Going from the pristine, Technicolor fairyland of “holy Mount Zion” to the stark, monochromatic hills of Lake Havasu City was a bit of a shock. Just rolling into town, seeing the “Elevation, 450 ft” made me swallow hard. So arriving at the boondock location along a rough, dusty white-rock road left me in a bit of scenic withdrawal. Continue reading
SARA’s Crack, that is. The “Special Activities and Recreational Area” in Lake Havasu. I left Zion a little early this year to attend a Thanksgiving Feast in Lake Havasu City with Joel and his family, my long time friends from the northeast, twenty years back. Since I have decided to leave the Winnie in Phoenix again this holiday season and fly back to Texas, Lake Havasu was on the migratory path. Continue reading
“Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day
Nothing gold can stay.”
~ Robert Frost Continue reading
It was tough few weeks here in Zion for the mountain bike contingent. Both Bobbie and Chris had flat tires. Mark had his chain break while grinding up Flying Monkey Mesa. The only bike that hasn’t broken is my “vintage” Trek with the rusty bike chain and raggedy old seat. 😉 It has made three very respectable rides fifteen miles up the Scenic Drive in the Zion canyon and back.
But it’s not a mountain bike. And it has no suspension. Or disc brakes. Which means it’s Continue reading
I recently read an article in my NPR newsfeed suggesting that instead of “What,” we should be grateful for “When” this Thanksgiving. The premise is based around “time,” that rather than give thanks for things or even people, instead we be more appreciative of time.
It’s been an odd year for me where time is concerned. It seems as if the days are either flying by as fast as the cartoon version of pages flipping off the calendar, or as slowly as my blood red pen waiting for midnight so I can cross off yet another day. There has been no in-between for me this year. Continue reading
Hidden Canyon is a popular hike along Zion National Park’s main Scenic Drive. The 1,000 ft elevation gain and exposed areas are cause for its “Strenuous” rating. It’s also one of only two hikes I turned back on last year, so it was on the radar to explore this year. The hike starts out with an aggressive maze of relatively steep switchbacks, up some sheer canyon walls with the aid of chains, and finally reaches a small canyon where the “official” trail ends and the scrambling begins. Continue reading
noun, [pen-tuh-men-toh] Painting. The presence or emergence of earlier images, forms, or strokes that have been changed and painted over.
(From Wikipedia) “A pentimento is an alteration in a painting, evidenced by traces of previous work, showing that the artist has changed his or her mind as to the composition during the process of painting. The word is Italian for repentance, from the verb pentirsi, meaning to repent.”
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There’s nothing like losing two immediate family members and attending three family funerals within the past six months to make one ponder “impermanence.” When I used to see places like “Tripod Rocks,” I would ponder the probability that they would still be standing this time next year. After the loss of my brother seven years my junior followed by my Dad, now I wonder if I will be… Continue reading
I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite hike in southern Utah. I have loved them all. So many different personalities from the cold dark canyons of Buckskin to the sunny warm glow of little Snow Canyon. Each one has something spectacular to offer, though it’s not always about “The Destination.” Some offer an ever changing variety. For this reason, if forced to pick a favorite, the “Many Pools” hike in eastern Zion has to rank way up there. It’s like Forest Gump’s box of chocolates; Continue reading
Now back in the shadow of Zion National Park, I have to say, it feels good to be back. As I have moved at a fast clip through Southern Colorado, down the Green River, and across the southern state of Utah since July, this stop has been a bit of a “carrot” at the end of the stick. I have looked forward to just “parking it” for awhile. No more route planning, campground research, navigating unfamiliar territory, hitching and unhitching. Just a couple of weeks to relax, visit with friends, and make my favorite time of the year, the autumn season, stretch as long as possible. Continue reading