Petrified Forest National Park

Many years ago, as a child my Aunt and Uncle drove from Bloomington, IL on Route 66 west with the destination of the Grand Canyon.  On the journey one of their planned stops was the Petrified Forest.  When they arrived home, one of my gifts from the trip was a piece of petrified wood!  Their trip sounded amazing and I always wanted to visit that special place.   When we left Albuquerque we planned a visit to the Petrified Forest.  Carol had visited this national park several years ago, but I had no idea what it would be like.  I…

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Hell’s Backbone Loop

Earlier this week we traveled to Escalante, Utah.  When we left Lake Powell the temperature was about 82 degrees, half way to Escalante the temperature dropped and we were engulfed in a snow storm!  36 degrees with snow thunder.  RVs were pulled off the road and there was about 3” of ice and slush.  We also pulled off the road, but decided to drive out of the mess.  Within 10 minutes we were back in sun and by the time we got to Escalante the temps were back at 80 degrees! See short video below, Snow!Crazy Snow video! Click Here!Hell’s…

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Kayaking Antelope Canyon

Yesterday was another 10+ day!  We met Paddle Lake Powell (a local service that rents kayaks) at 9am.  This outfitter was the best…most outfitters meet you close to the end of a very steep and long boat ramp and you carry your kayak to the water.  During normal times this would be no problem, but the water is at an all time low and falls below the end of the boat ramp! As you see from the above picture, the water levels are dismal.  Last fall when we were here the waterline was about 40’ up the ramp!  All power…

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Wire Pass/Buckskin Gulch

Some days you just don’t know how your plans are going to work out.  Well, today’s plans beat all expectations!  We hiked Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch…both are amazing slot canyons in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area.  To reach the trailhead of Wire Pass you drive 8.3 miles on a dirt road. Wire pass starts out hiking through Coyote Wash and after about a mile you enter the most colorful slot canyon. Halfway through the pass there is a wooden ladder that drops about 10 feet.  Wire Pass opens into the high walls with petroglyphs and meets up with…

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