> For someone unimpressed with people who imagine what's out there, you
> seem to be quite impressed with imagining what used to be there.
>>
>> "You guys are kidding right? There's nothing there! Sit on the toilet,
>>> close your eyes and you'll get the same effect (without the dust
> coated
>>> lungs of course)."
>>
>> Some people aren't impressed that this entire area was once under
> 3000' of
>> "inland sea" and all these sediments were layed down over centuries of
>> inflow. Some people aren't impressed with the idea that much of this
> area
>> was "tipped"

I was born & raised in Hawaii & 1st started driving vw's there.  However, I
have lived in Utah for the last 30 years, & will argue that there is no
place else in the world like S. Utah! At 1st, my reaction was like Jason's
where I thought it was desolate & there was nothing there!! But, once you
get beyond your preconceived notion of beauty being lush, tropical or alpine
grandeur, you realize the wide open, incredibly rugged & ancient terrain in
S. Utah is absolutely spectacular.  It is my favorite place in the world,
besides Hana, Maui, & is why when you are down there & run into folks, they
usually speak a foreign language from Europe or Asia!!!!  Why, because S.
Utah is world famous for its beauty! Who'd a thunk? It is also way better a
place to explore in a vanagon than Hawaii will ever be, because you can
actually drive to distant places & see no one else.

FWIW,

Tom Buese-wish I was in S. Utah right now