Southwest Adventure -- WEEK 1

On the ROAD -- working my way across the geography of the SW (USA).
WOw .... first time to have usable internet in over a week ..... (a sign that my trip to the SW is working out fabulously). Currently sitting at a friend's kitchen table in Kanab, UT (just 5 miles north of the AZ border).

It has been an incredible adventure thus far. Each day brings new landscapes. I can literally feel my soul and mind expanding. The gratitude I am experiencing on a daily basis for this birthday gift trip/adventure is overwhelming (in a grand way). THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for helping make this possible! -- best 40th b-day gift EVER.

I know that everyone wants pictures instead of paragraphs of bad waxing poetry. So, here you go. A few quick snapshots of highlights with subtitles to give you a peek into the last 9 days.

Steve joined me for the first 4.5 days (AWESOME!!). By day two we had made it to the east side of Yosemite via Mono Lake and Tioga Pass. (by the way .... Tioga Pass is the coolest road I have ever been on)

Morning in Yosemite National Park (9/10/10)

After a day and morning of hiking in Yosemite (chased out by the weekend crowds), we headed south to the east side of Kings Canyon National Park to hike into the John Muir Wilderness on the NE border of the park.

Blue Lake basin (~ 11,000 ft) - glacially scoured lake filled basin. So beautiful that tears filled my eyes. (9/11/10)

Then a drive through Death Valley National Park (9/12/10)


At the floor of the valley Steve and I hopped out to throw the disc (frisbee) on the sand. ~95F at 9:30 am. Good fun!


Steve flew out of Vegas back to Eugene at 6am on Monday (9/13) and I headed solo -- into the desserts of Nevada.

Valley of Fire (NV state park) -- petroglyphs; red rocks, white rocks, rainbow rocks; warm sand; and a hint of water. (9/13/10)

So enamored with the red-rocks at Valley of Fire, I arrived late at night to Snow Canyon Park, UT. But awoke the next morning to find myself in another set of lovely red rock mountains


ON to ZION! and to me being blown away by the grandeur of its landscape. "Scale" holds a whole other meaning in this park.

Angel's Landing ...... Zion (9/14/10)


The Virgin River winding it's way through The Narrows ..... Zion (9/15/10)


In south central Utah -- I did not get one of the 10 lottery permits offered per day to hike into the "The Wave" (something I will have to return for someday). Instead I opted to hike Buckskin Gulch in the Vermillion Cliffs wilderness area. Not disappointed in the LEAST.

Buckskin Gulch = Slot canyon insanity! (9/16/10)


Camped off a BLM road near the Buckskin trail head; did some early morning hiking in the area and then headed over to the Rim Rocks of Escalante National Monument. (9/17/10)

They call these crazy hoodoos "Toad Stools" --

NOTE: I have gotten to walking barefoot in the thick sandy washes. It is literally the softest sand I have ever felt between my toes .... and so ancient. yehh...do have to be careful of the prickly desert plants and occasional tarantula.

ALL photos by - Pollyanna Lind