Utah! Kodachrome, Grand Staircase Escalante & Bryce

Until July, Pete and I did not have matching days off of work. As soon as our schedules started to mesh, we got to adventure further out of our village. I love hiking in the Canyon, but this last month and a half has been a dream! Our first real weekend away was in Utah(!) Pete found us a cabin at Kodachrome Basin State Park. http://www.utah.com/stateparks/kodachrome.htm

There were only six cabins, each equipped with a charcoal grill, tiny refrigerator, bathroom, air conditioner and beds. It was very calm and quite. We could access hiking/biking/horse trails right from our cabin.

http://www.redstonecabins.com/

We had been experiencing a dry spell in our high desert home, so sitting on our porch and watching the storm roll in was particularly beautiful. Right out our front door we had a view of the rock spires called "hoodoos" (rhymes with voodoo) which are one of Utah!'s claims to greatness.

(You can see a hazy rainbow through the yellow storm cloud.)

We went for a 6 mile round trip hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls, which is part of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.

http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/grand_staircase-escalante.html

It was hot and sandy hike with a great payload at the end of the trail. Or great diversions along the way. Our favorite part was playing in the creek after we finished out hike. Next time we may wade up the creek in our chaco sandals instead of keeping to the dusty trail. I am glad I had so much water with me! We saw several groups of hikers bringing a half a liter of water for the hike, even though the signs and literature warned about the heat and need for massive amounts of water. Pete even brought my water filter (Christmas present from my Pops many years ago!) along as a precaution.
One of the advantages of dating a marine is he may over prepare on occasion, but is never under supplied.


Here is the 120 foot lower calf creek falls we hiked to. I wanted to go swimming in my chonies (that would be slang for undies) but a family showed up and ruined my fun. Pete of course was prepared and got to swim!

We did an 8 mile loop hike in Bryce Canyon National Park through the Peekaboo, Navajo and Queens Garden loops. Here is the Wall of Windows. Many many hoodoos in Bryce!

And here we are after we hiked out!