“National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.” – Wallace Stegner
(Want me to write about your beer? Click here.
Curious about what the hell a pick 6 poem is? Click here.)
I love our National & State Parks systems. It would be a dream come true to work for one someday.
I also love what Uinta is doing with their Golden Ale Park Series to raise awareness and appreciation for our parks. I mean, what’s better than a cold beer and the great outdoors? In honor of both the NPS and Uinta Brewing, I did a special batch of pick 6 poems. Whereas instead of picking 6 beers to drunkenly write poems about, I picked 6 National Parks that are on my bucket list to visit. And then drunkenly wrote poems about those instead.
But first, let’s start with the beer. Uinta’s Golden Ale is an all around great beer. It comes in at an even 5% ABV for a great outdoor session beer. It’s refreshing, with predominant grainy sweet caramel malt flavors, but also some nice grassy hop notes to even it all out. It’s also hiding some mild fruit and honey flavors in there. A beer made for camping.
And now for Eden’s finest. I present my picks and poems for the parks I must visit before I die.
Badlands
“Good Times in the Badlands.” The Badlands National Park kick off this bucket list. I’m enticed by the raw and rugged environment, as well as the beautiful scenery it provides. Also, a side note, if you haven’t seen the movie Badlands, go check it out now.
‘Send me
to the rugged
rock canyons sprawling grass
lands, the Badlands, some see hell I
see hope.”
Grand Tetons
Besides being fun to say, the Grand Teton National Park is rich in history, nature, and breathtaking scenery. I’d love to backpack the Teton Range someday.
‘Summer
wildflowers clear
sky waters, a backdrop
of heavenly high rocks makes the
heart stop.’
Apostle Islands
Out of all the parks on the list, this one might happen soon, as it’s just a six hour drive and something I really want to do before leaving Wisconsin. Camping and canoeing here would be heaven. But I feel like I’d also want to go in the winter and walk on the ice.
‘Holy
waters upon
hidden caves, auroras
dance ephemeral waves on wild Apost-
-le Isles.’
Crater Lake
I’ve heard the waters here are a shade of blue so indescribable that you have to see it to believe, photos won’t do it justice.
‘Behold!
a god’s own eye
water reflects back sky, forged in
mazamas fire, an iris hearts
desire.”
Death Valley
There’s something I love about the heat. It keeps you honest. There’s also something I love about the desert. It’s tranquil, holy. All the great prophets go wandering in it. So there must be some sort of magic out there, right?
‘Dance with
the Devil down
in the valley feel
heat from Furnace Creek listen to dead
angel’s speak.’
Zion National Park
I saved my favorite for last. For me, Zion is an absolute must visit place on my bucket list. It literally looks like the Garden of Eden.
‘Yearn no
more, we finally
found divine, canyon shores
breath in, behold upon, Eden’s
Zion.’