I got one too. About 10 years ago my family visited Glacier National Park and Waterton over on the Canadian side.
Driving along one of the highways we spotted a couple grizzle bear cubs. We passed by them to about maybe 150 yards away then broke out the spotting scope. They were just upslope of the road, but eventually wandered into the ditch next to the road. A car pulled up beside us, with a family of 4 Japanese tourist- mom, dad, and a boy and girl that looked to be about 6 and 4, respectively.
To our utter disbelief, they got out of the car, the dad grabbed a camera, and the mom pointed and (apparently) instructed the kids to go pose next to the cubs for a picture. My dad intercepted them before they got there. The Japanese guy started indignantly arguing with him in broken English.
The potential argument was headed off by momma bear appearing in the brush about 75 yards uphill from the cubs and crashing her way at an angle downslope and toward us at full speed bellowing. She stopped at the ditch. A truly terrifying and intimidating sight. The Japanese couple grabbed their kids and sped off down the highway. Momma bear looked us over, then walked back uphill with the cubs in tow. If we’d been closer Momma bear I suspect momma bear would’ve taken the charge all the way- there was never any preceding show of intimidation or attempt to recall her cubs— she just went for it. Seeing her charging like that made 150 yards seem like 25.
The Asian tourists (as in actually from Asian countries) in our wilderness areas drive me f*cking nuts, specifically the Japanese ones. At Logan Pass in Glacier National Park there are some plants that are only found on the pass. There’s a network of boardwalks installed so people don’t trample the plants. There are signs in the language of pretty much every potential visitor there, including Japanese, stating that the plants are incredibly rare, cannot survive much disturbance, and that people should stay on the boardwalks so as not to damage them, nor should they do anything to them. Despite this, there was a very harried ranger who was spending literally her entire time chasing Japanese tourists back onto the boardwalks and stopping them from picking the flowers. I’ve seen them exhibit similar behavior at Yellowstone, Jasper, Waterton; pretty much any wilderness area.
I don’t know what it is, must be something cultural, but the visitors from Asia, again, especially the Japanese, don’t seem to respect our wild lands whilst at the same time back home they hold mountains to be literally sacred. I just don’t get it. They also seem not to realize that wild animals can kill you, but I attribute that to most of them only having seen them in safe environments like a zoo or a TV documentary.
Can anyone help me understand what it is about Japanese tourists and disrespecting our wild lands? Seriously, they are, collectively, the worst-behaving group I’ve ever seen. Don’t get me wrong, some are just fine, but then again don’t get me started on the guy at a geyser in Yellowstone who jumped the fence and started chipping rocks off with a hammer to take back home...
I’m not qualified to answer your questions about Japanese intrusion, but have seen it in everyday Americans as well. Part of it is the erosion of our culture, erosion of respect, and a decline in moral values. I’m sure it has crossed many, if not all, cultures over the past decades.
Everyone has an ‘What’s in it for me’ attitude, and has learned not to care about the harm they may do if it meets their own immediate needs (or beliefs). And our education system has failed us on giving our students a well-grounded, and well-rounded education where we have the ability to think about issues, and make better choices in our lives; whatever the situation.
There was an article in an outdoor magazine about 15 years ago about the Japanese climbers on Denali. The rangers marveled at their stupidity and lack of preparation.
One climber had fallen into a crevasse; stuck well with his arms pinned at his side. After two days he figured he was going to die, so decided on dying the quicker way. Since he could not move any of his limbs, he chewed his tongue up, thinking that he would bleed to death. He was rescued about an hour later and still lives.
I think it was “Outdoor” magazine; if anybody finds it, let me know.
We just returned from doing Glacier (where we spotted a grizzly guzzling huckleberries about 200 yard from us) and Yellowstone.
At Yellowstone, a woman walked to within 25 yards of a bull bison scratching his rump on a tree. She was standing in the middle of road, which caused all sorts of other idiots to pull off and get out of their cars. About two dozen people moved closer to the bison, snapping his image.
I yelled out for people to be very careful, mentioning the bull runs of Pamplona, but none of that registered with them as they stood there taking pictures.
The bull moved away from the tree, swung around, and started snorting at everyone. Even that didn't give them pause that they could be gored in a split second. Lucky for them he turned around and walked back into the brush.
I told my boy that Darwinism works on all animals, including humans, and in this case the result was a draw.
I especially like the signs at Yellowstone, where warning is given not to wander off the walkways and into the geo-thermal areas. Those mention folks being scalded to death and badly burned. As if anyone needs such warning, but the stupidity of humans is boundless.
Not to oversimplfy, but it's the difference between something that yours, and something that's mine.
For instance, I know plenty of people who beat the heck out of Rental cars, while driving their own like a little old lady on Sunday morning.