To begin, we apologize for taking such a long break from posting. Perhaps we were procrastinating because the next section of our trip was chock full of amazing vistas and we didn't want to take on the task of sorting through pictures.
In Southern Utah and Arizona we hit Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Basically, starting from the Colorado Plateau the land is broken up into a series of steps ("The Grand Staircase") decreasing in altitude all the way to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. It was a phenomenal landscape, as you will see, and there are lots of pictures in this post, so let's get right to it.
A handsome lizard in Zion.
The view from Angel's Landing in Zion. In the bottom right corner is the road
we started hiking from... the tiny white spot is a double-length shuttle bus.
Happily at the top of Angel's Landing.
We hiked across that rock ridge and up to where this picture was taken.
Surprisingly the trail was crowded!
The rocks were once huge sand dunes. Check out the cross-banding where
the winds shifted and laid down new sand.
Zion Canyon
One of many amazing views in Zion.
Bryce Canyon. The native legend is that the pillars are bad folks
that were turned to stone.
A different view in Bryce Canyon.
Looking up out of Bryce Canyon. The bluest skies ever.
Looking up from below. The hike down from the rim was easy,
but then we had to go back up.
A slot canyon in Bryce Canyon National Park called "Wall Street".
We took a short hike out to see some ancient bristle-cone pines.
Kodachrome Basin State Park
The Grand Canyon
More Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon again
Don't step over the edge!
The Vermillion Cliffs - in the Colorado River drainage just north of the Grand Canyon.
Lee's Ferry on the mighty Colorado River. If you were rafting on the Colorado
through the Grand Canyon you would start here.
Wind erosion. The wind also tried to erode our tent the night before -
had to tie the tent to the car.
The Colorado river as seen from Navajo Bridge.
