Zion National Park 04-08-2013

We spent a week in the area of St. George, Utah, Zion National Park, and Sand Hill State Park.  I got to meet the founder of www.xt225.com, we did a little motorcycle ride together.  

The area was very pretty.  There was a snow storm north of us while we were there, it put some nice icing on the mountains behind our campground.

Jennie and Scott showed us a local climbing area, Chuckwalla, we took the dogs.  Bandit of course got the full "I a little black dog in the hot desert" treatment.

Mocha had to go and stick her nose somewhere near the campground. 

We did eventually get into Zion National Park.

Very pretty, it was difficult to take pictures of because it is so big. 

We took the motorcycles through the tunnel to the east side lookout.  They wouldn't let the truck go through the tunnel. The lookout was very nice.

 

 

We also took a little side ride up to the Kolob Reservoir area. 

We found some more awe inspiring scenery.

Valley of Fire 04-03-13

 

We stopped at the Valley of Fire State Park.   Very pretty place.

 

 

 

Lots of pretty colors.

 

 

 

We did a little hiking in the area and found "The Wave", BR just had to jump in.

 

Bandit got his workout for the day.   Poor little guy just doesn't do well in the hot sun. 

 

We went to an OHV area and did some motorcycle riding.  Too sandy for us. 

 

It was still a pretty area to ride in.

 

We got the feeling we were being watched.   

Red Rock Canyon

About 20 miles west of Las Vegas is the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area.  We went out there just to view the awesome red rock and cliffs. 

What we found was a very developed Rock Climbing area.  After scrambling around the rocks on our first trip we came back with climbing gear and a guidebook. 

This area is so diverse in its climbing that expert climbers would be challenged, but since we are basically beginners we found some routes that seemed to be tailor made for us. 

Our first climb was a little 5.3.  It was set up as an easy teaching climb for traditional lead instruction.  At the top is natural cracks that are ideal for setting up anchors for top rope belay. Here is Barbara with her anchor.  We used it as a back up anchor to mine and also as a tag rope anchor so I could set the other anchor further down the climb and reduce rope wear.

We then moved over to a 5.5 that was set up as a sport route.  It had 4 sport anchors on it.  Barbara chose to attempt a sport lead.  No top rope, if she falls it will be to the anchor below her, sometimes as much as 30 feet. 

Once at the top she quickly set up a top rope.

After rappelling down it was my turn to climb, I had the security of the top rope during my climb.

During my climb a Chuckwalla lizard made his appearance to check out the silly folks on the rock.

Our third climb was little tougher.  I walked around and set up a top rope from some anchors.  It was getting late so I belayed Barbara from the top and she climbed out of the canyon.  It's amazing how much harder it is to climb when you are hot and tired. 
We called it a day and wished we had more time.  I think we will go back to this place.  You can't beat fun and beautiful.

This last shot you can just barely make out Las Vegas in the background.

03-30-13 Las Vegas

After heading out of the Grand Canyon we drove into Las Vegas.  We stayed at the Circus Circus KOA campground in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. 

We walked and walked along the strip.  At first it is very overwhelming, all the lights and all the people.  It takes a little getting used to.  Then you start to find you way around.

Each of the Casinos are little cities in themselves.  Parking is terrible.  Really good transportation system for folks that fly in and stay at one of the casinos.  We went to a show in the Caesars Palace Casino.  Very well done.  We couldn't get tickets for the more expensive shows, all sold out.

It was fun for us just to wonder up and down the strip.  Some of these theme casinos are amazing.

 

The interior decorations in the casinos is quite the sight also.  Lavish is the word that comes to mind.  Here is a shot from inside Caesars.

It's amazing how they can get the ceiling to look like a real sky.  Of course the sun goes down outside and then the strip really lights up.

We went down to the "old" Vegas area, Freemont Street.  Just had to check out the Freemont Experience.  They made a big light dome 3 blocks long and showed videos in the light domes.  They had free bands playing at intervals along the way.

Anyone recognize this old fellow?

Knowing a little more about the place now we may go back.  But if we do, we will check out the shows a month in advance of our arrival and get tickets beforehand.  Waiting until the day of the show just didn't work.

Climbing in Grand Canyon National Park

Today we trekked back into the Grand Canyon National Park.  It was a very busy day for them.  Big line to get in, very few parking places left.  But we loaded up with climbing gear and started out for the Wailing Wall, a climbing area we had explored the day before.  We got lots of stares with out climbing gear draped around us.  Most folks had a fast food sandwich and a camera.

It was a bit un-nerving to down climb past the cave and then traverse over a ledge to get to the climbing area. Not really bad, just no protection and a 60 foot drop if you trip or slip on the loose gravel.

Once on top we were fine.  Ate lunch.  Then we set up a top belay.  Not something we normally do.  Mostly we belay from the bottom.  So the angles are a little strange for us.  I didn't use the preset anchors, angles were wrong for a top belay.  So I set up a wrap around a boulder with web, backed up by more webbing to another anchor higher up.  Barbara jumped off first.  I rappelled her from the top, again, not something we are used to; then she climbed back up.  Along the way she set 3 quick draws.  Then as she made it over the second overhang she told me about leaving the quick draws behind.  I told her it would cost her $25.  So rather than have to cough up the $25 she says to rappel her down again and she would re-climb the route and pick up the quick draws.  And she did. 

There was another easier climb to the west of the route that Barbara did, so we re-did the anchors; I rappelled down and then climbed the easier route.  I slipped on the rappel and slammed Barbara into a wall.  No I didn't do that on purpose.....

There is a trail above and a trail below the climbing area.  Lots and lots of people walk both trails each day.  At any given time we would have a group of spectators hanging out on each of the trails watching us.  I got the impression that what we do is not common.  At least no one screaming Jump, Jump, Jump.....

It was a difficult place to take pictures and manage the belay.  As a result we have only the two pre-climb pictures.  You can't beat the scenery, it is awe-inspiring.  And of course bragging rights, "We rock climbed in the Grand Canyon National Park".  The images of that statement certainly bring out a more exciting picture that the reality, but it is not an untruth.

Chores and chores when we got back to the RV, off to Vegas tomorrow. 

I really need some new t-shirts. 

Grand Canyon 3-24-13

We arrived at the Grand Canyon Village on the south rim.  Lots of hotel rooms, not much in the RV department.  We found an RV park in Tusayan, AZ.   Ok place, same name as the NP place.

Its 17f at night.  Brrrrr!  Warms to almost 50 next day.  Having passes we cruised into the NP just to check it our and got a first glimpse of the Grand Canyon.

We scoped things out a bit and determined that we needed to take the red bus route out to Hermits Point.  Of course that is a 7 mile walk along the canyon rim, but we started off with good intentions.

It's hard to put the canyon in perspective until you can see people around it.

 

As we turn around the other way we can see this snow capped mountain near Flagstaff, AZ

 

The scenery stays pretty spectacular. Then it gets better......

 

You know you have climbed a bit, out of breath.  I guess 7000 feet does make a difference.

 

Along the way we spot a local resident.  Glad to see they are still around.

 

Of course you have to take a group picture.

 

And then you get back to the spectacular scenery of the Grand Canyon

It is pretty awesome to see the Grand Canyon from the tourist point of view.  Definitely a tourist trap in the Grand Canyon Village and surrounding area.  So if you want to really know the Grand Canyon you will have to book an excursion, best is probably the multi-day river trip.  Otherwise, you will get a tourist's view as we did.  Not a bad thing.....