TG

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I got home last night after another great Utah trip. The weather started off a little cool (it dropped down below freezing the second night) and we had quite a bit of wind during the week, but other than that the weather was great and it was much better than the cool, rainy weather last year. We drove about 1600 miles total and hiked every day. One of the trails I did a section of a couple years ago and another I had done many years ago, but I think that the rest were all new to me. I got to tour the Cathedral Valley area of Capitol Reef National Park, which I’ve wanted to see for many years but never could before because I don’t have a 4WD vehicle. And splitting the cost three ways was great- I think that my total cost for 10 days was right around $300!

Here’s a pic of Tom, Dan & I at Cedar Breaks National Monument- a park that I’ve driven by many times but never visited before because it’s so high (about 10,500’) that the road is almost always closed when I’m in the area. It was still basically winter up there but at least I finally made it to the park a couple days ago as we started our return trip to Denver.

Postcards got mailed from a small town in the middle of nowhere on Thursday so I doubt if many (if any) of you have received them yet, but they should start trickling in this week :)



Comments:

TG

Cathedral Valley, Capitol Reef National Park 05-01-12

Since we were heading into Cathedral Valley on Tuesday we were planning on camping at Capitol Reef Monday night, but we were dismayed and surprised to find the camp there full on a Monday afternoon! I don’t think that we’ve ever had trouble camping there before. Luckily having the 4WD gave us a lot more options than normal. We heading into the nearby town of Torrey for dinner, then drove north into Fishlake National Forest. We found a nice (and free!) primitive site for the night there.

TG

Monday night

was wickedly windy, though! We were awakened many times throughout the night by the howling wind- I would estimate gusts of at least 50 mph (80 km/hr)! Its probably hard to see but when we woke up Tuesday morning everything was covered in red dust. There was dust all the way to the bottom of our sleeping bags. And although Tom tried covering himself up, we both woke up with good red Utah grit in our mouths :P

TG

Lower South Desert Overlook

The Cathedral Valley area of Capitol Reef is one that I’ve wanted to visit for many years. Although I had been to the park (which is, BTW, one of the most under-appreciated national parks I’ve ever been to) many times before, the park service recommends a 4WD or at least a high-clearance vehicle for the roads in there. Since Dan bought a 4WD last year this was the one area that I insisted we include on this vacation.

The Lower South Desert Overlook is a stop on the Hartnet Road on the way in to Cathedral Valley. Tom & I noticed an old cattle path leading down into the valley so we explored that for a while. These are some of the cool rocks formations from the valley floor.

Hawk~ won't trade freedom for safety

I agree

Capitol Reef is an amazing place. I hadn’t even heard of it before driving through a few years ago. At that time I was driving an Alfa Romeo Spyder, with the top down to better appreciate the truly impressive scenery.1

And stumbling upon Robbers Roost bookstore/coffee shop in Torrey was an added bonus. Actually, any coffee shop in Utah is a bonus.

:)

1 The trip total was about 3000 miles, had the top down for 2800 of them. The only thing better than a convertible for a trip through the Southwest would be a motorcycle.

TG

I didn't get the chance

to check out Robbers Roost this time- we went through town kind of late, and most of the businesses there close up pretty early. Maybe next time.

And I have a great pic of the motorcycle that I would like to ride through Utah, but I’d probably get flagged for it ;)

Hawk~ won't trade freedom for safety

C'mon, TG

You can’t say something like that and just leave us hanging.

Let’s see it.

:)

TG

More rock formations at South Desert Overlook

An interesting balanced rock and some of the “badlands” terrain in the valley.

TG

Temple view

The rock formations called Temple of the Sun (left) and Temple of the Moon were the main reason I had wanted to get into Cathedral Valley. Tom & I took a short hike up to the Lower Cathedral Valley Overlook, where we got our first view of these awesome rocks. They may not look that big in this photo but the road next to Temple of the Sun gives some scale!

TG

Upper Cathedral Valley

It was getting kind of late in the day by the time we reached Upper Cathedral Valley so the lower-angle light really brings out the color in this shot.

TG

Dinner at the Cathedral Valley Campground

At the junction of the Hartnet Road that we took in, and the Cathedral (Caineville) Road that we took on the way back out lies the Cathedral Valley Campground. No water or flush toilets but there are picnic tables and it’s free, which isn’t very common in the national parks anymore. Here Dan & Tom are looking forward to a delicious, nutritious camping meal of chili-cheese dogs ;)

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TG

You're welcome

And believe me, it’s worth the trip! Let me know when you’re passing through :) Someday I’ll be out your way, too- I still need to visit Everglades, Biscayne, & Dry Tortugas for this goal.

I just noticed that Alaska & Florida are the only states with more than two national parks I need to visit still.


 

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