(Optionally click on a photo for a larger view and slide show)
BRIEF SUMMARY Trudy and I flew to Las Vegas, rented a car and visited Utah's mighty 5 national parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, & Arches) as well as a tiny portion of the Grand Staircase/Escalante Natonal Monument, and flew from Salt Lake City back to Tallahassee.
An now a tiny sample of photos from the vacation:
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Our Zion experience in the valley of the Virgin River was
primo, with so much to see and so many trails to hike.
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| Virgin River along the River Walk Trail. |
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The red sandstone cliffs of the valley contrasted nicely with
azure blue skies. Elevation here was about 4,000 feet.
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| The Patriarchs. |
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Slickrock area beyond the mile-long tunnel in the eastern
portion of Zion.
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Wandering off road/trail, we explored a
tiny slot canyon.
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| Groov'n on the wavy rock formations of our first slot. |
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We rented gear to walk in the shallow river up the Narrows
beyond the end of the River Walk trail.
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| The sheer cliffs of the narrows were as high as 300 feet tall. |
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| Bryce Canyon was our next stop. |
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| View from the canyon rim of THE Amphitheater! |
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We walked a portion of the Queens Garden trail, but passed on
the steeper Navajo trail.
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| The temperature in the early mornings was in the low 30's! |
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| Note the ice to the right of Natural Bridge. |
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We hiked a portion of the Bristlecone Loop Trail with an
alpine plant community.
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| Fairyland Canyon. |
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Our next adventure driving north was a
hike on the Calf Creek Falls in the
Grand Staircase/Escalante Canyon
National Monument.
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| Clarecup Catctus |
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I couldn't resist this self-portrait with my
favorite rock of the moment.
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From Boulder, Utah we drove east on the fabulous, 5-star
Burr Road.
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| ROCK RULES here. |
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| ... and more ROCK RULES! |
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| The horizon seems so much farther away in Utah. |
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| Ice and Aspens on a ridge line between Boulder and Torrey, Utah |
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| This our trusty Thrifty Kia Sorento. |
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| Is this the last gasp of an ancient juniper tree? |
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To the right of large cottonwood tree is the entrance to Long
Canyon Slot.
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| The slot of Long Canyon is only about 1/3 mile long, round trip |
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| And this slot is magical! |
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Capitol Reef The Narrows of the Cassidy Arch Trail
was one of most awe inspiring hikes of our vacation.
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I included Trudy in this photo to provide
you a feeling of the scale of this dry wash.
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| Pectroglyphs on canyon wall of the Narrows. |
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| Canyonlands Mesa Arch |
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| Canyonlands Grand View |
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Arches We arrived in Arches late in the day for dramatic
lighting at the Park Avenue viewpoint.
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| Just when you think you have seen Utah's rock formations ... |
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| View from Lasal Mountain Viewpoint. |
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| Courthouse Tower |
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| Moon over Balanced Rock |
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| Trudy in an arch along the Windows Trail |
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| Double Arch |
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Landscape Arch in Devils Garden. With a span of 290 feet, this
arch may be the longest in the world.
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| OK, so this Floridian is fascinated by rock. |
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A stop in the shade during an off trail
hike up Courthouse Wash. |
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| Mulears flowers along the Salt Valley Rd |
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| Sage Lizard in Courthouse Wash. |
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