Hot Utah Orange/Cold Colorado Green

YAHOO, click on ANY photo for full size!

No ecosystem makes me happier than a lush green forest, with a burbling creek and nearby mountains, but for OMZ photos, I'll take the ever surprising colors and shapes of Utah's extraordinary geology, any day:

Queen's Garden, Bryce Canyon National Park

Following last summer's successful traverse of the White Rim Trail, we decided to capitalize on cheap gas and ventured forth once again in the Mighty MDX, for a week of exploring Utah's hot and deserted desert back country, and then a week in the wet, green mountains of Colorado.

Our primary destination was Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM), but we began in the tiny Bryce Canyon National Park, descending into the jaw-dropping "Silent City" 

Cowgirl consults E.T. (yes, a NAMED hoodoo!)

Ascending 

DOH! silly us, on day two, we forgot about our new time zone, so we missed the lottery into "The Wave," (North Coyote Buttes), but the rangers told us we were JUST IN TIME for that morning's lottery into South Coyote Buttes, in the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, just over the border, in Arizona.  Since there were no other applicants, WE WON!  Best of all, in the SOUTH Buttes,  we'd miss the crowds and see MORE AMAZING "waves" IF our SUV managed the semi-impassable road. It's the MIGHTY MDX, no problemo!

After our scary 2-hour drive through deep sand, we braved 100º+ heat, hiking out to some interesting hills.  This two foot high rock formation, with its unlikely striated colors boggles my mind. 

We scrambled around, as Suzanne says, like impatient dogs, anxious to see every inconceivable angle of a very startling spot.

Suzanne's Wave

One of the freakiest natural objects I've ever seen

 Space out

2 Hoodoos, an awesome dining room in between, a campsite, and...



a nice den

The next morning, a Grand slot canyon, Wire Pass, which empties out into...

Buckskin Gulch

Beauty and the Wormhole

Recent rains left mud cakes to play with, as well as standing water in other spots, so strange and unexpected in this searing heat.

We now love slot canyons so much, that the next day we went on a guided tour with Shawn from Escape Goats, down into the narrow Peekaboo Canyon:

Our English friend Joyce following Suzanne through a very restrictive spot

Earth Pinches Log

We're looking straight up, with that log hovering over our heads.

We both discovered feelings of claustrophobia we didn't know we had.

Peekaboo!

Can you imagine how much time and water this took?

For some inexplicable reason, my camera recorded this orange rock as blue;  cool, very cool.




On day five, we planned to drive for several hours along the infamous Burr Trail, but a half hour into our journey, we discovered that the Calf Creek CG, featuring the "Number 1 Attraction" in GSENM, Lower Calf Creek Waterfalls, had AVAILABLE SITES!  Wow, I'm still astounded at our team-flexibility.

Oh BABY!  Calf Creek, the ultimate Air Conditioner!

  BTW, I'm monitoring which photos you click to enlarge!

(Just kidding about the "monitoring") Outrageous Canyon hike, with lush vegetation, and...

No WONDER it's the number one attraction!

 happy boy    

On our hike out, Zeus provided yet more cooling, in the form of drenching thundershowers, AHHHH.

The sixth day, following Ed's excellent advice, we drove the breathtaking Burr Trail, here, via snaking switchbacks, dropping into the really, really old, up-thrust Waterpocket Fold of Capitol Reef National Park

Due to its subtle color, the road, with its many artful twists and turns, (7 switchbacks!), blends into the crazy geologic dissonance

Now we're decisively heading towards Colorado, on "Scenic Byways," (roads that, theoretically, have no destination), where we found a fabulous Jeep trail, in the middle of boondocks-nowhere-ville, the perfect place to set up camp on White Canyon

Hundreds of miles yet to travel this day, we've made a quick stop in Arches National Park, for a short hike, and to deduct another $20 from our first day's $80 Annual Pass expenditure, (just for the record, with 4 national parks, and a monument campground, we MADE $ on the Annual Pass, YeeeHaww!).

Arches always ASTOUNDS!

After two relaxing days visiting Lisa & Bill in Boulder, CO, (THANKS you two!), we traveled up to Rocky Mountain National Park, and took the Ross-recommended hike up to Alberta Falls and Loch Vale.

Having spent so much time in HOT, people-free Utah deserts, it was slightly disconcerting to share a trail with literally HUNDREDS of folks from around the world.

Wet and GORGEOUS, Loch Vale and Suzanne

It is a little hard to imagine now, but I was feeling slightly disappointed by the scenery in Colorado, until here, Independence Pass, between Leadville and Aspen. 

Thrilling.

Once again, we were planning on a hotel room in a nice town, this time Aspen, but we suddenly came upon a delicious, empty little campground, Lincoln Gulch, saving another $200!

What a glorious location to enjoy the great Venus & Jupiter conjunction:

I had hoped to do lots of 4WD Jeep trail exploration in Colorado.  I even bought a trail guide, but we barely managed to fit one in;  it was pretty awesome, Yankee Boy Basin, right outside the Killer-Diller Ouray, Colorado:

In spite of rain and mud, the Mighty MDX held its own, once again, quiet, smooth and comfortable over the long, 3,000 highway miles, then, sure-footed, powerful, and agile on challenging mountain trails--no frikkin' COMPROMISING!  Thanks Honda!

How do you like the Colorado mud, Miss?

What was that silly thing I was saying about Colorado scenery?  Duh, this is the "Million Dollar Highway,"  Hwy 550 between Ouray and Silverton, definitely worth a million! 

Why do you suppose this is one of the most evocative sculptures I've ever seen?  A climbing Cliff-Dweller, welcoming us to our last stop, Mesa Verde National Park

descending into a kiva in Spruce Tree House...

the childhood inspiration for my Tree-House.

The first 6 days were the most eye-boggling, scenery intensive days of my life, what an incredibly rewarding vacation.   I fully realize how lucky I am to share an affinity for hiking and driving in the wilderness with the woman I LOVE.  Thanks for sharing our travels!  
Love mas  

© Mark Swanson 2015