Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The other potential problem is
elevation.
Bryce Canyon National Park rises to
over 9,000 feet, and a side trip to Cedar Breaks National Monument will take you
to over 10,000 feet. (See chapter 8, “Nearby Things to See & Do.”) These eleva-
tions are high enough to produce health problems for those not accustomed to
them—there's less oxygen and lower humidity up there than many visitors are
used to. In fact, the most common complaint at the first-aid station at the Lodge
at Bryce Canyon is shortness of breath. Those with heart or respiratory problems
should consult their doctors before planning a trip to these parks, Bryce Canyon
in particular. If you're in generally good health, you don't need to take any spe-
cial precautions, but it's advisable to ease into high elevations by changing altitude
gradually. Also, get plenty of rest, avoid large meals, and drink plenty of nonalco-
holic fluids, especially water.
State health officials also warn outdoor enthusiasts to take precautions against
hantavirus,
a rare but often fatal respiratory disease, first recognized in 1993.
About half of the country's confirmed cases have been reported in the Four
Corners states of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. The droppings and
urine of rodents usually spread the disease, and health officials recommend that
campers and hikers avoid areas with signs of rodent occupation. Symptoms of
hantavirus are similar to flu, and lead to breathing difficulties and shock.
Other park-specific problems are bubonic plague, which is discussed in chapter
5, and flash flooding, which is discussed in chapter 3.
Protecting the Environment
Many of the wonderful outdoor areas that you'll be exploring in Zion and Bryce
Canyon national parks are quite isolated, especially in the backcountry at Zion.
Not long ago, the rule was to “leave only footprints”; these days, we're trying to
do better and not leave even those. It's relatively easy to be a good outdoor cit-
izen—pack out all trash, stay on established trails, be especially careful not to pol-
lute water, and, in general, do your best to have as little impact on the environment
as possible. Some hikers carry a small trash bag to pick up what others may have
left. As the park service likes to remind us, protecting our national parks is every-
one's responsibility.
A
british
Invasion
