Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Move over Mormons. Utah is MY "promised land".


"Red Canyon"

I really love Utah. Well, maybe not all of it. I've never been to Salt Lake City. Never really been to the northern half of the state. But ooooh, the southern half. I was there two weeks ago and I already want to go back.

I quit my (new) job at the end of November, and my brother finished school the first week of December, so I was able to talk him into going on a road trip with me. In case you for some strange reason want the blow-by-blow, here it is. Or, you can just look at the pictures. Whatever. 

Day 1: Drove to Vegas. Lame. Vegas is a highly concentrated area of everything that is wrong with the world. But it's an easy place to stop for the night. 

Day 2: Drove to Zion National Park. Yay! Hiked to "Hidden Canyon". 


Well OK, it's not really that hidden. 

It was cold - had to wear my earmuffs.

After exploring Hidden Canyon, we drove out the eastern side of Zion (super beautiful), to bunk up in a hotel in Kanab for the night. (Holiday Inn Express - hot tub and free breakfast - holla!)

Day 3: Hiked to "Red Canyon", just outside of Kanab. The off-road drive to get to the trailhead is pretty hairy. We decided to abandon the car and hoof it most of the way through the sand.

I am the sand that will eat your car. 

Found the wash and followed it into the canyon. Sweet! My brother's first real slot canyon experience. 


Look Ma!

Then drove a few miles up the road to "Sand Wash" for another slot canyon. This is the entrance:


It was dark inside this one. 

You have to ford a stream to get to the trail, and let me tell you, the water in that stream was frickin' freezing, so we were hopping around like idiots once we got across. Plus I lost a sock crossing the stream and had to do the hike with only one sock. Luckily on the way back, an old rancher gave us a ride in the back of his pickup. Awesome. 

Day 4: Hiked to "The Wave". Its in southern Utah, in the Escalante National Wilderness, almost to the Arizona Border. This is seriously wilderness - no other cars on the road, no towns, no running water, no real trails. You follow washes, ridges and other landmarks to find The Wave. The navigating is half the fun. 

Many navigational challenges lie ahead. 



Wavy. 

Navigating The Wave. 


You can totally envision water flowing through the rocks millions of years ago, and maybe some dinosaurs hanging around and whatnot.

You get the idea. (And more earmuffs!)



There is still more navigating to do. 

After getting our fill of the wave, we bushwhacked a bit down into a gully to find Buckskin Gulch, the longest slot canyon in Utah. 


We explored a bit and then headed back to the car via a narrow feeder canyon, where we had to climb over a few obstacles, including one boulder jam where I had to let my brother step on me to get up, then he pulled me up after. I think they call that partner climbing in climber lingo. 

Day 5: Storm's coming in! Gotta head out. We drive the scenic route through basically every protected area in Utah:

Bryce Canyon. So cold. 

Escalante Wilderness. 


Capitol Reef. 

I would have liked to stay and play around more, but a huge blizzard was coming in, and I had to get my brother to the airport in Denver. So we drove to Grand Junction, CO for the night. 

Day 6: Some hiking at Devil's Canyon, just outside Grand Junction, then hit the road. 

Snow covering the mesa. 

The drive to Boulder was pleasant enough until we hit the snow. And the ice. And the freezing cold temperatures after dark. Apparently we were going over some crazy-huge mountains or something (Vail Pass = 10,600 ft). Made it to Boulder though. Rewarded with -10 degree weather (not so awesome) and a huge plate of spicy ribs at a local brewery (yum). 

Day 7: Some hiking just outside Boulder. High of 2 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Double earmuffs. 

Drove my brother to the airport with one minute to spare. Just my style. 

Day 8: Attempted to hike a giant loop trail just outside Boulder. Turns out the loop is about 8 miles, and I am cutting it close before the sun goes down. 

Mile 3 - frozen river gorge. Possibly some mountain lion tracks. 

I lose the trail with just over 2 miles left and an hour before darkness. I decide not to risk it and beg a ride off a girl walking her dogs. Thanks again to the nice lady who drove me to my trailhead! Dinner with a former colleague. Yay for a home-cooked meal!

Day 9: Snowshoeing in the Rocky Mountain National Park with a friend. 

Them is some rocky mountains. 

We hike to several frozen lakes and walk across them like it aint no thang. Dinner and then I hit the road on my long slog home. I drove to Cheyenne that night.

Day 10 & 11: Much driving through snow. Bad coffee. That about sums it up. 


I am Wyoming - land of sucky coffee. 

I get home (after sitting in traffic for an hour to get across the stupid Bay Bridge - welcome home!). 


Almost there! Little do I know how much traffic lies ahead.

I am grumpy for like 2 days. But happy to see roommates and my doggie. And have good coffee again. 

Just another winter day in California.

I am wearing flip flops. Something is just wrong about this.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Annual gathering of klutzy, large-nosed people

As my cousin so eloquently put it: "if you're part of this family, you've got two left feet, a big nose and a dorky sense of humor".

Every Thanksgiving, this gifted group of people meets up somewhere near Mt. Shasta for a weekend of food, hiking, and nerdy games (no one plays Boggle like my family plays Boggle).

I think the highlight of this year's trip was the hike up to Castle Crags. About 5 miles round trip, and you get to play around on the rocks at the top. And of course there are some nice views to be had:






The hiking is always my favorite activity because you get some quality family-time, without having to play dorky games (this year was Charades-free!).