2023 - West - Durango CO - July 21 to July 23

 July 21 – Moved to Durango, CO.  Had a few beers at the Diamond Belle and dinner at The Roost (excellent).

July 22 – Drove up to Silverton CO.  Beautiful views - 

- then on a major bumpy old Jeep road and hiked the Spud Lake Trail to Potato Lake (3 miles). Stunningly beautiful.  I actually could not resist stripping down and wading in – water was cold but refreshing.  A beaver joined me but he was too far out to get a good picture. The fish were jumping and flowers were blooming. It was breath-taking. 

Yes, those are bear tracks a few big momma tracks and then smaller cubs.

July 23 – Visited Mesa Verde National Park. Spruce Tree House & Cliff Palace ruins were spectacular. It always amazes me at the ingenuity of the Puebloan people who lived here for over 700 years. We decided to hike Petroglyph Point (3 miles). The hike to the panel was very rugged with lots of steps and steep drop-offs.

  

2023 - West - Land O Lakes, FL to Bernalillo, NM - May 26 to July 20

On May 26 we left Land O Lakes for Paradise Valley in Georgia.  The next month and a half was spent catching up with friends and selling furniture we had placed in storage after selling our Georgia home of 25 years.

We started west on July 15 meeting up with our travel companions, Jim & Jill, in West Memphis, AR at the Southland Casino. The next night we made it to Shawnee OK and the Grand Casino. Casinos provide a large, secured place to park RVs overnight along with restaurants and gaming. 

July 17 – Amarillo TX and a visit to our favorite restaurant The Big Texan. A young kid tried the 72oz steak dinner challenge. He said he had already won 2 other eating contests but sadly this one he failed.

July 18 – Arrived at our first real stop in Bernalillo, NM just north of Albuquerque. The next few days were spent hiking - Sandia Man Cave, Tunnel Spring,& Tightrope Trails in Placitas

Sandia Cave - only a 1.1 mile hike but very cool. At least they put in stairs to allow us to see the actual mine entrance.

Tunnel Springs - a fairly easy 1.8 mile hike.

Tightrope - A horrendous 2.4 mile hike. It was a hot uphill climb that seemed would never end. Then the trail at the top was lost (or we were lost) - AllTrails App showed a turn that led straight down what looked like a cliff. We maneuvered down on our butts to the arroyo below and then it was an easy walk out.

I didn't get too many pictures til on our way out - when I could catch my breath.

We did get to visit with close friends, Chick and Leslie, in Albuquerque. 

2022 - West - June 12 - Escalante UT - Devil's Garden & Zebra Slot Canyon

 Another hot, sandy, windy day and two more hikes under our belts. Did I say "hot"? Yes, 90s is too hot for hiking. 

Our first short hike was in the morning when things were a little cooler. Another washboard Jeep ride down Hole in the Rock road brought is to Devil's Garden. The rock formations were incredible.

Next, we decided to hike Zebra Slot Canyon. 

At the beginning of the trail we met a girl, Kennedie, who was by herself.  She joined us on the trail. I have to admire a 24-year old woman travelling alone determined to have an adventure.

The canyon is amazing but the hike in is brutal. First you walk through a cow pasture (complete with cows, bulls, calves, and cowpies), then lots of deep sand. 

and more lizards (this one had more orange than others we had seen).

It was nice having someone with us. Vaughan & I even have a few pictures together now. Thanks, Kennedie!

Here is Vaughan & our new friend, Kennedie. They just squeezed through - tiny as she was, she still had to turn sideways to get through. They left their packs with me.

Click on the link below for a short video of the hike out - the easy part. 

Kennedie was trying to keep us alive by feeding us gummy worms.

Escalante UT - Zebra Slot Canyon - YouTube

Then came the long hike out - exhausted & hot. Worth the walk?  You betcha!

2022 - West - June 10 - Escalante UT - Big Horn Slot

 Today's adventure was a long (5.3 miles) and very hot hike (90s).  The first 2 miles you walk down Harris Wash which at first had a little water with tadpoles (haven't seen those in years). Then everything dried out and you either walked through the wash which was very rocky or through deep sand which was very difficult.  The reward at the end was crazy. The slot at first was fairly wide and then so skinny we had to turn around.

Here is a teaser - 

If you are tired of looking at pictures, click on this link and join us for a actual walk in the canyon.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBjOhmUvKc8

Now for the photo journey - 

This little stream was complete with pollywogs (or tadpoles, if you like) - 

This one already had legs - 

Then through the dry wash - 

Then the trek through the sand - 

Finally, after over 2 miles we near the entry to the canyon - 

Then it narrowed down.  If you look at the top of some of these pictures you can see the debris build up. This shows how much water travels through these slots. 

The waters are so forceful they can carry large logs.

This is where it became so tight we had to turn around.  Vaughan told me "Let's give it a try."

  I told Vaughan to go first.  

If I went first and he got stuck behind me then we would both be trapped.

He couldn't squeeze thru.  The chipmunks had no problem.

Another day, another slot canyon!