We go into the wilderness to be refreshed, to leave our cares and worries at the trailhead and strike out into the beauty of nature. We look around us at the sun-dappled clearings and the cool shadows of the woods and think, “Yes.” But every now and then—if you’re just a little bit unlucky—you’ll also get a “NOPE!” So for this Fun Friday, we’ll review a few outdoor “nopes” in hopes that this will fulfill our quota of chillers for the next few…oh, forever. Forever would be good.
1. Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?
Picture it: It’s springtime, and you’re hiking the backcountry. As you approach a gully, you notice a bit of movement. What is it? You look closer, and you realize you’re standing a few feet away from what is known as a garter snake “mating ball.” (And no, there’s no waltz music playing.) Here’s what it would look like.
So that’s our first NOPE!
2. And Your Little Dogs, Too
You don’t have to live in “Tornado Alley” to experience a twister. Although they’re more rare in other parts of the country, they can still happen whenever the conditions are right…and those conditions can eventuate far more quickly than most people realize. For this hiker, it was only a matter of minutes. Watch his mad dash for safety here.
How about no? Does no work for you? Because no.
3. Après Moi, le Déluge
Flash floods may not sound that scary…after all, it’s just a little water, right? Not so much. Flash floods can occur miles downstream of where the actual rainfall is happening, particularly in dry environments in which the soil doesn’t absorb water very well. In this video, a family out for a canyon hike in Utah is confronted with just how terrifying they can be.
I’m going to have to go with “no” on this one.
4. When the Hunters Become the Hunted
Steve West of Steve’s Outdoor Adventures was mentoring young Emma Bell on an elk hunt, when they and the camera crew found themselves being hunted. Watch as their awe and wonder at seeing a pack of wolves in the wild turns to tension as apex predator meets apex predator…and the wolves aren’t backing down.
Can I reconsider the tornado thing? Because that’s sounding a lot better right now.
5. Some Say In Ice
Robert Frost once wrote, “Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice.” The people arrayed in this picturesque cove to observe an advancing glacier’s progress would most likely plump for the latter, I’d imagine. As it turns out, it’s probably best to enjoy this particular wonder of nature from a considerable distance. Here’s why.
Nope, nope, nope.
Happy Friday—may your weekend be filled with “yes”!
