2023 - West - Driving to Kanab Ut - September 9

 September 9 - Such a beautiful drive today from Cannonville to Kanab, Utah.

Jill caught a picture of us driving through one of the Red Canyon Tunnels.

There was a herd of antelope grazing by the side of the road on Highway 89.

This is the entrance for our RV park in Kanab. What a back drop.

Even the storm behind us was gorgeous.

2023 - West - Escalante UT - Lower Calf Creek Falls - September 8

 September 8 - Yesterday Jill bought a magnet at out campground of Lower Calf Creek Falls because of it's beauty. Seeing we hiked Upper Calf Creek, she wanted to hike Lower Calf Creek. 

The hike was 6.5 miles at the base of a canyon following Calf Creek the entire way. It was a long hot hike with elevation changes of about 530 feet (but at least it was not all up and all down - just gradual rolling).

Lots of trekking through sand but also lots of shady stops.

Calf Creek - 

Trout in Calf Creek - 

Jazzy in Calf Creek - 

2023 - West - Cannonville UT - Willis Creek Trail (slot canyon) - September 7

 September 7 - After yesterday I didn't think I would ever hike again, but when Vaughan said he wanted to hike Willis Creek we all jumped in the cars and away we went. Willis is one of my favorite slot canyons. It has a small stream running through it and is gorgeous.

Over-shadowing Vaughan - 

2023 - West - Escalante UT - Upper Calf Creek Falls - September 6

 

September 6 – We hiked Lower Calf Creek Falls a few years back and Vaughan really wanted to hike Upper Calf Creek Falls. The lower falls is about a 6 mile round trip along a nice little trout stream. It has a beautiful falls with a nice beach to picnic on.

We found out too late that the upper falls may be only a 2.3 mile round trip but it is straight down then straight back up. That’s over 600 feet of elevation with no switchbacks on slickrock following cairns with very little shade. Luckily it was in the 70s and we had a great breeze. Parts were extremely steep which meant lots of stopping on the way up to catch my breath.  

If you look at the dark areas down below that is the canyon we are heading for - way way down!

Looking back - we aren't even half way. We came from way up there at the very top.

Almost there - 

Jim and Jill decided to hike to the top of the falls - there were pools of water cascading into one another.

Jazzy (their dog) got to wade in to cool off.

Vaughan and I went to the base of the falls instead.  This was our first view of the falls.

Finally at the bottom - 

The hike out was brutal with many stops to allow us (mostly me) to catch our breath.

2023 - West - Cannonville Ut - Mossy Cave and Bryce Canyon - September 4-5

 September 4-5: Decided to skip Ely Nevada. Wanted to spend some time in Bryce Canyon and Escalante area in Utah. Jim and Jill had not been, and it was on our way to our next stop in Kanab UT.

 

Upon arrival we went for a short hike close by called Mossy Cave.  It is one Vaughan and I discovered last spring while out here.  Knowing how much Jim & Jill like waterfalls, this one is a short hike along a pretty stream where you can walk up under the falls if you like. With all the rain yesterday the waters were fairly muddy but still a great view.

Afterwards we drove into Bryce Canyon for a quick tour before having dinner at Ruby’s Inn.

Natural Bridge - 

Jill talking with a Raven - 

Later that night while sitting by the campfire looking up at the Milky Way, a few random satellites, and a shooting star we spotted the Starlink satellites that were launched on September 3. All 21 in a perfect row.  Note: At first my “Star Trek” mind went straight to alien invasion.