Category Archives: Utah

The Eye of The Needles

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It has finally come time to leave Canyon Rim boondock. The wagon train is hitching up and heading south to hide out in a pine forest until the storm blows over. In this case, the “storm” being the storm of school students that descend upon Utah like locusts for a four day weekend every October. It’s UEA Weekend coming up, the Utah Education and Administration conference held on Thursday and Friday, giving the kids a four day weekend from school. We learned this the hard way last year, as we found ourselves trapped in Little Wild Horse slot canyon with about 200 “little wild horses” of the two legged variety. So plans are firmly in place to avoid a repeat this year.

But I am having a tough time leaving the canyon, especially Continue reading →

A “Needlework Sampler” for My Birthday

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In recognition of my birthday last week, I got to pick the hike….a lot of pressure, as this is a no-win proposition with this tough crowd!  Over 80 degrees, and the Coloradans will start to melt.  Under 70, and I lose the Floridians.  Under three miles?  Not worth getting dressed for in my opinion.  Over seven, and I eliminate participants due to pets at home. Continue reading →

Bustin’ Crust in Canyon Rim

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Moab was a mob scene.   Overrun with rental RVs and foreign dialects who appear to struggle with our frustrating systems even more than I do, like the annoying recorded voice at the self-checkout line announcing “Unexpected item in the bagging area.”  Everywhere I went, there were crowds of tourists attempting to cross off two out of five of Utah’s “Big Five National Parks” in one town.   I had to wait in line for everything from grocery shopping to pedestrian stopping.  Yet I couldn’t leave.  I was a held captive by a rig full of exploding gear. Continue reading →

Reflections on Green River

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I struggle to put into words objectively my impressions from nine days on the river, which is why I thought it best to let the photos “speak for themselves” in the form of photo album posts.  After nine days away from civilization, it may take me some time for my hindsight focus to adapt from what became a bit of “perceptual narrowing.”  Continue reading →

Fare Thee Well, Dear Zion…

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I am the last of “the Red Rocks Gang” to leave Zion.  Like the last leaf dangling precariously from the bare bones limbs of the cottonwoods long after they have dropped their brilliant golden color for the season, I am reluctant to let go.

Each goodbye has taken a piece of me.  It is like pulling the bandaid off one hair at a time.  But none stung as badly as the “final goodbye” because it signifies Continue reading →

Where All But Angels Fear to Tread

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It’s my last day in Zion National Park, and I still haven’t done the one hike I came to do.  I had my sights set on the Angel’s Landing hike since last August, when I made plans to join the Red Rocks Gang in Southern Utah.   But I psyched myself out that I “wasn’t ready.”   For one reason or another, I haven’t been in the right frame of mind to attempt this hike since I arrived.   Conditions need be just right….weather that is cool but not rainy, a mid-week day with light crowds, and an opening when the rest of the gang is taking a day off or riding their mountain bikes, so I won’t miss out on a hike with the gang to a destination I have not yet seen.    But once I realize time is running out, it’s already too late… Continue reading →

Realities and Reflections…

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It was with an extreme mixture of emotions that I checked Dad out of the rehab center this past week.  He seemed to be doing so well mentally, but limited exercise was rapidly becoming a pitfall.  Although he had both a Physical Therapist and an Occupational Therapist, neither seemed to be working him to the extent he worked himself, just the weeks leading up to his pneumonia.   And no therapy on the weekends made me feel like we were losing ground. Continue reading →