Saturday, October 22, 2011

National Parks Trip

In mid September, we took off for a 3 week vacation. We spent 16 days visiting 6 National Parks, one in Nevada and the rest in Utah.We traveled over 2600 miles with our 5th wheel in tow, hiked almost 50 miles of beautiful landscapes and did a little bike riding too! The last 5 days we spent in Boulder City / Henderson Nevada visiting with the kids and grand kids.

We had a great time, met a lot of people from all over the world and saw some amazingly beautiful geography. We have a ton of pictures, but I will just highlight a few from each NP as to not bore you too much!

Our first stop was Great Basin located in Nevada near the Utah Boarder off Hwy 50. We had plans to tour the Lehman caves and do a hike at Wheeler Peak ( elevation 10,000 ft). We were only able to do the cave tour, as a big storm moved in our third day there, so we left a day early and headed for Moab. (this was the only place we had bad weather on the entire trip).
We spent the next 5 days in Moab and visited Canyonlands NP and Arches NP.  We spent a day at each NP. Philip spent a day riding at Slickrock (I did laundry). Our last day there we hiked Negro Bill Canyon to Morning Glory Bridge and then did an 18 mile bike ride on a paved trail. It was 115 out on that paved trail, so when we finished I was done for the day, but not Philip. He had to go ride at Amasa Back, another slick rock area in Moab.
 Looking down at the White Rim Trail
The Famous Mesa Arch. It is shear cliff on the other side of the Arch.
 Hiked the Double O Arch trail, then came back via Devils Garden. Lots of slick rock scrambling with cliffs on either side. I had no choice but to do it if I wanted to make it back! It was a little freaky for me!
This is Philip standing under one of the arches at Cove of Caves and Double Arches. We also saw the famous Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch.

 Morning Glory Bridge at Negro Bill Canyon in Moab. This was a beautiful scenic hike with just a little bit of rock scrambling!
Negro Bill Canyon
(I don't have any pictures of Philip's Slickrock rides as they are all on his phone, but I can tell you he had a blast riding there!)

Our next stop was Capitol Reef NP. We stayed in the Fruita Campground. Capitol Reef is a little oasis in the high desert and the town of Fruita was established by Mormon's in the late 1800's. They planted orchards, which are still there and looked after by the NP. Visitors are welcome to pick the fruit. We did 3 interesting hikes here. One, the Cohab Canyon, started right across the street from our campsite. After some steep switchbacks up you came to a beautiful canyon. We also did the Capitol Gorge trail. This was a major thru-fare for the pioneers during the dry seasons. There is a wall in the gorge called The Pioneer Register where the pioneers wrote their names and the dates on the wall when they passed through.

 Philip doing some canyoneering on the Cohab Canyon hike!
 One of the names on the Pioneer Register in Capitol Gorge
Beautiful Scenery in Captiol Gorge

Our next stop was Bryce Canyon. This was the coolest place, weather wise, as we were at 8000 ft. But it warmed up into the 70's during the day. Aaron and Daniel met us here for a couple of nights. This place is so amazingly beautiful. The "Hoodoo's are a natural wonder here. Bryce is not really a canyon, as no water flows through it. 50 million years ago it was a couple of lakes. Scientist aren't too sure what happened to the water, but the limestone sediments (Hoodoo's) were carved by millions of years of freezing and thawing of the rocks it created millions of years ago. We hiked the Queens Garden. Daniel was a little skeptical being up high in the pack at the beginning (looking down was daunting up that high) but once we got to the bottom, he was able to walk that part until we started climbing back out. Daniel also got to experience S'mores for the first time too!
 At Sunrise overlook. Trailhead for the Queen's Garden. Daniel's ready to go with Grandpa's hiking pole!
 Queen's Garden Trail
 At the bottom of the Queen's Garden. Daniel wanted a group picture!
 We came across an area of rocks that visitors built some pretty elaborate Carins. Daniel and Aaron built one, but before I could take a picture of the finished product, he knocked it down.
 Switchbacks coming back up from the Queen's Garden
 Grandpa and Daniel at one of the overlooks
 Bryce Point Overlook
 Like father like son.....they both smile alike!
 Daniel's first taste of yummy s'mores!
 The aftermath of s'mores....I was laughing so hard I could hardly hold the camera still!
All clean and ready for bed in Grandma and Grandpa's trailer

Our final NP was Zion. We had been there about 1 1/2 years ago and hiked Angel's landing and a few others. We were not able to do the Narrows on that trip as the water was too high, too cold and too fast. This time we were able to do it. I think it was my favorite hike of all. We hiked the one mile riverwalk to enter the river. It was in the morning, so in the gorge there was not a lot of sun. The water was 56 degrees and started out about ankle deep. Within 10 minutes it was chest deep. That was as deep as it got for the rest of the way. Most of it was hip deep. We went about 3 miles upriver (2.5 hours) most of the time we were in the water crossing back and forth to a little dry land. Several long spots of wall to wall water, but it was so beautiful you didn't think about the cold water. We spent 4.5 hours in the water and dried off pretty good on the one mile hike back to the shuttle, this time in the sun! The next day, Stacy and Logan joined us. We did the Riverwalk trail at the Temple of Sinawava. When we got to the river, all Logan wanted was to get in the water.He didn't care how cold it was, but it is not a very safe place for an 18 month old child to play. We let him play in the same river back in our campground. It was a little warmer there and safer too. We also hiked the Lower Emerald Pools, but Logan missed it all, as he slept through the whole hike!
 The Beginning of The Narrows Hike
 Where we turned around to head back. It was so much easier going back...downstream!
 One of the areas that was wall to wall water....Beautiful!
 Crossing in the Narrows. The water is moving faster than it looks and if I didn't have trekking poles I would never have made it past the first crossing!
 Logan helping Grandpa with the campfire.
 Logan's first shuttle ride to the Riverwalk trailhead.
 The end of the Riverwalk, the beginning of the Narrows. Logan didn't want mommy holding on to him....you can guess what happened next....he fell in, but was mad because mommy took him out.
 He was all wet and crying here. Everyone that passed us said "oh poor baby fell in the water!" We had to tell them that he was crying because we wouldn't let him back in the water!. He pretty much ran the whole mile back to the shuttle.

He doesn't care how cold it is. He was eventually into it up to his chest!

After Zion, we headed to Bouder City and set our 5th wheel up in Aaron and Lindsay's driveway. We went to Boulder City's  annual Art in The Park, put on by Boulder City Hospital (Aaron's new employer). Philip went mt. bike riding at Bootleg twice. We went to the water park, out to dinner and visited with Aaron, Lindsay, Stacy, Ben and all our grand kids. It was hard to say goodby, but after sleeping in the 5th wheel for 3 weeks, I was ready for home!


 Lenna at the water park
 We got all three to sit together long enough for a picture!
 Daniel dressed up like his Uncle Sam. (He hasn't seen grandpa dressed as a fireman only Uncle Sam, so he doesn't connect grandpa with firefighting yet).
 It was over 100  degrees the first week of October! The boys had a ball with their own splash park!
 Lenna was laying on the grass just posing for grandma!
 She is just so cute and always so happy!
 Daniel wanted Lenna to join them in the pool.
 More Fun!
 Daniel showing Lenna how to go down the slide backwards!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Summer visit with grandkids

Got to spend a week with my Southern Nevada Crew. It was pretty hot...the coolest day was 104...But, we did a lot of fun things and I got help Stacy celebrate her birthday!
 We went to parks....

 I got to Babysit!

 Went to the Rec Center in Henderson. They have a great splash pool for little kids!


 Working on blowing bubbles!
 Made Stacy a quilt out of scraps of material I kept from making sun dresses for her when she was a little girl!
 Logan helping mommy blow out her candles!
 Daniel is holding up the Woody character from Toy Story. He loves Toy Story and knows all the Characters names.
 Lenna is so cute! I could not resist this picture as she was sucking her toe!
 Went swimming at the Ripplingers (Lindsay's parents). The boys had a great time, unfortunately, this is where my phone went for a swim and  I had to buy a new one!
Daniel blowing bubbles for Dad.
 Free Carousel rides in the District (by the Cheesecake factory). They also do free outdoor movies on Saturday nights!


 Of course we had to visit one of the many Splash Parks!

 We went to the Area 51's AAA baseball game. They are one of the Blue Jay's minor teams. Their mascot is an Alien!
I tried posting a couple video's of the boys swimming, but not sure if it is going to work!