Southwest -2002

OK, following a bit of new tradition, this is not an official trip letter since it was a non-foreign and straightforward trip. Also, folks probably don’t care to hear a lot about how most days we had a great hike in beautiful country, a good meal (often at a campsite), and simply thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. However, you might be interested in a quick run down on where we went and any special items that happened, so here goes (being mostly typed in the Albuquerque airport). There was a science meeting in Albuquerque and we decided to take nearly a couple of weeks getting there by driving and spending prime time in the Slot Canyon area of southern Utah. Something we’ve talked of doing for several years. It was coming up on Memorial Day weekend so a little late (read hotter) than ideal but not bad. Oh, yes, this was also somewhat of an inaugural trip for our new Jeep.

Tuesday-1: After a hectic time trying to find Dawna’s Jeep keys, which we finally did, we left Cupertino reasonably early and hit the road/freeways. Stopped at a rest area in the Mojave desert for lunch and the wind blew immense amounts of sand into the jeep when we had the back door open; so it was now properly dirty. Got to Las Vegas, checked for bargains at one big hotel, and decided to drive a bit further. Ended up in Mesquite at a place we had stayed a couple of years ago. Very cheap, quite nice, friendly, laid-back, reasonable dinner; a good choice.

Wednesday-1: Crossed the border into Utah and commented on how much St. George had grown; quite a nice setting too. Did a hike (up Taylor’s Creek) in the northern area of Zion (new for us) and ended up sleeping at a ski resort near Cedar Breaks it had just opened "for the summer" a couple days ago so was empty; also cold at 9,000 ft. Next day we visited Cedar Breaks National Monument which was good, but the main hike we were going to take hadn’t opened for the season yet. Maybe we’ll go there some time in the summer since the other time we tried it was Labor Day weekend and we chickened out as a snowstorm was beginning ….

Thursday-1: Drove through fine countryside, stopping for two hikes at spectacular Red Rock Canyon, and then to our camp site actually, due to some confusion when I had made a reservation, we went to the State Park at Escalante only to learn that our reservations were for Kodochrome State Park back about 45 miles. Sigh a wasted couple of hours but Kodochrome was where I had wanted to be and having seen them both it was MUCH better, so we were pleased; just sorry about our goof. I had made reservations for 3 nights (not realizing at the time that it was a Holiday weekend).

Friday-1: Hiked a remote slot canyon which challenged us a fair bit and resulted in some skinned areas on our (mainly my) body from working one’s way up some crevices. Also checked out a couple nearby attractions; with Grosvenor’s Arch being super.

Saturday-1: Did a modestly long drive through some backcountry (Cottonwood Road/Skutumpah Road) and took a hike up a river in the middle yes, after going up the (Hackberry) canyon a ways it became clear that taking one’s boots off and walking straight up the river, with a nice sand base, was the way to go. VERY beautiful and remote and only a few other people.

Sunday-1: Decided it would be hard to get a camp site (or probably a motel) over near Escalante since Monday was a holiday so found one person in our entire camp area (only 23 sites actually) who was leaving and grabbed their site as soon as they began packing. Then hiked around the State Park it lives up to its National Geographic given name of Kodochrome very colorful. Lazied around, had another great camp meal, and then a walk to an Eagle’s viewpoint to see the Sun go down too many clouds to be great however.

Monday-1: Over to the Escalante Area (the area below the town/road is the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument), skipped the State Park that we hadn’t cared for previously and went to a small BLM campground (Calf Creek) where we had our choice of sites since it was before noon. Later on, and for the next 2 nights the place was full (only a dozen or so sites). After setting up camp we did a small hike along the E River with the highlights being a super Natural Bridge and some very nice Anasazi ruins.

Tuesday-2: Drove part of the "famous" Hole-in-the-Rock road to a trio )Peekaboo, Spooky, & Dry Canyon) of slot canyons. Amazing places with long distances where the width one was walking through was significantly less than a foot (you go sidewise) and the canyon walls were quite high. Yes, Dawna had trouble with claustrophobia, but still enjoyed it.

Wednesday-2: Today’s hike was up Calf Creek River from our campsite and yet again different. Lots of green along the creek and we walked along the rocks just above it. It is the only real marked trail in this huge area (claimed to be the second biggest wilderness in the US with the Alaskan Tundra being the only one to beat it); even with a pamphlet calling out things to see (flora, landscape, and Indian ruins and petroglyphs). Then a great waterfall and pool at the end; just to sit by in the shade/cool. Dawna nearly fell asleep. That afternoon we drove 20 miles or so to the small town of Boulder and checked out a quite nice museum and ruin site. The drive is spectacular and we remembered it from a prior time.

Thursday-2: Drove to Page Arizona "the long (in time) way" some 80 miles of dirt/back road

(Smoky Mountain) not seeing one car! The Jeep did great. Excellent views on the top of the high plain in the middle of this desolate area and than an absolutely spectacular canyon to drive down near the end of the trip. Motel in Page and the bath felt good; although we had had excellent showers at Kodochrome so hadn’t been roughing it all that much really.

Friday-2: All day tourist boat ride on Lake Powell; with a stop at Rainbow Bridge (world’s largest natural bridge) and some excursions up some of the canyons as far as the boat could go. The water level is 50 foot below normal due to the last two years of very little snow in the mountains folks around Southern Utah speak of it as a 100-year draught. Always wanted to do a bit of Lake Powell and it was quite good. Whether we want to do a houseboat thing there is still up for consideration.

Saturday-2: Went to the Glen Canyon Dam visitor center and took our time getting a bit educated. Couldn’t do a dam tour however because they aren’t doing them due to security concerns they had airport like security items to go through even to get into the visitor center. Then, bummed around the area (Colorado River and spectacular countryside) and eventually headed towards Albuquerque more seriously. Not too seriously, though for mainly avoided the freeway and did back (but paved) roads through Indian country. Motel in Holbrook.

Sunday-2: After buying some petrified wood from a very talkative chap (we meant a lot of those on this trip, maybe because we weren’t hurrying at all so had time to listen), we spent some nice time at the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest National Monument and then into Abq. The Hyatt yet, as it was the meeting’s hotel.

Monday-2/Tuesday-3: I did meetings, Dawna did her things, which included a visit to a Jeep dealer to check out a concern we had (no big deal) and the usual tourist stuff (Rattlesnake Museum, Petroglyphs, Stores, etc).

Wednesday-3: I did meetings while Dawna headed out towards Salt Lake City. She says the drive was beautiful and easy. She spent the night in Green River, even cooking herself a steak at a city park. I had a fine meal in Santa Fe that night as well.

Thursday-3: Finished my meetings and flew to SLC. Dawna drove there, attended her niece’s graduation, and then met me at the airport. To my surprise, "everyone" was going to dinner after the graduation so we met them there and had a late meal. I also learned that not only had Dawna bought a couple of cow head skeletons on the way from ABQ to SLC, but also a deer (packaged and frozen) some hunter had not picked it up after handing it over to a packaging outfit last fall. She had it in an also-just-procured chest, so now our Jeep was really loaded.

Friday-3: Did a few social things in SLC and then drove all the way home. We were partially motivated to come home "early" to get the venison home while frozen and also thought that having the weekend to unpack and clean up would be nice. And it was. In about 10 days we’re off to Poland (& Czech Republic/Prague & Berlin).