Zion Park, Utah

     Yesterday, fate blew me into Zion National Park in Utah.  This park is located about 3 hours north east of Las Vegas, Nevada.  Usually is costs 25 dollars per car to experience this wonder of nature.  But September 29, 2012 was National Public Lands Day, so I got in for the low, low free.  After doing a little research I decided to take part in one of the ranger lead hikes, but I got there too late.  The time in Utah is 1 hour ahead of Nevada and I did not take that into consideration.  When I got there I though it was 9:45, but it was actually 10:45.  Oh well.....

The park has a wonderful free shuttle system.  After parking near the visitors center, I took the shuttle to Weeping Rock.  The Weeping Rock Trail is less than 1/2 mile long.  It's in such a shady and damp area in the park that I got chill bumps from the cool air.

 

There were constant drops of water from overhead.  I got a little wet.

 

This area was very cool, damp and shady. I also caugh a glimpse of what looked like a Steller's Jay.

     After leaving Weeping Rock I caught the shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava and completed the Riverside Walk.  It is a little over 2 miles round trip.

 

 

I saw a few animals here.  Mostly squirrles, a fox, deer, lizards, lots of butterflies and a few birds.  I'm not sure what's going on with this guy, but he's loud.
 

Las Vegas is sooooo dry, I got excited to see the river flowing through and sculpting the canyon. This is the Virgin River.

After completing this easy hike, I took the shuttle to an area known as the Grotto.  Once there I hiked the Kayenta Trail and the Lower Emerald Pools Trail.

 

 

 

Lower Emerald Pool

Can you spot the young buck, relaxing in the shade by the river?

     Finally I took the Pa'rus trail from the Visitor's Center, to the Zion Human History Museum.
This is the view from behind the museum.

Red Rock Canyon

     Well, today I had planned to go to Death Valley.  But when I mentioned this to a colleague, he suggested that I wait until it got cooler before heading out there.  He suggested that I check out Zion National Park or Red Rock Canyon.  So I choose to venture to Red Rock Canyon today.  This adventure is still about 2,000 miles outside of 285, but luckily only 20 miles west of Las Vegas.  So I checked out the website. It looked interesting so I decided to roll.  My first thought.....this looks a lot like the Valley of Fire.  My second thought.....nope, this place actually has lots of trees.
 
     After a short drive I arrived at the gate, where it costs 7 dollars per car to get into the area.  Then I headed up to the visitors center.  It has a ton of information especially about the geology of the area.  The exhibit  is broken down into air, fire, earth and water sections.  The people at the front desk were really nice and knowledgeable. Unfortunately, I did not see the tortoises that live there.  I guess they were hiding in their holes.  What's the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?  Turtles swim.  

After leaving the visitors center I took a drive on the 13 mile scenic road. 

The first stop was Calico 1. 

     The next stop was Sandstone Quarry.  I actually got out here and walked around for a while. Here are a few pictures.  Luckily it was cloudy and there was a nice breeze.

It was cloudy, but you can see a little blue poking through.

 

What is this....a hot Cheeto?????  Lets taste it and find out.

 

 

At one point it looked like it was going to rain...but it never did.

 

 

Twisted Beauty!!!

 

Amazing colors...this all natural.  It looks like something Bob Ross painted back in the day. You know, the white guy with the fro, who had the paining show on PBS.

 

 

 

 

During the walk I saw a few lizards and a bird. It was a blue bird, but bigger than the ones you usually see in the south. There were a lot of families and couples making the hike.  There were also a lot of foreign tourists with HUGE cameras.

 

 

After leaving this area, I stopped for a few more pictures.

 

 

 

 As I made my way out...I saw some people rock climbing.  Can you see the people?  LOOK BELOW!

One guy has on a white shirt.  Can you see them?

Verdict:  This is is nice place to come if you are visiting Las Vegas and you are yearning to get out of the casinos for a few hours. I will definitely come here again when it is cooler to hike some of the more strenuous trails. 
 

 

Wow that's a lot of concrete!

     Yesterday, I visited a very large mass of concrete that blocks a river and forms a lake. This structure is located over 19 hundred miles outside of 285. 


Lake Mead and Hoover Dam taken from the Mike O' Callaghan-Pat Tillman Bridge on 9/15/2012

     The towering Hoover Dam (named for our 31st president) is located in Boulder City, Nevada, just south of Las Vegas.  The dam itself is situated in Black Canyon.  I spent an entire day at this landmark. 

     Before you enter the recreation area, you must first past a security checkpoint where a guard takes a look inside your vehicle.  As long as your not a sheisty individual, you should be fine.   Once you pass the checkpoint you can go check out the Callagan-Tillman Arch Bridge. The bridge is fairly new, just opening in 2010. As you climb the stairs to reach the bridge, there are several places where you can stop and read silver and black signs providing information about the bridge and it's namesakes.  You can only reach the pedestrian bridge from the Nevada side.

Once reaching the top all you hear are cars, which are crossing the bridge too, and helicopters providing tourists birdseye views of the dam.  Below are some pics I took while walking on the bridge's pedestrian walkway.  Just in case you were wondering....yes it was hot.  But still comfortable. (Or maybe I'm getting used to it.)

The 1st thing you see when you reach the top of the pedestrian bridge.

 

In this picture you can see Lake Mead (top), Hoover Dam and the Colorado River (bottom)

 

 

Straddling the state line.

 

 

Welcome to Arizona Sign

 

 

One man, Sherman Jones, died during the construction of the bridge. This is at the site in his honor.

 

 

 

     After leaving the bridge, I made way to the great Hoover Dam.  It will cost you 7 dollars to park in the garage, but its worth it.  Who wants to get into a scorching car after walking around all day?? Not I!   It is amazing that this was constructed in the 1930's.  The main purpose of this dam was to control the mighty Colorado River.  Once the dam was finished it took 6 years for Lake Mead to fill.

Above you see the bridge I was standing on in the earlier pictures.   You also have a better view of the Colorado River and the Black Mountains.

 

This was the 1st time I EVER heard of the Bureau of Reclamation.

It's hard to capture the beautiful shade of blue eminating from Lake Mead. Here you can also see the flood line from 1983 and some water craft in the distance.  I assume they can't pass that barrier.

 

The "Winged Figures of the Republic" Statues taken from the overlook.

 

 

You gotta rub the feet for good luck!!

 

 

I also took a tour inside of the Hoover Dam to get a closer look.  Stay tuned for that post...coming soon.

 

 

 

 

The Valley of Fire

If the temperature is over 100 degrees.....you may not need to visit a place called the Valley of Fire.  

 

 But of course,I visited The Valley of Fire State Park on September 3rd (a very special day to those in the know) and it was over 100 degrees.  At one point it got sooo hot that I got confused. 

 

This park is located about 50 miles outside of Las Vegas, Nevada right off of I-15 north.  The drive from Vegas is pretty uneventful unless you like viewing desert scenery and driving fast. The speed limit goes up to 75 outside of town. It costs 10 dollars per car using the west entrance, from what I could tell on the east entrance you payed on the honor system....'cause I aint see no guard there!!

A 38 year old eye.

The rocks are a beautiful shade of red because of iron oxide (rust baby). 


The Beehive

Believe me, it was as hot as it looks. When the wind blew, it was like a million hot blow dryers were directed right at you!!!

 

This part of the park was extraordinarily beautiful.  To get the true feel for the magnificent colors you gotta come and see for yourself ......or maybe I just need to get a better camera :)  It just looked like God had a paintbrush and a pallet of reds, yellows and grays. Sometimes it felt like another planet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were also a lot of different plants. Most was small bushes but I did spot a few cacti.

 

 

 

"Booty, booty butt cheeks."

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I then decided to try to hike the fire wave.  But walking through hot sand compounded by the dry scorching wind was horrendous.  I'm not sure how far I went, but I know it wasn't over half a mile.   

 

There was also some signs of life. I saw a couple of lizards.  I didn't see any snakes.  The only sound heard was the wind, an occasional car and people speaking different languages.  This, like some of the other places I visited were full of foreigners.

What animal does this look like???

 

Moon Face!!

 

If you ever come to Vegas, take a break from the sin.  Get outside and see the Valley of Fire!!! It's a good day trip.

Arizona

Even though the title is Arizona, I gotta throw in one picture taken in New Mexico.  The drive on I-40 through New Mexico is BORING. It pretty much looks like this. (see below)



New Mexico...yeah that's about it.

Arizona is more picturesque.



Arizona Border Welcome Center (Aug 15, 2012)

Making way on 1-40 west through Arizona you will start to see signs about a meteor crater.  I had never seen a meteor crater, so I decided to make a quick stop.   The crater is located approximately 40miles outside of Flagstaff, Arizona.  It was created about 50,000 years ago.   After driving up a winding road, you will arrive at the attraction.  I was surprised it was 16 dollars to get in to see "a big hole".  But there is also a little museum and gift shop.   You can get more information here http://www.meteorcrater.com/  

Check out the video below. 

 



 

The evening sky outside of the meteor crater site.