Nomad exploring life wherever I am
Here I am, at the end of my fall adventure: the stories told, the photos shown, the experience shared as much as I could. All that’s left is what we project managers call the post-mortem meeting: examine the work (or the trip) and highlight the lessons learned. So let’s begin…
A short post, with a question that has no easy answers.
I grew up going to Arizona, mostly the eastern part where my dad’s family was from, but we did make it to the Grand Canyon a few times. The South Rim, that is. Visiting the North Rim, then, was a new experience for me, and one I really enjoyed. Let’s just say it is WAY different than the South Rim, from smaller crowds and less traffic to broader views and, most importantly, a sense of wildness.
I had heard of the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, but I did not know why it was called that and I didn’t really understand the importance of the place. As I drove the Hells Backbone Road at the northern end of the National Monument, I could see for miles and miles, no civilization except the road I was on. I wasn’t the only one pulling off at every scenic viewpoint, trailer in tow, to try and capture the expanse before me. But, the National Monument is only part of the Grand Staircase. What exactly is it, and why…
Coming out of the tunnel into Zion literally made me cry with happiness. I was completely overwhelmed by the canyons, towers, and temples of this place. This was Utah’s first National Park and it is, without any doubt, it is the most breathtakingly beautiful one. Just look at this view. It’s like a painting, all soft colors and hard edges as far as the eye (and camera) can see. If you’re reading this on an iphone or small tablet, please don’t. Go sit at a bigger screen to really appreciate the beauty that is Zion National Park. I’ll wait…