm so glad I could take you along. This is an amazing landscape. But it is wise to know one's limits. There's also so much more to explore than just Angels Landing. I wish you the very best and invite you to consider sharing this video with your friends and family and help share a crucial message of respect and stewardship.
Wow. Thanks for sharing this experience. I can’t believe anyone would be so inconsiderate and do that up there but I should know better by now. Glad it wasn’t any worse for you.
Thank you! I'm very grateful to still be alive. Really wish people would learn to leave the gimmicks at home. Hoping sharing my story might help get the message out. Courtesy isn't just a matter of trail manners. Sometimes, it can also mean the difference between life and death. Thanks so much for watching and commenting! It's a great help to my channel. I invite you to share this video and help get the message out further.
I'd lose it. I live in southern Utah and am a tour guide down here. I have also lived outside of Yellowstone and guided up there. I know people don't like the permit system that has been installed at Angel's Landing but it's completely necessary. People do not have any social etiquette at all. It is an extreme risk to hike that along with many other places and people treated as if it is a ride in Disneyland.
I’m happy they have the permits now, I live in St. George and I turned around at the bathrooms once cause their was a damn line going up to the top, I’ve gone numerous times it’s just not worth the risk.
I don’t get it… it’s just another stupid “bucket list dude bruh” hike… it’s nothing special or authentic when everyone is only going there because they want a false sense of meaning. Carve your own path and don’t post it online for the mouth breather “bucket list dude bro look at muh beard dude bro” crowd It’s really an existential and ontological crisis in the secular world - something that genzers and millennials love to avoid “it’s all about ME dude bro!!” 🤮 I toy with the bucketlist people. I’ll park and serup my giant attention getting lens JUST to slow down their trip…and I am not even taking photos- just sitting in my car reading my book 😋
Wow! What an adventure it must be to take this trek! I myself would never be able to do so because of my crippling acrophobia. Thank for letting me tag along with you!❤️
I've hiked Angel's Landing 4 times since 2016 and I know how risky this trail is. I know how you feel about Zion National Park. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. National Parks need our support.
Totally agree! Thanks for watching and commenting! Our wild spaces need responsible ambassadors. We each have a role in protecting the land and the experience.
Stunning stuff...just had this convo about "dangerous" places and the stupidity of that Selfie....how many cameras have been found at the bottom of the Grand Canyon? And a kite? Oh boy...Thank God for the Angels on Angel's Landing. We still have YOU!
Thanks so much! I feel very blessed to be able to share my story, though it is still a difficult experience to recall. I hope my experience can help people make more conscientious decisions while on the trails. It's not just about courtesy. Sometimes it's literally a matter of life and death. I think the message is very important. So good to hear from you again. Sorry I don't always get around to responding to each comment, but rest assured, I read them all and am grateful for your support for my channel!
I'm very grateful for the outcome. Since that day, I've had a family and wonderful experiences. I feel very blessed. Thanks for watching and commenting! Your support helps drive engagement and share the crucial message of courtesy.
Great video with several important lessons. Appreciate your perspective. Our family hiked Angels Landing in 2014, and it made a lasting impression. To this day, our kids compare every set of switchbacks to Walter's Wiggles. The hike remains a family favorite, though we haven't been back because of the crowds. In 2014, they weren't too bad. Since then, we've found other places near Zion that provide a Zion-like experience without the mayhem. I'm glad NPS has added a permit system. We may try again someday. Sorry for the long comment. The parts of your video unrelated to your scary experience touched off some special memories of being on Angels Landing.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Angels Landing and Walters Wiggles are hard to forget. It's also has been a bit of mixed experience for years now. Sometimes you catch it during a lull. At other times it can feel like a theme park or a concert with people everywhere. Neither of the latter options are appealing to me either. It was definitely time for a permit system. And there are definitely "Zion-like" locations near by which are magical in their own right. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! It helps people learn how special these places are. And that they are deserving of respect. Happy trails!
No harm in that. This is definitely not a trail for everyone. And following my near fall, it was definitely harder to get into the right mindset to make the climb again. Zion is a remarkable landscape, worthy of profound respect. Sometimes that means foregoing certain experiences.
I have a friend whose done this a couple of times. Hates people who are pushing terrified members of their party to go on. It's sadistic and terrified people are s hazard to others.
So glad you were ok! And that kite guy seemed to have a realisation of how appallingly irresponsible he'd been. I guess there's always a tension between wanting access for more people to be able to appreciate nature and enjoy the benefits and exercise vs degrading the experience for others. These kinds of tourism campaigns should always emphasise responsible respectful behaviour. For me it definitely downgrades the 'top ten' sites which generally involve clapping eyes on something great, but as you say in a pretty mundane coffee shop kind of atmosphere which is far less memorable. In one of our UK parks if you visit the second highest peak, (20m shorter) you get an isolated beautiful experience. I'll always choose that over the crowds and cafe at the famous summit! That said though I love that hundreds of kids are over there climbing their first mountain on a good safe trail, so I don't want to be a wilderness snob about it!
I am just stunned that someone could be so selfish and stupid as to bring a kite to Angel’s Landing. Honestly, they should be banned from the freaking park. That really pisses me off. I’m sorry this happened to you.
Thank you! John Muir once said, "Experience has shown me that here are people good enough and bad enough for almost anything." I've learned the hard way that you need to be mindful of the people around you. Most often they don't mean harm, but that clearly doesn't diminish their ability to cause harm. I hope by sharing my experience that people will learn to be more respectful and cautious. Everyone benefits.
@@HomeInWildSpaces What exactly would Mr. Muir say to a Halfbreed like me if he met me??? When I worked on back country trails at Zion National Park when I was in high school in the eighties as a member of the Student Conservation Association I had a rather unwelcoming experience with a couple who had left their horses farther back the trail. They asked me what crime I committed to be on the trail crew. They didn't take kindly to me repeatedly pointing to my T-shirt saying "Student Conservation Association Volunteer" and reading what it said to them each time they demanded to know what crime I committed to be on the trail crew using words that I won't post here. When one of the adult leaders came by and explained to them that we were a volunteer group they tried to get me thrown out of the group by claiming that I was rude to them. Later we discovered they left a large amount of garbage where they camped & left their horses...
Weird how many people think they are in complete control. Flying a kite on a precipice full of people is beyond arrogant. Aside from the obvious potential for an accident, if they lose the kite they just created a large piece of litter to the environment and a potential hazard to wildlife.
You are very kind. Thank you for you encouraging words. I hope you'll consider sharing this video to help get the message out there. I also invite you to subscribe if you haven't yet done so.
I agree with you on the need to quietly behold God's Creation, Beauty and Glory! Been there in 2017, but due to knee issues, could only go to Scout's Lookout. Truly majestic and glad you are OK. Thanks for the beautiful footage.
Glad I could share the final stretch with you. I've struggled with knee issues myself, and definitely sympathize. Glad you were able to make it to Scout Lookout and enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of Zion NP. And thanks so much for watching and sharing your experience!
Even that bighorn sheep seemed to be shaking his head! 😅 Your message is serious and important... I'm not trying to make light of it. That little shake of his head did bring a moment of levity, though...as if to say "A kite?! Foolish humans at it again" I appreciate your content. Thank you
Thanks! It's been difficult to relive in the telling, but I hope the message can accomplish some good. Thanks so much for watching and commenting! It really helps the channel! I also invite you to share this video. The setting may be Zion NP, but the message applies to every park and wilderness area. Thanks again!
Sadly there’s too many idiots in the world. I fully resonate with everything you have said in this video and I am Gen Z. Idiots on hikes with 0 respect are the worst.
The scariest part of Angels Landing for me were the hoarders of idiots impatiently trying to get past me where there was no room to pass. It’s one thing to endanger your own life but no one has the right to endanger the of others. People are becoming more and more entitled and just plain stupid.
Thank you for sharing your experience, although I couldn't have been such a gentleman to the toy boy. You echo my feelings and my wife is tired of hearing me complain about the lower percentage of ignorant people, I'm amazed there aren't more accidents. We are from Wisconsin and hiked Angel's Landing 5 days before the permits began and at age 64 it was a bucket list item accomplished. It is spiritual, if you can ignore the riff raff. Keep up the good work, Mike!
I'm so thankful I grew up in Utah (being a member of the Boy Scouts and reaching the level of Eagle Scout) during the 70s and 80s. It's changed so much. Like the saying goes, sometimes you don't know what you got til it's gone.
That is so scary! Your video and the shots over the edge make me very nervous. We were at Zion recently but would never attempt Angel’s Landing as we are both afraid of heights.
Glad to do it! Have an amazing, courteous, and safe hike! It’s not an experience you’ll forget. Thanks so much for watching and commenting! I invite you to share this video as well. So many people treat this trail like a theme park ride. It is a far more sacred space than that- and you can help get the word out.
My wife is just hiked this climb for the first time. We had to get the permit….everyone was very respectful and supportive of each other , both up and down. It was also very peaceful on top….great experience so glad they instituted the permit system.
Amen, and I strongly agree with everything you mentioned. I went to Zion twice in the 1990's. I doubt I'll ever go back, considering the extraordinary huge crowds. Truth is, people are different now, and in a very bad way. It saddens me (and I am sure everyone else who treasures our parks) to see these morons ruining our parks and the experience of everyone else.
Thanks! I hope some good will come from sharing my experience. It's an incredible hike, and both the trail and other hikers deserve respect and courtesy.
I too am curious as to how the permit system has changed the experience. I have made this hike numerous times in the last 25 years. My last time was right before the permit system was initiated and I swore them that it would probably be my last. Too many, careless, reckless people ruined it for me.
I just did the hike this past Wednesday and while I did start at 6:30a there were very few people doing the hike. Maybe it was because it was middle of the week but as my first time it was really great not having to fight any crowds at all. The Narrows on the other hand at about noon was absolutely packed.
Thank you! It was a hard video to make. But a message I felt obligated to share. Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to offer you kind words of encouragement!
Literally HOLY FUCK. I can not believe this. I hiked Angels Landing not knowing exactly what it was. I was terrified and it took extreme focus. Looking back I can’t believe I did it. The fact that a kite hit you near the edge made my stomach turn 😮 so glad you are okay. Goes to show there are always unknown risks
Couldn’t agree more - been hiking since 1995 and have seen a remarkable change from the outdoors being a way to have a spiritual humbling meditation experience to “BUCKET LIST DUDE BRO!!!!” The only option is simply to hide your car, and make sure nobody sees where you’re going and where you have been. Do not post anything online that you don’t want destroyed by those who are perfectly happy being a commodity for the big tech losers in menlo park.
Oh man, I would have fully lost my shit. But thankfully, I suppose, I wouldn't have been in that situation to begin with because I know that I just would not be able to do Angel's Landing. The Highline Trail in Glacier about maxes out what I feel comfortable doing with my healthy respect for gravity. But at this point, between the crowds and my own finances, we'll see if I ever even get to Zion at all.
The Highline Trail has some pretty impressive drops. I love that trail. Angels Landing is definitely on a who other level though. And definitely isn't for everyone. Zion is hard these days. For my own part, the crowds often keep me away even though I love that landscape. I'm hopeful that things will improve in the future. Zion is kind of the epicenter of the "loving national parks to death" dilemma. And it's leading people, especially Utahns, to have a long overdue discussion on how much is too much. Let me know if you ever make it. It's well worth it to be sure. And thanks so much for watching and commenting! I invite you to share this video. The setting may be Zion- but it's applicable to every park and wilderness area.
well i guessed right from the short/ seemed like kite was an odd one... ugh, idiots... that someone thought it was ok to have one up there is insane. otherwise great scenes/ thanks for sharing the video and important message
That's horrific. Who would have thought a kite could almost kill someone. It wasn't your time THANK GOD. Theres better ways to leave our earth than that! I can't even think about it. Im scared of heights and it's making me feel sick thinking about your encounter with that kite. I hope the nightmares stop!! Peace be with you brother. Fyi: Jesus is real, 100%. I found out. Im so lucky but the way I found out is the stuff of nightmares. Xo
Thank you! I hope sharing my experience will help encourage people to be more respectful of the land and each other. There's only one Zion National Park, and visitors have it in their power to protect this sacred place and help prevent tragedy. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! I hope you'll consider sharing this video as well.
If you are getting so close to the edge that a kite could send you over, you are way to risky with your own life and put way too much confidence in factors over which you have no control: other people, slipping rocks, etc.
There have been a few people who have expressed the same sentiment. Imagine someone yelling behind you or being smacked in the back of the head without warning when peering over a cliff, even from a stable and safe position. You don't need to be behaving recklessly for the surprise and distraction to be hazardous or potential deadly. Getting hit in the head and then tethered to brush over the cliff was an unjustified hazard. It's easy to sit comfortably one a phone or computer and dismiss the message shared here. Perhaps some people won't accept any message unless they experience something similar themselves. Thanks for the feedback.
@@HomeInWildSpaces, don't interpret my comment as condoning the reckless behavior of others. For accidents like these to occur, it usually takes more than one wrong decision. I have hiked angles landing many times, it is perfectly safe if you don't do stupid things. I actively mountaineer and canyoner. Standing up and peering over a ledge with no safety harness, as you are describing, is reckless, especially in light of how many other uncontrollable human factors are in that environment.
@@FiddleSticks800 I'm glad you do not condone reckless behavior. Many accidents occur just as you have described (more than one wrong decision). But not every accident follows that model, and viewing all accidents or most accidents through that lens does lead people to false conclusions. You need not assume I was dangling my toes over the edge of the cliff. I was not. And took great care in positioning my feet, giving myself adequate space. Though the equation changes when you get hit in the back of the head by kites or other objects. That is the message of this video. If you've climbed Angels Landing, then you know it is impossible to reach the summit without taking the posture you have described as reckless (standing up and peering over the ledge with no safety harness). Significant portions of the chained and unchained sections require that kind of proximity to the edge. I do not consider Angels Landing all that dangerous when people are respectful of the land and each other. And I disagree with the assertion that it is impossible to peer over a cliff responsibly without a harness. Though I do agree that there are irresponsible or reckless approaches to peering over cliffs. But I appreciate your feedback and experience.
I’m not bitter, but it is frustrating when people behave in a manner that is disruptive or hazardous. I’m all for people enjoying themselves, ALL people enjoying themselves. It isn’t only possible to be respectful and enjoy yourself, enjoyment without respect is irresponsible and at times hazardous and needs to be recognized as such. Disruptive and selfish behavior have become a bigger and more serious problem with the bigger crowds now descending on our national parks.
No. I’m encouraging people to be courteous and responsible and to let gimmicks be the business of the bar stool and backyard barbecue. The consequences of selfish gimmicks are too dire on Angels Landing. Even if they don’t threaten someone’s life, they are selfish and inconsiderate.
You're absolutely a hypocrite, taking all these videos to post to social , TH-cam etc and making money off social media and then saying social media is ruining the parks...
Social media is like any other tool. It can be used responsibly, and it can be used irresponsibly. I do not make top ten destination lists. I do not engage in gimmicks. I do not vlog while on the trails. I share messages on how to enjoy wild spaces responsibly. I’ve conclude, that is the only responsible thing to do. My silence or absence from social media would accomplish nothing but abandon our parks to the exploiters. The issue is not social media. The issue is its use. I use it responsibly.
Love the video but you talk so much about people disrespecting trails, complain about people taking photos and videos with their smartphones. And you provided fifteen minutes of footage from the hike. Some people experience life different from the way you do. I’m just confused by that.
I am a Utah native and every word you said resonated so much with me! I feel like we're cut out of the same cloth. Our family hiked Angel's Landing last year after the permit system started and I thought it was a MUCH better experience. Those who get a permit are willing to put forth a little extra effort to do it and I think value the experience much more. Throughout the hike there was nothing but a lot of respect for the landscape. We were the last ones at the top and enjoyed the sun setting and it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced.
Thanks @danielriding1! It does my heart so much good to hear you had a positive experience on Angels Landing. My treks to the summit have been a mixed bag over the past several years.
There are definitely people who very much respect and reverence places like Angels Landing and I love connecting with them whether on the trail or online. I've thought long about the permit program and I hope the extra effort does serve to sweeten the experience.
Thanks for sharing your experience and your kind words. Wishing you more wonderful experiences like your recent climb of Angels Landing! I also invite you to consider sharing this video with your friends and family.
So much of the internet neglects the more respectful approach to exploring wild spaces. The message of stewardship needs ambassadors.
Those over the edge views of the drop made my palms sweat.
Did they make your knees weak and your arms heavy?
I'm also a Utah native and have hiked Angels Landing many times. This is the type of video that needs to be shared by the Park Service. Respect the landscape, nature and other guests.
Enjoy the reverence of this majestic climb. I haven't been back since the reservation method, but I hope it has reduced the amount of visitors on any given day and the ambiance of the summit.
Very great video and thoughts! Glad you are still alive to tell your story!
Thanks a ton @Snowbirdin! I don't know what affect my message will have. But I've long felt an obligation to share my experience and am grateful for the kind words and encouragement.
I would love if the Park Service would aid me in sharing my message. But, having worked with the Park Service on numerous occasions, they have strict limits on the active or passive support they offer to "influencers".
For now, I am hopeful that people will share this video with their friends and family and do their best to nurture a culture of respect and courtesy when exploring wild spaces.
Wishing you the best in all your adventures! Thanks again for watching and commenting!
@@HomeInWildSpaces The Zion rangers are fantastic on keeping visitors safe and enforcing their rules. I reported people walking dogs on Watchman's Trail that were NOT service dogs. Pets are not allowed on the trails. Several other hikers called them out on it and yelled that pets are not allowed, to which the young adults responded with middle fingers and expletives. We called the rangers who met them at the trailhead and kicked them out. In 2021 when I was there, you needed reservations for low-capacity shuttle service and it was timed entry. Lots of shuttle jumpers trying to get on in the middle of a pandemic. The rangers also were cracking down on scalpers on Alltrails who were snatching up all the shuttle tickets and selling them dozens of times more (they were only a dollar on Recreation.gov). I was impressed with the rangers. You need to tell them about this ASAP. As an adaptive hiker with a spine disability, I am meticulous in my hiking to ensure I am safe. Had I been hit by a hike, I would have gone over the side. I've been to the 51 national parks in the lower 48. At least for other hikers, you need to report this. Thank you
Thank you for your commentary. I am a veteran hiker and deeply appreciate the sanctuary of nature. I don't enjoy a lot of activities any more because of the constant noise and cell phone distractions. Beautiful video.
Wow that is so insane! The lack of respect by others is astounding.I’m sorry he at least could have apologized.
Wow! So relieved you lived to share this experience. I have not been to Angel's landing since 2002. It is sad to see and hear the culture has changed so much on this trail and others. If people were off their phones and videos they might recognize the frailty of the location that they're in and respect the well-being of others. I would encourage people not to use the word "bucket list" because to me it cheapens the experience and seems to communicate taking these life experiences for granted.
I did this trail midday yesterday on a Wednesday. I was expecting terrible crowds because of our late start but was very happy to see only a few other groups on the climb up. Luckily we only saw responsible climbing.
glad you had a positive experience. I'm hoping the new permit system is doing its job and making the hiker safer and more enjoyable. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Fantastic video and commentary. As someone who grew up visiting Utah's national parks as our yearly vacation, I completely agree with your assessment of how social media has really damaged the experience. I also appreciate your commentary about the hike not being for everyone. I'm a decent hiker, but I know Angel's Landing is not for me. I'm prone to vertigo when there are even sloping drop-offs - it just wouldn't be safe for me or others just so I could say I've done it. Happy to live vicariously through the beautiful shots of you and others.
I really appreciate that you took the time to share your encouragement and support for the message of my video. That my story will reach people and encourage better stewardship and greater respect is all that I could ask for, and your decision to watch the video and comment helps me accomplish that goal. Thank you!
I'm so glad I could take you along. This is an amazing landscape. But it is wise to know one's limits. There's also so much more to explore than just Angels Landing.
I wish you the very best and invite you to consider sharing this video with your friends and family and help share a crucial message of respect and stewardship.
Wow. Thanks for sharing this experience. I can’t believe anyone would be so inconsiderate and do that up there but I should know better by now. Glad it wasn’t any worse for you.
Thank you! I'm very grateful to still be alive. Really wish people would learn to leave the gimmicks at home. Hoping sharing my story might help get the message out. Courtesy isn't just a matter of trail manners. Sometimes, it can also mean the difference between life and death.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! It's a great help to my channel. I invite you to share this video and help get the message out further.
I'd lose it. I live in southern Utah and am a tour guide down here. I have also lived outside of Yellowstone and guided up there. I know people don't like the permit system that has been installed at Angel's Landing but it's completely necessary. People do not have any social etiquette at all. It is an extreme risk to hike that along with many other places and people treated as if it is a ride in Disneyland.
I’m happy they have the permits now, I live in St. George and I turned around at the bathrooms once cause their was a damn line going up to the top, I’ve gone numerous times it’s just not worth the risk.
I don’t get it… it’s just another stupid “bucket list dude bruh” hike… it’s nothing special or authentic when everyone is only going there because they want a false sense of meaning.
Carve your own path and don’t post it online for the mouth breather “bucket list dude bro look at muh beard dude bro” crowd
It’s really an existential and ontological crisis in the secular world - something that genzers and millennials love to avoid “it’s all about ME dude bro!!” 🤮
I toy with the bucketlist people. I’ll park and serup my giant attention getting lens JUST to slow down their trip…and I am not even taking photos- just sitting in my car reading my book 😋
Wow! What an adventure it must be to take this trek! I myself would never be able to do so because of my crippling acrophobia. Thank for letting me tag along with you!❤️
I've hiked Angel's Landing 4 times since 2016 and I know how risky this trail is. I know how you feel about Zion National Park. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. National Parks need our support.
Totally agree! Thanks for watching and commenting! Our wild spaces need responsible ambassadors. We each have a role in protecting the land and the experience.
i can feel my heart rate reach 163!! safe travels to all on the angels trail❤
My heat rate still accelerates every time I recall the experience. I very agree with you. Safe travel to all!
Stunning stuff...just had this convo about "dangerous" places and the stupidity of that Selfie....how many cameras have been found at the bottom of the Grand Canyon? And a kite? Oh boy...Thank God for the Angels on Angel's Landing. We still have YOU!
Thanks so much! I feel very blessed to be able to share my story, though it is still a difficult experience to recall.
I hope my experience can help people make more conscientious decisions while on the trails. It's not just about courtesy. Sometimes it's literally a matter of life and death.
I think the message is very important.
So good to hear from you again. Sorry I don't always get around to responding to each comment, but rest assured, I read them all and am grateful for your support for my channel!
@@HomeInWildSpaces I can't imagine.
You definitely had angels watching over you 😊 so beautiful. Thanks for sharing
I'm very grateful for the outcome. Since that day, I've had a family and wonderful experiences. I feel very blessed.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Your support helps drive engagement and share the crucial message of courtesy.
Great video with several important lessons. Appreciate your perspective. Our family hiked Angels Landing in 2014, and it made a lasting impression. To this day, our kids compare every set of switchbacks to Walter's Wiggles. The hike remains a family favorite, though we haven't been back because of the crowds. In 2014, they weren't too bad. Since then, we've found other places near Zion that provide a Zion-like experience without the mayhem. I'm glad NPS has added a permit system. We may try again someday. Sorry for the long comment. The parts of your video unrelated to your scary experience touched off some special memories of being on Angels Landing.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Angels Landing and Walters Wiggles are hard to forget. It's also has been a bit of mixed experience for years now. Sometimes you catch it during a lull. At other times it can feel like a theme park or a concert with people everywhere. Neither of the latter options are appealing to me either.
It was definitely time for a permit system. And there are definitely "Zion-like" locations near by which are magical in their own right.
Thank you so much for watching and commenting! It helps people learn how special these places are. And that they are deserving of respect. Happy trails!
Even just watching the video makes me so anxious and scared of the height. Angels Landing remains a giant "no way never" for me.
😅
No harm in that. This is definitely not a trail for everyone. And following my near fall, it was definitely harder to get into the right mindset to make the climb again. Zion is a remarkable landscape, worthy of profound respect. Sometimes that means foregoing certain experiences.
I have a friend whose done this a couple of times. Hates people who are pushing terrified members of their party to go on. It's sadistic and terrified people are s hazard to others.
So glad you were ok! And that kite guy seemed to have a realisation of how appallingly irresponsible he'd been.
I guess there's always a tension between wanting access for more people to be able to appreciate nature and enjoy the benefits and exercise vs degrading the experience for others. These kinds of tourism campaigns should always emphasise responsible respectful behaviour. For me it definitely downgrades the 'top ten' sites which generally involve clapping eyes on something great, but as you say in a pretty mundane coffee shop kind of atmosphere which is far less memorable. In one of our UK parks if you visit the second highest peak, (20m shorter) you get an isolated beautiful experience. I'll always choose that over the crowds and cafe at the famous summit! That said though I love that hundreds of kids are over there climbing their first mountain on a good safe trail, so I don't want to be a wilderness snob about it!
Great video! What camera are you using while you hike? I would love to capture moments while I hike safely.
I am just stunned that someone could be so selfish and stupid as to bring a kite to Angel’s Landing. Honestly, they should be banned from the freaking park. That really pisses me off. I’m sorry this happened to you.
Thank you!
John Muir once said, "Experience has shown me that here are people good enough and bad enough for almost anything."
I've learned the hard way that you need to be mindful of the people around you. Most often they don't mean harm, but that clearly doesn't diminish their ability to cause harm.
I hope by sharing my experience that people will learn to be more respectful and cautious. Everyone benefits.
@@HomeInWildSpaces What exactly would Mr. Muir say to a Halfbreed like me if he met me???
When I worked on back country trails at Zion National Park when I was in high school in the eighties as a member of the Student Conservation Association I had a rather unwelcoming experience with a couple who had left their horses farther back the trail. They asked me what crime I committed to be on the trail crew. They didn't take kindly to me repeatedly pointing to my T-shirt saying "Student Conservation Association Volunteer" and reading what it said to them each time they demanded to know what crime I committed to be on the trail crew using words that I won't post here. When one of the adult leaders came by and explained to them that we were a volunteer group they tried to get me thrown out of the group by claiming that I was rude to them. Later we discovered they left a large amount of garbage where they camped & left their horses...
Weird how many people think they are in complete control. Flying a kite on a precipice full of people is beyond arrogant. Aside from the obvious potential for an accident, if they lose the kite they just created a large piece of litter to the environment and a potential hazard to wildlife.
I wish there were more people out there like you!!!
You are very kind. Thank you for you encouraging words. I hope you'll consider sharing this video to help get the message out there. I also invite you to subscribe if you haven't yet done so.
I agree with you on the need to quietly behold God's Creation, Beauty and Glory! Been there in 2017, but due to knee issues, could only go to Scout's Lookout. Truly majestic and glad you are OK. Thanks for the beautiful footage.
Glad I could share the final stretch with you. I've struggled with knee issues myself, and definitely sympathize.
Glad you were able to make it to Scout Lookout and enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of Zion NP. And thanks so much for watching and sharing your experience!
Even that bighorn sheep seemed to be shaking his head! 😅 Your message is serious and important... I'm not trying to make light of it. That little shake of his head did bring a moment of levity, though...as if to say
"A kite?! Foolish humans at it again"
I appreciate your content.
Thank you
Great video and content. Thanks for sharing the experience!!
Thanks! It's been difficult to relive in the telling, but I hope the message can accomplish some good.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! It really helps the channel! I also invite you to share this video. The setting may be Zion NP, but the message applies to every park and wilderness area.
Thanks again!
Important message... glad you're ok... thanks for sharing!
Sadly there’s too many idiots in the world. I fully resonate with everything you have said in this video and I am Gen Z.
Idiots on hikes with 0 respect are the worst.
The scariest part of Angels Landing for me were the hoarders of idiots impatiently trying to get past me where there was no room to pass. It’s one thing to endanger your own life but no one has the right to endanger the of others. People are becoming more and more entitled and just plain stupid.
Thank you for sharing your experience, although I couldn't have been such a gentleman to the toy boy. You echo my feelings and my wife is tired of hearing me complain about the lower percentage of ignorant people, I'm amazed there aren't more accidents. We are from Wisconsin and hiked Angel's Landing 5 days before the permits began and at age 64 it was a bucket list item accomplished. It is spiritual, if you can ignore the riff raff. Keep up the good work, Mike!
A bucket list item accomplished....bad choice of words
@@joemanpjg How so, joe in po-jamas?
I'm so thankful I grew up in Utah (being a member of the Boy Scouts and reaching the level of Eagle Scout) during the 70s and 80s.
It's changed so much.
Like the saying goes, sometimes you don't know what you got til it's gone.
That is so scary! Your video and the shots over the edge make me very nervous. We were at Zion recently but would never attempt Angel’s Landing as we are both afraid of heights.
Such an excellent video I subscribed.
Welcome aboard! I hope you enjoy my other videos, too.
I’m getting ready to do this hike for the first time in a few days, thank you for sharing
Glad to do it! Have an amazing, courteous, and safe hike! It’s not an experience you’ll forget.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! I invite you to share this video as well. So many people treat this trail like a theme park ride. It is a far more sacred space than that- and you can help get the word out.
Who the fuck would fly a kite there.
Oh my gosh!!! That’s so dangerous!
Thank you. A very important message. Sad that it is needed.
Thanks for listening
My wife is just hiked this climb for the first time. We had to get the permit….everyone was very respectful and supportive of each other , both up and down. It was also very peaceful on top….great experience so glad they instituted the permit system.
Amen, and I strongly agree with everything you mentioned. I went to Zion twice in the 1990's. I doubt I'll ever go back, considering the extraordinary huge crowds. Truth is, people are different now, and in a very bad way. It saddens me (and I am sure everyone else who treasures our parks) to see these morons ruining our parks and the experience of everyone else.
Awesome, watching now. So lucky, you didnt fall!
Awesome thank you!
Agreed. I was very fortunate.
Given how many names are now etched in the sandstone of Angles Landing I have to agree. @@HomeInWildSpaces
Thank you for sharing your story. Such an important message. Im sorry on behalf of the kitehole
Thanks! I hope some good will come from sharing my experience. It's an incredible hike, and both the trail and other hikers deserve respect and courtesy.
I too am curious as to how the permit system has changed the experience. I have made this hike numerous times in the last 25 years. My last time was right before the permit system was initiated and I swore them that it would probably be my last. Too many, careless, reckless people ruined it for me.
I just did the hike this past Wednesday and while I did start at 6:30a there were very few people doing the hike. Maybe it was because it was middle of the week but as my first time it was really great not having to fight any crowds at all. The Narrows on the other hand at about noon was absolutely packed.
Great video, great commentary
Thank you! It was a hard video to make. But a message I felt obligated to share. Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to offer you kind words of encouragement!
Sounds like a scary experience! Glad that you were okay.
Literally HOLY FUCK. I can not believe this. I hiked Angels Landing not knowing exactly what it was. I was terrified and it took extreme focus. Looking back I can’t believe I did it. The fact that a kite hit you near the edge made my stomach turn 😮 so glad you are okay. Goes to show there are always unknown risks
Couldn’t agree more - been hiking since 1995 and have seen a remarkable change from the outdoors being a way to have a spiritual humbling meditation experience to “BUCKET LIST DUDE BRO!!!!”
The only option is simply to hide your car, and make sure nobody sees where you’re going and where you have been. Do not post anything online that you don’t want destroyed by those who are perfectly happy being a commodity for the big tech losers in menlo park.
3:53 awww look at the cute cuddly little bear, if you scratch their back, they'll scratch yours.
FANTASTIC !!! 🙂
Kinda speechless... great video
Thanks so much for watching, and for your feedback!
This is an amazing place, worthy of profound respect.
OMG. Those others almost killed you.
It was close. But I learned a very valuable lesson. Hoping my story will remind people to be more courteous.
Be careful with this trail! Yes we had a family member fall, a young teen. It was tragic a hard death to deal with!
Oh man, I would have fully lost my shit. But thankfully, I suppose, I wouldn't have been in that situation to begin with because I know that I just would not be able to do Angel's Landing. The Highline Trail in Glacier about maxes out what I feel comfortable doing with my healthy respect for gravity. But at this point, between the crowds and my own finances, we'll see if I ever even get to Zion at all.
The Highline Trail has some pretty impressive drops. I love that trail. Angels Landing is definitely on a who other level though. And definitely isn't for everyone.
Zion is hard these days. For my own part, the crowds often keep me away even though I love that landscape.
I'm hopeful that things will improve in the future. Zion is kind of the epicenter of the "loving national parks to death" dilemma. And it's leading people, especially Utahns, to have a long overdue discussion on how much is too much.
Let me know if you ever make it. It's well worth it to be sure. And thanks so much for watching and commenting! I invite you to share this video. The setting may be Zion- but it's applicable to every park and wilderness area.
Both are great trails, but then I have no fear of heights. Now Zion NP is best in the off season...@@HomeInWildSpaces
well i guessed right from the short/ seemed like kite was an odd one... ugh, idiots... that someone thought it was ok to have one up there is insane. otherwise great scenes/ thanks for sharing the video and important message
My pleasure. Thanks again for watching! Sorry for the late response, it's been a very busy summer. Trying to catch up.
@@HomeInWildSpaces hope youve been out in the Parks we had a pretty full summer as well
Nope,I stay on the low hill hikes,lol
Amen
That's horrific. Who would have thought a kite could almost kill someone. It wasn't your time THANK GOD. Theres better ways to leave our earth than that! I can't even think about it. Im scared of heights and it's making me feel sick thinking about your encounter with that kite. I hope the nightmares stop!! Peace be with you brother.
Fyi: Jesus is real, 100%. I found out. Im so lucky but the way I found out is the stuff of nightmares. Xo
Only trail I haven't gone on, I don't trust my agility.
Cant believe somebody would bring a kite up there. Some people are beyond stupid and careless, selfish bastards
9:09 beautiful bighorn.
I have balance issues and walk w a cane so that’s the last hike I’d ever take.
Humans are the best!
We’ll said, we’ll done.
Thank you! I hope sharing my experience will help encourage people to be more respectful of the land and each other. There's only one Zion National Park, and visitors have it in their power to protect this sacred place and help prevent tragedy.
Thank you so much for watching and commenting! I hope you'll consider sharing this video as well.
If you are getting so close to the edge that a kite could send you over, you are way to risky with your own life and put way too much confidence in factors over which you have no control: other people, slipping rocks, etc.
There have been a few people who have expressed the same sentiment.
Imagine someone yelling behind you or being smacked in the back of the head without warning when peering over a cliff, even from a stable and safe position. You don't need to be behaving recklessly for the surprise and distraction to be hazardous or potential deadly.
Getting hit in the head and then tethered to brush over the cliff was an unjustified hazard.
It's easy to sit comfortably one a phone or computer and dismiss the message shared here. Perhaps some people won't accept any message unless they experience something similar themselves.
Thanks for the feedback.
@@HomeInWildSpaces, don't interpret my comment as condoning the reckless behavior of others. For accidents like these to occur, it usually takes more than one wrong decision. I have hiked angles landing many times, it is perfectly safe if you don't do stupid things. I actively mountaineer and canyoner. Standing up and peering over a ledge with no safety harness, as you are describing, is reckless, especially in light of how many other uncontrollable human factors are in that environment.
@@FiddleSticks800 I'm glad you do not condone reckless behavior. Many accidents occur just as you have described (more than one wrong decision). But not every accident follows that model, and viewing all accidents or most accidents through that lens does lead people to false conclusions.
You need not assume I was dangling my toes over the edge of the cliff. I was not. And took great care in positioning my feet, giving myself adequate space. Though the equation changes when you get hit in the back of the head by kites or other objects. That is the message of this video.
If you've climbed Angels Landing, then you know it is impossible to reach the summit without taking the posture you have described as reckless (standing up and peering over the ledge with no safety harness).
Significant portions of the chained and unchained sections require that kind of proximity to the edge. I do not consider Angels Landing all that dangerous when people are respectful of the land and each other. And I disagree with the assertion that it is impossible to peer over a cliff responsibly without a harness. Though I do agree that there are irresponsible or reckless approaches to peering over cliffs.
But I appreciate your feedback and experience.
@@HomeInWildSpaces You handled that comment better than I would...
Honestly I agree with you but you sound really bitter. Let people enjoy themselves
I’m not bitter, but it is frustrating when people behave in a manner that is disruptive or hazardous.
I’m all for people enjoying themselves, ALL people enjoying themselves. It isn’t only possible to be respectful and enjoy yourself, enjoyment without respect is irresponsible and at times hazardous and needs to be recognized as such.
Disruptive and selfish behavior have become a bigger and more serious problem with the bigger crowds now descending on our national parks.
So only the " right" sort of peopke should be allowed , in your opinion, yes?
No. I’m encouraging people to be courteous and responsible and to let gimmicks be the business of the bar stool and backyard barbecue.
The consequences of selfish gimmicks are too dire on Angels Landing. Even if they don’t threaten someone’s life, they are selfish and inconsiderate.
You're absolutely a hypocrite, taking all these videos to post to social , TH-cam etc and making money off social media and then saying social media is ruining the parks...
Social media is like any other tool. It can be used responsibly, and it can be used irresponsibly.
I do not make top ten destination lists. I do not engage in gimmicks. I do not vlog while on the trails.
I share messages on how to enjoy wild spaces responsibly. I’ve conclude, that is the only responsible thing to do.
My silence or absence from social media would accomplish nothing but abandon our parks to the exploiters.
The issue is not social media. The issue is its use. I use it responsibly.
Love the video but you talk so much about people disrespecting trails, complain about people taking photos and videos with their smartphones. And you provided fifteen minutes of footage from the hike. Some people experience life different from the way you do. I’m just confused by that.
Dramatic aren’t we.
Only if the message isn’t justified and warranted. It qualifies as both.
With comments like that hopefully you stay home and live life through TH-cam