To this day I can close my eyes and see the images within my boy scout manual; my favorite, a soft pastel drawing of a night scene, tents surrounding a campfire, and in the background a giant red rock arch. I have wanted to visit Arches since that moment, but on our last trip to Utah there wasn’t enough time. Read more
The Land Of Hoodoos
On the drive into Bryce Canyon the terrain looked much like Zion, but upon approaching the rim a scene not of this world was there before our eyes. Bright red rock formations stood against time like giant centurions in a field of powdered stone. The color alone seemed too vibrant or complex to be real. Read more
Granola Smoking Hippies
We had seen only three people between the back-country of Kolob and Zion National Parks, all of which were serious backpackers with experience, quality gear, and a solid back-country philosophy. As we descended the switchbacks leading toward the park there was an ever increasing realization that the company had shifted away from ecologically minded adventurers to spring break California coeds. Read more
Bear snacks
While researching our trip to Utah I was taken back by the National Park alert posts, my favorite, an entire page on “Bear Etiquette “. What is “bear etiquette”, is that when they use the nice silverware to eat you, like the little fork to the right and no elbows on the table kind of stuff? In South East Texas we have our fare share of predators, but none the size of a compact car, Read more
Up Up and away

After telling my friends, family, and of course Lauren of the big plan to backpack Zion National Park there was little going back. However, there were moments in which I questioned my sanity. I am a control person who has plans for their plans, yet here I was with only a few weeks to get gear, Read more




