Hiking Canyonlands NP @ Island In The Sky - Mesa Arch, Grandview Rim, Upheaval Dome 26Sep18

We came back and picked up Kevin & Karla after the Jeep Arch outing and headed down to Canyonlands for my gr8 hiking and sight-seeing. We headed to Grandview rim (and Granview/Prospect Point) overlooking the Green and Colorado River Canyons from far above on the rim. We hiked the rim and looked down on the White Rim Road and all the stuff around it while we hiked out to Prospect Point.

We stopped for a brief loop hike to Mesa Arch, which is very cool as you view through and down for a fantastic scene. It was crowded though as the hike is short and easy.

We also did the short hike to Upheaval Dome, created by a meteor impact. Cool pit of many colored layers.

Hiking To Jeep Arch (BLM) With Kala 26Sep18

Personal matters kept K&K from heading out early so Kala & I took a gr8 and challenging hike on BLM land near Moab to Jeep Arch. Unlike the NP trails, up Culvert Canyon we saw no one for hours and then just as we exited the area. The canyon was spectacular and wild with our trail marked only by some cairns - we usually found them after working it a bit. There were a few technical/sketchy moves at the base of a monster spire along the route but the 1200 ft climb over 2.5 miles was doable, especially with our early departure. It was a gr8 hike and a blast finding routes, doing free climbing in a quiet and remote canyon along the Colorado, observing lots of bio-mechanical dirt (don't Google it - that's my term) and reaching the interesting objective in a box canyon. Bio-mechanical earth is dirt in which bacteria grows and ultimately forms a fairly hard crust - the whole system collects and holds water for surrounding plants - systems are cool - I was careful throughout my hiking in S Utah as this crust is critical to the ecosystem. The hike started pretty strangely with the path starting through a large culvert beneath the train tracks - and led up a tough canyon of slickrock and rocks.

Hiking Arches NP - Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch & The Fiery Furnace 25Sep18

We're off hiking through southern Utah's gr8 national parks and the first stop from Moab was to Arches NP. We hiked the classics including Delicate Arch with throngs, but still it is amazing.

And Landscape Arch, the widest span of an arch in the US.

We started the day early at the ranger station to score a permit (limited to 70/day) to hike the Fiery Furnace. FF was spectacular and super-fun... many technical moves, some scary, and lots of route finding on a modestly marked trail through bizarre spires, fins, and canyons. We encountered four "dead ends" which actually meant "keen feature this way" like arches or high cliff viewpoints - but we had to backtrack faithfully to regain the "trail." We had to work very hard but it was well worth the time to get permitted and the time to hike the area - and we were very glad to be "out" at the end. Highly recommended.

Sailing With The Browns 23Sep18

As the sailing season begins to close in the Rockies I was able to get out with my friends and neighbors, Steve & Donna Brown. Fun day.

Leaf Peepin' In The Gore 22Sep18

Kala & I tore into the Gore's Eagles Nest Wild for a leaf peepin' experience today and left Suprise Lk TH mid-morn.  We did about 6.5 and 1500ft on a super fun hike to Surprise Lk. I saw brookies but a Tenkara boy just spooked 'em. The Gore is ablaze and we hit some on the way up behind the measly Green Mtn Rez to 10Kft @ Surprise. We were not alone but didn't feel too crowded by the bow hunters or families. At the Nest we still have a gr8 view of Peak 1.