Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

Several weeks ago I drove up to the Eastern Sierras just outside of Lone Pine, California. I arrived very late and pulled into this funky campsite without being able to see a thing. In the morning I woke up to this beautiful sunrise over Mt. Whitney.

The fields were alive with purple lupine and fragrant sage brush, along with some very poky things I do not know the name of.

Wild Lupine waving in the breeze like purple prayer flags.

Mountain waters, cold and clear, warbling like hidden angels talking to God.

The Alabama Hills  are a range of hills and rock formations near the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains just west of Lone Pine. Over 150 movies have been filmed here, mostly old westerns with old-school actors like John Wayne and Roy Rogers. Its s cool place to wander through and explore.

One morning I woke up early and took a walk along the creek up into the mountain. Whenever I got too hot, I laid down in the ice cold water until every part of me was soaking wet.

View from my campsite in Tuttle Creek. A perfect place to unwind and relax; plus it was only $5.00 a night!

After a few days camping at Tuttle Creek, I drove up to Independence and camped at Grays Meadow. The morning is the best time there and fortunately I woke up before dawn, dressed and headed out into the meadow. I sat there freezing in the cold for about an hour, watching the sun rise and wishing I had a cup of steaming hot coffee.

My campsite overlooked Independence Creek; a pretty creek that is always singing its song.

One afternoon I sat down by the creek drinking coffee and thinking. Suddenly three deer came through, browsing on the leaves and grasses. I sat there perfectly still, but every time I snapped a picture they looked up at me.

Independence is one of those small towns that don't have much but what they do have is an awesome Museum. The yard is filled with mining, farming and household antiques, while the museum is filled with Native American artifacts, pictures, bead work, basket work and interesting displays. A must see if you pass through the town.



A weathered old building at the museum; love the red door knob.

Old wagons always fascinate me. Who did this belong to? How did they use it? What was their life like?

It was nearly 100 degrees during my museum visit in Independence. My eyes started going all crazy and it finally occurred to me that I was coming down with a migraine. I left the museum and headed up into the cooler temperatures at the Whitney Portal.  On the way up I stopped at the creek and jumped in, soaking my head in the ice cold water.

At the Whitney Portal, I found a great campsite right on the creek, pulled in and went straight to bed in the back of my car. I slept all through the night and by morning, felt much better.

Wild roses are in bloom along the creek; pretty but they sure do hurt if you get too close to the thorns.

After breakfast I took a hike along the creek up to the Whitney Portal, the place where hikers begin their trek up to the summit of Mt. Whitney.  I was feeling better, but still woozy from the migraine. Met a wonderful gal and we sat and talked in front of the store, drinking coffee and sharing our hearts with each other. Before hiking back to my site, I stopped at the waterfall; last time I stood here, there was a cast on my foot and the waterfall was frozen.

Right next to my campsite, this gorgeous creek flowed by. Of course I had to jump in the ice cold water before leaving; a good way to end the trip.

Early morning shot of the moon just getting ready to go down for the morning. Amazing that I took this shot. Couldn't believe it. Amazing. 

Zion National Park, Utah

My last stop of my marathon trip through the southwest was in Zion National Park. My friend Tom took this shot of me taking a snooze during a long hike in the canyon. It's tough getting old.... Scarlet paintbrush looked so pretty blooming on the hillsides.
 This was the first time I was able to catch this arch-like alcove on the east side of Zion National Park in perfect sunlight.

When I first arrived in Zion, I decided to explore out of the way places that I had never seen. I wandered up this dry wash and found it to be quite interesting. I walked all the way up to the end, where I sat on a slab of rock and listened to the birds.

After Tom arrived, we went into side canyons, slot canyons and dry washes, all places I had never seen. I saw numerous animal tracks both large and small, undulating curves in the cliffs that looked like stone waves and colorful stones piled up in the sand. The colors in the rock walls changed with the light, sometimes glowing red-orange and other times a deep bronze.

This was my first time to see the Desert Bighorn Sheep! This fellow was up on the cliff calling to the group in the picture below. I couldn't tell if he wanted to cross the street and join them or if he was calling them back to join him.

The sheep could hear him calling and seemed undecided about what to do. Pretty soon they all got up and started walking towards the one at the top.

Rich, warm color makes the canyon such a beautiful place.

On my first morning after exploring the dry wash, I walked up the river, enjoying the peace and quiet.
At the very top of the picture you can see the arch-like alcove that I posted above. It gives you an idea of the massive size of this place.
There are so many strange curves, shapes and colors down in the canyon that it creates quite a feast for the eye!  The Towers of the Virgin behind the Museum at Zion National Park; one of the prettiest places in the park.

Grand Staircase-Escalante, Utah

I was quite surprised to find snow and 28 degree weather on my way to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. I had just left Capitol Reef with its balmy weather, flowering fruit trees and wide grassy meadows. Wasn't expecting that one!
After stopping for coffee at the Kiva Koffeehouse, I miraculously found a campsite at Calf Creek Falls Recreation Area. The whole place was completely full and I was so disappointed. I was turning around in the loop and lo and behold a group of kids pulled out and I pulled into the only campsite with a shade shelter!
Early morning reflections of hillside opposite my campsite.
The creek flowed behind my site and after a bit of mucking about, I found an open area and took this picture.
On my hike up to Calf Creek Falls, a snake slithered by me on the trail. I stopped and heard a rustling in the dry leaves on the side of the trail. Hoping to see a little bird, I was utterly shocked to see several snakes poke their heads up out of the leaves.
Pretty soon I saw so many snakes slithering in the leaves, twisting and turning and writhing about. I figured it was a winter snake den that was coming out of hibernation. Very, very freaky.

The snakes just kept popping up and looking about, like they wanted to cross the path but were waiting for me to get the heck out of there. I stepped away from the den and immediately seven snakes slithered out across the trail. There were still copious amounts of snakes slithering about in the leaves but I had enough and moved on.

Further up the trail I saw this pictograph painted on the cliff by the Fremont Indians about 800 years ago. From the trail the cliff looks so huge and the painting looks so tiny, like about an inch high but they are actually very large.

The trail passes by Calf Creek, massive red rock cliffs, sage brush, willows, horsetail reeds, oak and cottonwood trees before reaching the waterfall.

The hike was 7 miles round trip, a bit much for me, but the magnificent scenery made it all worthwhile.

The very top of Calf Creek Falls; a 126 foot waterfall that splashes down into a shallow pool, deep enough to swim in.

This is my second visit to the falls and I am still spellbound by the beauty and majesty displayed here.

Gorgeous color is painted all over the cliffs; lime green moss, black desert varnish, orange rust, creamy pink and white minerals.

Spring was just bursting out all over the place; the trees were budding, the birds were singing, the animals were emerging.....sounds like Snow White was here.
On my way out of the monument, I stopped and hiked down into the canyon. Huge areas are covered with slickrock, fine white sand, volcanic boulders, scruffy looking juniper and pinyon pine trees.
I drove right by Bryce National Park, delighted to hike up into the park from the back side.
That would be me, standing on the bridge, smiling for some unknown stranger.
Beautiful Bryce; but that is another story all together. Good night one and all. I am off to find a place to sleep in Barstow, of all places and will drive up to see my son, Jon tomorrow. Happy Easter!

Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

The drive from Arches to Capitol Reef went by quickly as I was looking forward to returning to this special place. On my way into the park, I caught a picture of the Navajo Dome, that funny looking mountain that looks like a white Hershey's Kiss.
From the campsite in Fruita, it is only a short walk along the Fremont River to visit the Gifford House, a restored farmhouse built by early Mormon settlers in the 1880's.
The farmhouse is open to the public and sells homemade pies and ice cream. They even have coffee which was quite a shock to me as it is historically a Mormon farmhouse. Beautiful orchards,a barn and horse pastures surround the farmhouse. Kids of all ages rode their bikes down to the barn to visit with the horses.
My second campsite in Capitol Reef. I had to move after the first night as there were so many kids riding their bikes, scooters, skateboards and Ripsticks around and around, playing football in the grass, blowing whistles and running through my site. I love kids, but it was a little much. My second site proved to be quite peaceful, plus I met two delightful ladies from Washington who shared my campfire and invited me for breakfast the following morning!
The sunsets were beautiful and reflected off the mountains in living color.
Petroglyphs carved into the sandstone cliffs have endured for centuries.

That would be my Subaru, my trusty little friend that has taken me all over the western United States! The colors and layers in the cliffs are simply gorgeous as you can see.

The scenic drive takes you back into the canyons, gorges and dry washes. It is very cool because after you drive along the highway for many miles, then drive down a dirt road for another couple miles, you can get out and walk for miles on end into the back country so to speak. This rock looked so awesome to me, as if it had just split in half.

The colors in the canyon are mostly orange, rust, brown, black, green, white, pink and red. The black stripes are desert varnish, mineral stains on the red sandstone.

I love to walk down dry washes and find animal tracks and colored stones. I was in heaven walking down the Great Wash and Capitol Gorge, two outrageous places along the scenic drive.

In the Capitol Gorge, the cliffs are so high and massive that it makes you feel minuscule in comparison. Its amazing that even though we are small in comparison to God's creation, we are loved by Him so immensely.

I wish you could have seen me driving down these dirt roads through these immense canyons; a regular Indiana Jones on an adventure. It was really quite amazing.

The river was cloudy with silt but still captured my heart as all river do.

On my way out of the park, I stopped and climbed up these hillsides, exploring the rocks and catching the views.

The most extraordinary colors, shapes and patterns are found all along the hillsides. Sort of makes you feel like you are on Mars.