The White Rim Trail, Canyonlands National Park...

Lovers of nature and wild places have the Cold War to thank for providing future generations with this 100 mile 4X4/mountain bike route. It was in the 1950's when the Atomic Energy Commission was searching high and low and in between for uranium to manufacture nuclear weapons. After all, as a nation we didn't feel safe unless we could destroy most of the life on the planet a few times. (The cockroaches would have been kings). 

Lucky for all of us, it never came to that. The yellow element wasn't found in enough abundance to warrant mining operations. The views were spared.

In 1964, LBJ (in a moment when he wasn't abusing his pet beagles) signed into law the creation of Canyonlands National Park. Good for him. 

In the early 90's. I rode the trail for the first time. I took a nasty header where I punctured my thigh. There was an ER doc on that trip with a stitch kit. He sutured me in the middle of the desert. Guess what general anesthesia was used? 

A few shots of tequila with limes and salt of course!

I'm heading in mañana for the fourth time.

Wish me luck.

Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah...

The rural legend goes, a few ornery cowboys corralled (read trapped) a herd of horses on a spit of mesa   connected to the mainland by a narrow neck. The horses were forgotten and starved to death. Hence the name of the park. Not a pretty story for such beautiful place. 

Some local historians claim the deceased horses were salvaged by McDonald's for Big Mac hamburgers. No one has substantiated that claim though to my knowledge.

Here's a photo of my great friends, Paul and Robin. We attempted to mountain bike some of Dead Horse park. It didn't go well. I wiped out and Robin got bruised. We leave on Tuesday to begin the 100 mile White Rim Trail. Our learning curve better improve.

BTW. I was Best Man at Paul and Robin's wedding. In fact, I've had that honor three times. All the couples have been happily married now for over a century. My point is: if you wish to stay married and keep away from divorce lawyers, get me to be your Best Man. My fee is not exorbitant. 

Good night from Moab, Utah. 

La Verkin Creek, Zion National Park...

The trail getting there isn't the OMG kind of scenery visitors come to expect from Zion, but the destination is worth it. The attractions are less people, a creek to lullaby you to sleep and Kolob Arch and Bear Trap Falls to hike bonus miles to.

Kolob Arch is the second longest free standing arch in the world. Unfortunately, it's a shy arch and not very photogenic. You'll have to visit Arches National Park to see the largest span. Landscape Arch is uninhibited and a real crowd pleasing show-off. 

The 30 foot waterfall in Bear Trap is sublime, but the water is Brrrrr. (That's Jeff speak for cold). 

There's so many beautiful places to see.

Good night from Moab, Utah. 

LBJ is known...

For the Vietnam War, being a one term President after JFK, and picking up his pet beagles by their ears. OK! Not the best things to be famous for.

BUT! He also signed the Wilderness Bill of 1964 into law.

Thanks LBJ for doing that one thing right.

Angel's Landing, Zion National Park...

After scoring my permit for an overnight in the Kolob Canyons for mañana night, Yay! I hit the trail almost running. I wanted to beat the lines of (shall we say) awkward hikers who would soon arrive on scene. 

Angel's Landing is a huge drawing card for the multitudes of Zion's visitors. It's a rite of passage to many. It features a lot of cliff-side, big drop exposure. So why do so many people with a fear of heights do it??? I dunno. I'm afraid of water, but then again fish do all kinds of bodily functions in it too. 

I got up to the top without having to say, "Excuse me! Please!" too many times as I slid by other trail blazers. 

By the time I was heading down, the Converse Sneaker, cotton sock and jeans wearing crowd was ascending. Although the Europeans stand out with their fashion statements. Dress shoes, button down shirts and slacks seem to work for them. Can someone please explain to me the wearing of scarves in the desert?

There was even one woman decked out in tight (I hardly noticed) black leather pants. Wow!

Then again, I'm sure I entertained them with my neon tank top and "Blue Light" special baggy black shorts.

In retrospect, today was more of a people watching day, then a scenery observation day. It was fun. 

A Dogfish 60 Minute IPA anyone?

East Rim Trail...

Zion is Utah's most coveted and sought after park among looky-loos. (2.5 million visitors/year). This humongous rock garden is a real hit with people from all over the globe. English is almost a second language here. 

So...one would rationalize there's no places to get away from your fellow scenery seekers. Not so much. I hiked three hours today and was only passed by a few clouds and deer. There's not many folks on the upper portion of the East Rim. Perfect.

It won't be so quiet mañana, I'm planning on going up to Angel's Landing. I'll have to get a numbered ticket and wait my turn for that one.

Good night from Springdale, Utah

Escape from Los Angeles,

My getaway plan was simple enough. No tunnel digging required or scaling barb wire fences  and not even one hacksaw in a cake! I just figured if Barley and I were on the road by Zero-Dark Early time, we'd breeze right through the City of Angels. Wrong!

Where did all those drivers come from and who is making them? This is the down side of the Golden State. Too many humans inhabiting the place. Alas, it was a great visit though.

I'm now in Zion National Park, Utah after a brutally long  seven hour drive. OY! I'm whooped. 

The Mormon pioneers considered the Zion area to be a sanctuary. Other than the occasional flash flood (a recent deluge just took the life of a hiker in the Narrows portion of the Virgin River), it's a region of grandeur. For a few days it'll be my sanctuary too. 

I'm not planning on hiking in the Virgin River though. The waterline would be waist deep on me. The Bailey's Irish Cream colored liquid is a chilly, hyperthermia inducing 55 degrees too.

Screw that!

I'm hiking the 10-plus mile East Rim trail mañana. I already made the size large caterpillar into a hummus-like spread. No worries, I added heaps of garlic to remove the gamey taste. 

Good night from Springdale, Utah.

PS. I have three pounds of coffee and two cases of IPAs. Like a Boy Scout, I came prepared for the Beehive State.