Day 7 - Bryce Canyon

Page and Roman requested a light final hiking day so we planned a 2.5 mile hike into the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. We arrived midday, had a light lunch, checked in to the lodge and then went out on our light hike.

At Zion you stay at the valley and hike up the canyon but on Bryce you stay the the top of the canyon and hike down into the valley. We hiked down winding switchbacks into Bryce about 500 feet in elevation down and then at the bottom decided to add on "about 30 minutes" to the original hike to the Peekaboo trail. Peekaboo is so named because it weaves in and out of the hoodoos to reveal sweeping views in every direction-- making for a sensational trail. See video example:

http://youtu.be/gRbU8cKe-vg

Halfway through Peekaboo we decided to take a one mile trail up out of the canyon. This trail ended up climbing 500 feet through a snowy narrow trail but we all made it out and decided to celebrate at the top. Pic 2 and 3. The trail back from our ending location was closed so we ended up walking three miles along the road. Twenty cars passed us before a nice couple from Chicago stopped and let us hitchhike back.

We went to a local hotel to watch the ncaa basketball tournament and then arose for a sunrise at inspiration point this morning. Pic 4. With the four hour drive to Las Vegas behind us now, we have completed four days of 12, 8, 10 and 7 mile hikes and are relaxing at the luxurious Delano hotel before our sushi dinner and Cirque de Soleil O show at 10. Life is good.

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Day 170 - JMT Forrester Pass

The mountains had a surreal glow this morning as we climbed up towards the 13,200 foot high Forrester Pass. One of the wonderful things about the mountains is that they change appearance as the sun changes height, creating a movie-like experience as you walk. I felt so free and happy this morning--just in love with this light. After sixty minutes of walking, we stopped in the first sunny spot we could find to thaw out and rest. Another hiker came bustling up the trail behind us and stopped at the sunspot to shed a layer of clothing. Sly was a Canadian hiker, just turned 40, who seemed happy to see us. We struck up a conversation about travels and when we pushed off Sly asked if he could join us. We said yes of course. We hiked quickly up the trail, reaching a high plateau with epic alpine views. Selfie time! We skirted around a high alpine lake and then went up a ridge line ever further higher. We were at 12,000+ feet now and the world began to look small y...

Day 62 - Colorado National Monument

Established as a national monument early in 1911, Colorado NM is known for its high canyon "rim road" and sandstone spires of Monument Canyon. The canyons of west Colorado are pretty--as they have more green trees and shrubs than the more famous Utah canyons. This gives them a more alive feeling, although the sandstone spires were formed many thousands of years ago by erosion. Rim Rock road curves up the the top of the canyon cliff, goes through several round tunnels and is lined with scenic viewpoints. The best views were in he Monument Canyon section, and included in sequence, the Coke Ovens, The Kissing Couple (behind my head), and the most famous of all: Independence Monument, the tall spire in pic 3 and viewed from the side in pic 4. The original promoter and caretaker of the park, John Otto, was the first person to climb Independence Monument and now it's a climbing right of passage. Every July 4 climbers ascend and mount an American flag at the summit. Fun! ...

Day 82 - Yellowstone to Montana

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