Living in Grand Junction has a particular climate that allows for one main version of outdoor activities, and that is the desert that surrounds us all. With living in a desert, there are some pros and cons to the type of adventure that is available with the dry climate.
Full disclosure, this is my least favorite version of the different variations to outdoor adventures, but the lessened amount of love is purely due to the climate as there are plenty of things to do.
In the desert, there isn’t a whole lot of vegetation or color among the dirt. Grass, pine trees and tiny brooks and streams are practically non-existent, making any type of desert fun take place in a typically monotonous landscape littered with rocks here and there.
On the bright side, there can be some great rock formations in the desert and those such places include the Arches National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park.
However, past the occasional canyon or arch, the scenery in the desert can be kind of bleak. Without trees there can be no hammocks, without mountains there can be no 14ers to scale and without lakes no water sports.
Within the very essence of what makes a desert a desert, there is a lack of the regular activities that one can partake in at other locations. Also when wanting to go spend some quality time with the desert, because of the lack of water, all of it has to be packed in if you are going somewhere where there isn’t a great source close by, adding a lot of extra weight to carry.
Paired with the lack of water and lack of trees is the subsequent heat that comes along with it. With little to no shade and just as much water, the sun becomes ruthless, especially right after a long and cold winter. For these things, desert environments are different kind of monster to tackle.
While having some drawbacks and being my least favorite environment, there are still plenty of great things about the desert; after all, just because I don’t like it the most doesn’t mean I hate it. In the desert, everything becomes easier and more predictable.
Driving is easy in the desert since there is hardly any weather and it is almost entirely flat. Weather is less of a surprise when you aren’t too keen on checking the weather reports like me because of the lack of obstructions.
Rock climbing and mountain biking take a precedence in the outdoor community and are considered staples in Grand Junction because of its availability and quality. Also, without plants, there are fewer things to catch on fire, just be careful not to light the dry foliage that is in the desert, so take a breather Smokey the Bear, no forest fire can happen in the desert what with there not being a forest to burn down.
While it can be difficult to find a good river or reservoir to hang out by, they are still out there, there might be more occupants due to the lowered availability, but it is there for the determined. Plus, even though the stereotypical “kid drawing a mountain” shape isn’t quite as common, there are plenty of plateaus and smaller, rounded mountains to climb, just look at Mount Garfield or the Monument.
The cherry on top of the sundae is the unique foliage. Cacti aren’t found on the beach or on the peak of Mount Elbert, so the desert remains to be the prickly czar of the cactus. When amassed into a heap of pros, the benefits of spending time in the desert, while sandy and sunburnt, are clear.
Despite having several disadvantages, the desert is still redeemable in the benefits that it still offers that overlap with other environments while making some of its own special personality quirks. When compared, the deciding factor of whether the desert will jiggle your jello is a preference and completely subjective. Give it a try and figure out whether the desert is tolerable outside of an air-conditioned dorm, it is only ten minutes away so there really isn’t any excuse to not get out there.
