Westward 2013 – Part 2 (7/30 – “Killer” and Lower Calf Creek)

Yes, I said Killer in the title of this blog.  Today when we awoke, Buddy, our sweet shy cat (otherwise referred to as Fraidy Cat), presented us with a dead mouse – his first. During the days in Bryce it is in the high 80s but at night it drops to 45.  I don’t care how cold it gets the wildlife needs to stay outside.  Keep up the good work, Buddy!!

We drove out to Boulder UT today to hike Lower Calf Creek.  Although the hike was 6 miles in 90 degrees, the waterfall at the end made it all worth it.  It dropped 126 feet into a deep ice cold pool.  There were some teenage boys swimming but only because they kept daring each other.  We managed to get our feet in but that was it.  The pond & stream were filled with brown trout even though the water never got over a foot deep.

We drove a few miles past over the Hogbacks – a 2 lane road with little shoulder to speak of.  At least this time we were in the Jeep and not the RV.   It did take us above where we just hiked so we could get a picture.

Tomorrow we head to Colorado.

Here is the view of where we hiked from up on the hogback.

Westward 2013 - Part 2 (7/29 - Kodachrome Basin and Bryce Canyon)

We left Kanab this morning and headed to Ruby's at Bryce Canyon (for a third time).  We can't seem to get enough of the scenery round here.  We first went to Kodachrome Basin State Park - a very small park but with some great hikes.

 Kodachrome Basin State Park

 I love narrow little cliffs!  This is Angels Palace Trail.

It's hard to tell from this picture but Vaughan is walking out on what is called a fin.  It drops about 100 feet on each side of him.  I refused - of course.

 He did talk me into walking out onto this point - with the promise of the Cowboy Buffet back at Ruby's.

 This is Chimney Rock in Kodachrome.

This was another nice hike to Shakespeare Arch.  

Now on to Bryce Canyon.

 Bryce Point has an incredible view of hundreds of hoodoos.

 Inspiration Point

When sunset comes all the animals come out by the road.  These are two prong fawns.

 Check out the rack on this mule deer.

 Two young fawns that decided to pose for us.

 Two older bucks that had a territory dispute.

and here is a doe with another set of fawns.  Too Cute!!!

Westward 2013 - Part 2 (7/28 - Cedar Breaks National Monument)

Today we took a drive out to Cedar Breaks National Monument about an hour north of Kanab.  As we climbed up to 10,590 feet the temperature dropped from the 80's to 51 degrees.  We were definitely not dressed for the drastic change but managed to see some amazing sights.

 Check out this buck still with velvet on his horns.

This whole area is filled with lava fields from prehistoric times.

These next 2 pictures are my favorite - taken in Kanab UT.  They were taken through the window of the Jeep.  I just wanted a picture of the flower but this bee decided he wanted to be a star.

Westward 2013 - Part 2 (7/27 - Peekaboo Canyon and Zion's East Rim Trail)

So, not everything goes as planned.  Today Vaughan decided he wanted to hike Peekaboo Canyon.  The drive out is through deep sand.  It was difficult going down hill through the sand so after almost 2 miles we turned around to head back.  After 3 attempts to go back uphill we had to air down the tires.  We finally made it back to the main road - with a little cussing and a lot of praying.

This is the flat part we had to back down to in order to air down the tires.

From here we decided to head back to Zion to try the East Rim trail.  Thank goodness it was pretty cloudy today - still hot but at least no sunny beating down.  We hiked in about an hour an a half through lots of sand and lizards and ants.  We climbed up quite a distance before my knee (and broken toe) said "ENOUGH".  Still a beautiful hike although once again along the sides of cliffs.

 Sticking out of his mouth is the leg of the rather large grasshopper he just grabbed.  Yummy!!

Westward 2013 - Part 2 (7/26 - Zion - Observation Point)

Beautiful day but very hot.  It got up to 100 degrees.  One might think we would hang by a pool all day.  That's just not in Vaughan's nature.  We drove to Zion National Park along with about 50 Model T's - quite a cool sight.  We hiked half way to Observation Point to a place called Echo Canyon. We only went half way because it is an uphill hike changing elevation about 2200 feet.  When it's 100 degrees and the sun is beating down you make the wise choice to turn around and head back to town where they serve burgers and ice cold beers.  It was an amazing hike - you walk up numerous switchbacks to get in the middle of a slot canyon.  We have always been either on the top of the slot canyon or walking in the bottom.  This time you are hiking a narrow path about a 1000 feet up in the middle of the canyon with another 1000 above you.

 Not a sight you usually see - they all decided to drive to Zion.

 This is what you see beyond the entrance into Zion.  It's called Checkerboard Mesa for obvious reasons.

 Views of Zion.

 The tall reddish brown point is Angel's Landing.  Vaughan and Jeff climbed to the top a few years back - Linda and I stayed just to the right at the shorter red peak.

 Here are a few views of the hike to Echo Canyon - and yes, I am still afraid of heights.

 Narrow paths with a 1000 foot fall - yikes!

Not so bad when you get a little shade and a short wall on the side.

Westward 2013 - Part 2 (7/23-7/25 The Drive to Kanab)

Yes, we are on the road again.  Vaughan finally retired in June - no really - I hear you saying "Sure he did" and snickering.  We spent last week in Hammondsport NY at our cottage on Keuka preparing for my niece Jess's bridal shower.  We scrubbed, painted and polished.  I was stung by a yellow jacket by my eye and then fell down some slippery stairs and broke a toe, tore off a toe nail of another, and have lots of bruises to prove it.  The shower was a success and we have now headed out to Kanab Utah where we left our RV in May.

The trip out was over 1900 miles in the Jeep with a very unhappy cat.  We went through some major thunder storms, one insane sand storm, and 105 degree temperatures.  It is extremely hot here in Kanab.  In fact, 3 people died this month hiking to The Wave.  If you recall we were able to get permits in May this year.  They warn people how difficult this hike is and how much water they should take.  Such a shame.

On a lighter note, there was a Model T Ford convention here in Kanab last weekend.  There are still a dozen cars around town.  Very Cool!!

 How would you like to live here where sand storms are a normal way of life?

We could barely see the cars ahead of us.

 The next morning was beautiful - this was just outside of Gallup, New Mexico.

 Back at the Vermilion Cliffs in northern Arizona - still beautiful.

This is the view coming down into the valley from Jacob's Lake to Kanab.