Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

September 24th, 2016 -- Capitol Reef, Utah  Escaped for a much needed weekend in the outdoors with my best friend to enjoy one of the "Mighty Five" National Parks in my backyard.

"Orientation/observation" was our first car break and we were reward with panoramic views.

 After a quick photo op we were off to the super short hike to the Goosenecks where you can see the bend in the river.  You realize you are maybe 1/5 of the depth of the Grand Canyon which is incredible.

The visitor center was packed as it was a free day in the National Park.  The visitor center itself has an awesome topographical display of the NP and film of the area.

Driving into the park we had a short picnic after purchasing a personal peach pie and just took in the sites before our ambitious hike to Cassidy Arch.

The trailheads for both Cassidy Arch (1.5 miles each direction) and the Narrows.  After a couple of wild days of rain the road to the trailhead was washed out so we had to hike to the trailhead (1.3 miles).

On the way to the trailhead the scenary is amazing and if you look carefully you can see the barred uranium mines that are now just a ghost of forgotten central Utah enterprise.

Cassidy Arch is named after the infamous Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid as the canyon itself was said to be a frequent hideout for the outlaws.

 The trail begins with a strenuous hike that climbs nearly 1500 feet and gives sweeping views of the canyon, the cliffs and Capitol Dome in the distance.

 Of course just being in Capitol Reef you are reminded that time spans far beyond the native americans, outlaws and miners - here centuries have left their mark and we were just fortunate to enjoy the present with very few on this trail.

 At the end of an arduous hike we were rewarded with a massive arch that seemed like our own personal reward.  The drops were intense and my 'fear' of heights had me just a bit breathless.

 The hike back was just as beautiful as the original destination.

 Soon we were back in the U-Pick 'Em orchards gorging ourselves with apples and pears.

 On the way to Hickman Bridge we stopped at a small one-room school house.

 Hickman Bridge starts below 500 feet of shear cliff where you asked to keep moving while hugging the small river below.

 Unlike the red views of Cassidy Arch, Hickman is surrounded by white sandstone which is a different beauty of it's own.

 The bridge itself has an incredible expanse and is fantastic.

 The trail to the bridge loops past sweeping vistas and that make for an incredible panorama.

Exploring the history, the views and the wildlife make Capitol Reef and awesome twisted travel, the park is simply breathtaking and I can't wait to go back!

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

September 24^th, 2010, Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota -- I love spontaneous road trips.  Okay, it wasn't spontaneous, spontaneous but my brother, dad and I did throw this trip together on a whim.  I've had a goal to visit Mt. Rushmore for a while now and watching North by Northwest the previous month sealed the deal for me – I had to go as a true blooded American.  

So off we went on an epic guy’s weekend… just us, the open road and one heck of a lot of antelope through Wyoming! First pit stop? Green River, Wyoming.  To learn what we did on this little stop please read on the post that shan’t be named… 

Then it was another stop in Rawlins, Wyoming home of the Frontier Prison and some pretty cool Victorian Era homes. 

Next stop, climbing Independence Rock and reading names in axel grease.   Hundreds and even thousands passed by this rock on their way to new futures as they migrated the Oregon and Mormon Trails.  It was surreal to think today we travel the same miles for a weekend trip in a temperature controlled car…  

We also made an impressionable stop at Martin’s Cove which I’ve covered in another post. 

From Martin’s Cove to Casper across the Thunder Basin National Grassland to Newcastle there sure isn’t much to see besides well… grassland and antelope.  

We were relieved to get a break from the road and stayed in a small motel in Newcaslte, Wyoming (just across the South Dakota border).

South Dakota welcomed us with a quick stop at Jewel Cave National Monument.  Then we saw the incomplete Crazy Horse on our way to Custer State Park. 

Custer State Park is a must for anyone visiting South Dakota! The rock formations are incredible and its such an beautiful drive.

I know I said the goal of the trip was Mt. Rushmore and it was pretty incredible but I need to disclose that it was at this point I just didn't take that many pictures.  I mean if you haven't seen Mt. Rushmore in person then you really have a hard time appreciating the scale and complexity of the art piece but there are thousands of pictures of the famous faces so I trust if you are still reading this post you won't be disappointed that I just haven't included too many pictures of the monument.

Now Wall Drug is one crazy place on the way to Badlands National Park.  The tourist trap, I mean attraction is riot.  It's like one huge niche mall in an old west theme. I had so much fun just observing and looking around.  It was a riot and great stop.

The Badlands... well imagine all the really cool red rock places in Southern Utah but well... grey... that's the Badlands. It's not that I was disappointed or didn't enjoy the Badlands it's just that there is only so much you can say about nothing...

And then on the other side do Sturgis there was Belle Fourche, the geographical center of the United States. Um, yes, I am proud and took the obligatory picture.  Supposedly this isn't really the center, supposedly the center is in some guys field like 20 miles further north but well, I wasn't that committed.

Devils Tower, now there is a cool random National Monument.  If you stood in the visitors center you could actually see people rope climbing the formation. Really cool.

On the way back we stayed in Cody, Wyoming and drove through Yellowstone. I could never get tired of this place. I just hope I'm not around when it explodes...

Another quick stop at Mesa Falls, Island Park, Idaho.  We were pretty travel wherry at this point but what an awesome trip! Can't wait for another opportunity to hit the open road!