Chpt-07 Capitol Reef / Salt Lake City / Grand Teton

Another Mail posting.

 

After getting up I thought I’d have to see the “Capitol Reef” Park. Now, as I am just nearby. Basically it is one big Canyon which is missing the other side. Along this wall there is a street which you can go by car / bike. I decided to get to the end of the paved road by car and hop on my bike for the rest. No matter how beautiful it all is, I decided I have enough of stones and desert. I wanna see green, as for a change.

 

So, on my way northwards I decided to make a stopover in Salt Lake City. Which is…, well, a city. With streets. And houses. Ah, and some Mormon-Temples and some great salty lake nearby. However, I didn’t make it all the way out to “Wendover”, the salt plateau where they constantly break speed records and where “The world fastest Indian” has been filmed. (Good movie, by the way)

 

Okay, and this morning I got myself in the car again and made it all the way up to the “Grand Teton National Park”, which is just below the Park of all Parks: Yellowstone.

 

 Finally I get to see some trees and there is wildlife supposed to be here, too. However, so far no one I spoke to has seen anything bigger than a squirrel.

 

 And as I have actually made it to get a reservation for some nights in the Yellowstone Park, that’s where I will be for the next couple of days. The weather turned out to be better than predicted, so the park might reveal all it’s colors which it is famous for…

 

However, there is no Wifi in the Park, so a next report will take a little while…

Chpt-06 Red Canyon

Today happened so much, it's worth a separate chapter.

I went back to the Red Canyon which I have passed some days ago. At the Visitor's Center I asked for a bike trail and they could give me some recommendations.
At the trail head I met Glenn and Sue again, the couple from San Francisco, I met in the Bryce Canyon. The world is a small place, even here.

The color of that canyon is, again, amazing. I think, my camera can't really catch it. I went up the trail and the way back was a real down-hill adventure. After that, the bike and me, both looked like pigs. Still can't believe how much fun you can have with a $74 bike from Wal-Mart.










On my way westwards, I stopped at a small State Park called "Petrified Forest" (versteinerter Wald). Interesting to see, what colors these old trees have now. From the trees itself is nothing left, but the minerals that replaced the wood have still the same shape. You can even see the annual rings.




The drive further west was one of my most amazing scenic drives I ever went on. Forests, deserts, villages..., all followed by each other. In the middle if a desert canyon there is a little river in which ducks have found their home.


As the last camping didn't have showers again I needed to check in at an Inn. A shower is really some good invention!!!

Chpt-05 Cedar Breaks / Bryce Canyon

Hiho.

 

 This will be an email posting, so Pictures will all be on top, probably unsorted.

After Zion, here was a cold front pulling through. I went into a hotel in Cedar City and from there I went on a little excursion to the “Cedar Breaks”. The road up there was closed, so I had to walk 4 miles up and down to see them. See all the snow around me, here is still winter.

 

Next day I went into the Bryce Canyon National Park. For some reason they had availability on the campgrounds in the park. Ok, then I am gonna stay here! First thing after building up my tent is getting myself on the bike to see where this road leads that goes just next to the campground. Well, I didn’t read it before, so I actually went 15 miles up the hill to get to the end. Riding back was pretty cold as I was prepared just for a mile or so. But it was worth the effort. The view into the land is fantastic (see “hero next to his bike – picture” ;-)  ).

 

Today (Wednesday) I had to see the Canyon from the inside. Just across the campsite there is “Sunset Point” where some nice loop trail into the canyon starts. The whole Canyon is like some magic forest built out of stone. Have a look at the pictures. Glenn and Sue from San Francisco gave me some good hints where to go in their home town. Three weeks, and I am gonna be there…

 

However, on my way here I went through the “Red Canyon” (yes, another canyon) which I might have a closer look at tomorrow. Let’s see…

And the same thing at sunset, viewed from "Sunset Point":

Chpt-04 Zion

Nope,

it was no Thursday as I thought when I entered Zion National Park, it was Saturday. That's why everything was booked out again. Campgrounds are even booked months in advance. So I found one free site out of town. For like 400 people they at least have one public pay-shower in which I cue now. Good: they have WIFI so I have plenty of time uploading stuff..

This morning I decided to go up the park on my bike to see where I can go on a hike.




After one hike not worth mentioning, I started this one:


Petzen steht her ganz hoch im Kurs!




This hill on top of it all I still had to climb up.



View from above.



And some descent again.


Another hiking video, maybe it's worth watching:



After that I had to go into the direction of East Entrance again. The countryside there is really amazing:








So, the park itself is great to see, but the way it has been organized is horrible. So, I think I will see if I enter the Northern part of the park again or will carry on to who knows where... :-)

Sunday

Today I went to see the rest of the Park...


The entrance to the Kolob Mountains.



Spring has not arrived up here, yet. And if you don't take care, little snow men jump onto your car, wondering what you're doing up here.

Well, in the meantime I have passed on. Plan was to go to the Bryce Canyon Park, or Cedar Breaks. But now winter has come back here and seeing snow falling on my car, I think staying at a hotel is the better choice, rather than sleeping in a tent once more.

Chpt-03 The Grand Canyon

Monday

After leaving in Las Vegas I had to cross the Hoover Dam another time, entering Arizona. The path lead me partly through endless desert:


At the same evening I ran into my camping neighbors Doug and Dave. Two crazy Americans who have to renovate an old church in the park.

Next evening they invited me to Chili Meat Beans. Yummmyy!!

Tuesday

At first I slept in. That was necessary. Then I decided to explore the park with my new bike. After getting it ready I started into the park, using an old trail.

Arizona Trail. I was happy to have: good brakes, a helmet and front suspension!

Things you can see, walking the Rim Trail at the edge of the canyon.












Wednesday (the hike)

Well, I cannot visit the Grand Canyon without being once at the top and at the bottom. So I went to the park office and asked for hiking trails. One day hikes are "not recommended", so you have to book a lodge down in the Canyon (about a year in advance).
Some other guy I asked said "No, they do not recommend the one day hike, but some people do it anyway."
So, am I going to do it? OF COURSE I AM!! I am "some guy" after all! But I set my alarm clock to 4:15am to be sure I will be back before dusk.


Veeery early.


Some pick-Nick at "Indians Garden". Nice place to stop.


Jajaaa, ich weiss ja! Also weiter...




Yeeey, finally some water in sight!



Weird rock formations.

But way better you can see it all in the moving pictures: