Views From the South West

June 25 - Slot Canyons at Wire Pass with three of my co-workers at the hostel. It has been wonderful hanging out with them. Although 30 years younger than myself, they have the same joy and passion for being outside hiking and enjoying nature. The slots are 8 miles down a dirt road so luckily I was a passenger and saved my car for the next adventure.

This is an eight foot drop I had to climb down.
Well I slipped just a bit, but no injuries.

There is a cartwheel photo, but I'm saving it for later.

June 27 - Bryce Canyon, since I'm writing this after seeing the major 4 National Parks in this area I must say it is my favorite. The Hoodoo land-forms are enormous, unique and breathtaking. Each bend it the 8 mile Fairy Land Trail made me feel as if I was in a fairy tale. Some of the formations looked like castles. I will hopefully head back out to hike another section before leaving in July.

June 28 - Zion by car, I will be hiking here next week, just went to get the lay of the land. I did not like driving through the 1 mile tunnel, thought I was going to faint. Someone else will drive next time. The crowds are crazy, so a 7:00 am arrival is a necessity. After driving through I stopped for ice-cream at Virgin Trading Post in Virgin, Utah, where all 600 residents must own a gun by law. Then checked out Pipe Spring National Monument.

Waiting to go into the scary tunnel.

Replica of the Pipe Springs Settlement

June 29 - Grand Canyon North Rim, trees and a different view from this side. Took in the 1/2 mile walk out to Angel Point to get a glimpse of the canyon.  I'm sure your could look out over the canyon a million times and always be in awe. Enjoyed the hike out to Uncle Jim Point a wonderful view at 8336 ft. We spent time taking photos from various vantage points as the only four hikers on the trail it was fabulous. We were joined shortly by a ranger from the Desert Rim and she hiked with us as we finished the loop and headed back to the trail head. She was great, explaining different plants, animals and trees along the way. We even so a coyote.

After the hike we set out to have a fabulous lunch at Jacob's Lake and also spent time talking with the rangers at Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center learning about trails and dispersed camping.

Rock at Uncle Jim Point.