THE GRAND CIRCLE PART TWO

NAVAJO RESERVATION, HORSESHOE BEND AND ZION

After the Grand Canyon we headed north through the Navajo Reservation. I am always fascinated by the evidence of ancient societies. Below are pictographs from 100-900 years old.

Horseshoe Bend was our next stop. It is located just downstream of Glen Canyon Dam, directly above the Colorado River. 

Here I stand at the overlook. This is another fabulous shot shared by Brynne Harold. The next day my clients were rafting on the river below. Great view from above or below.

Zion in the fall is exquisite. As the leaves change colors it adds to the already dramatic color of the rock. The shots below are on The Emerald Pools trail. It is one of the most popular trails in the park because the pay off in regards to beauty compared to the ease of the hike is great.

In this area you can see the water seeping through the cracks in the wall which creates a fern filled wonderland. This wet landscape is home to many species of plants.

Early morning in Zion is always a great way start the day. I love my new hiking kilt!

A view from watchmen trail overlooking Angel's Landing. Stellar shot Brynne!

This riverbed is typically dry in the fall but flows after snowmelt or heavy rain.

THE GRAND CIRCLE PART ONE
This large cluster of National Parks and public lands in Northern Arizona and Utah offers opportunities to view America's largest concentration of diverse scenery, geologic shapes, and the remnants of ancient civilizations. This was a combined trip between Off the Beaten Path and the National Parks Conservation Association.


GRAND CANYON


Visiting this area in late October brought a new perspective for me. The angle of the light in the canyon created extra gold and red colors. Less visitors is also a perk of the time of year. Brynne Harold, the NPCA representative of this journey, also became trip photographer.
Thank you Brynne for sharing your fantastic pics with me and allowing me to share with others!

SOUTH KAIBAB TRAIL

The two pictures above are a section of the trail known as The Chimney. It is a narrow heart pounding zig zag built into the Canyon's wall. 

These Juniper trees seen here, clinging to the walls along the edge of the trail, are incredibly hardy. They grow out of mere cracks in the limestone and can survive these conditions for more than 600 years.

The South Kaibab Trail was built by the National Park Services, starting in 1924, to compete with the more popular Bright Angel Trail. I prefer The South Kaibab because the views are more dramatic and it is less exposed to the sun making it a cooler hike.

OOH AAH POINT

This is the first photographic opportunity of the trail. A great place to take in the full vista of The Canyon, as the Navajo Sandstone juts out from The Canyon wall.

THUNDERSTORM OVER THE NORTH RIM
I want to especially thank Brynne for this exquisite shot!


Stay tuned for PART TWO: Horseshoe Bend and Zion

FAMILY FUN

I recently had the extreme pleasure of guiding two of my sisters and a brother-in law in Yosemite National Park. Yosemite has become one of the parks in which I most frequently guide. Being able to share my knowledge and experience with my family is always a satisfying treat.

This trip allowed us to be a little more adventurous than when I typically guide here. We spent four days in the back country and barely saw a soul. It was a wonderful opportunity for me as a guide, and seeing the three of them decompress more and more each day was very gratifying.

From left to right: Jessica, Mike and Cecelia. Love to be with my family in such a beautiful setting.

We backpacked and camped in the Hetch Hetchy Valley, which is located in the Northwestern part of Yosemite. Indigenous people like the Miwok and the Paiute have lived in the area for over 6,000 years. It is a great place to go in the summer to escape the heat of the lowlands. We found it the perfect backdrop for hikes, relaxation, and reconnecting!

John Muir called this valley,  "a grand landscape garden, one of Nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples." We couldn't have agreed more.

Mike enjoying the simple things in life! Everything tastes better surrounded by nature.

Sharing a favorite overlook with my lovely sister Jessica. Half Dome is the feature on the left. Below us is Yosemite Valley.

Back to civilization and the Ahwahnee dining room.

It is such a privilege to guide my family and show them the sights I have grown to love.
Here's to more adventures with my fabulous kin!

MASSIVE TRIP! PART TWO

5 National Parks in 15 days

Here are some more photographic highlights from this trip to Yellowstone, Tetons, Glacier, Olympic and Grand Canyon.

My client Cindy has shared more awesome pics from Yellowstone:

The Upper Falls

Fishing Cone

It used to be commonplace for fishermen and women to cook their catch the second they caught it, right here in this hot spring. It is now prohibited, but just think how fresh that entree would have been. 

Dragon's Mouth Spring

Part of the Hayden Geyser Basin. This spring got its name because of the belch likes sounds it makes as well as the lashing tongue appearance of the splashing water.

Thanks again Cindy for letting me post your great pics!

More from Olympic:

This Sitka Spruce is the giant of its kind.

And one can never tire of the amazing expanses of the Grand Canyon:

So proud of these clients who made it to Oh Ah Point. Hiking to this spot really make you feel you've earned the view

MASSIVE TRIP! PART ONE

 Five National Parks in 15 Days

From September 4th until the 18th I travelled with my clients to Yellowstone, Tetons, Glacier, Olympic and Grand Canyon. This trip was with National Geographic to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the National Parks system. I was so lucky to have guided a woman named Cindy, who magically captured some of our experiences with her camera. Thank you Cindy for sharing!

Grand Prismatic of Yellowstone is the largest hot springs in the U.S. I think Cindy's photo captures the almost alien quality of the springs.






















Wow! Cindy's photos of the Tetons display their true majesty. Breathtaking!

Having been to Glacier for two consecutive trips before this grand excursion you might think it would be just the same ole same ole. Well my clients and I got caught in a snowstorm on Logan Pass. A treat to see the snowy landscape before summer changed to fall, but we were relieved once we got down, as ten minutes later the pass was closed!





More mountains and snow! This hike in Hurricane Ridge of Olympic, is a favorite of mine because  this particular view from the trail mingles glaciers and snow fields, but if you took a 180 turn you'd see Vancouver Island.





On the northern most of the southern beaches of Olympic is Ruby Beach. This rugged area of the Washington coast is named as such because of the ruby-like crystals that make up the sandy shoreline.





Cindy again captures the awesomeness of mountainous landscapes. I love getting the chance to return to, and learn more about Mount Rainier, the highest peak of the Cascade range. It is a volcano, considered dangerous because it could produce a mud flow that would threaten sections of Seattle. You can just imagine the force of destruction it could produced standing witness to its enormity.


I have more shots to share from this trip and I know Cindy does too! Be on the lookout for part two of this MASSIVE journey!

UPCOMING ADVENTURES

I just returned from a massive trip that covered five national parks: Yellowstone, Tetons, Glacier, Olympic and Grand Canyon. All this in just two weeks. A whirlwind that included incredible moments that I will share later this week!

My fall isn't slowing down yet! On Tuesday I am off to a backcountry trek into the Sierra Mountains of Yosemite.  This will be a labour of love indeed, as I will be guiding my two sisters and my brother- -in-law. I can't wait to show them the sites that I have marveled at for years.

At the end of October I'll be back in two of my favorite areas: The Grand Canyon and Zion. This trip will include my first visit to the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon Caverns. Even in places I visit frequently, I am amazed by the new experiences they bring each time.

I'll get to catch my breath in November and be able to play some hockey, spend quality time in my little town of Livingston, MT, and get to see family in the north woods of Minnesota, along lake Superior, for Thanksgiving. Then Christmas brings me back to bombardier travel and cross country skiing in the winter landscape of the Lamar Valley and Old Faithful.

**A great number of my trips are through Bozeman's Off the Beaten Path.  They have many national and international travel options. Check out their website: http://offthebeatenpath.com**

BACK TO THE CROWN

This summer brought the fortunate opportunity to visit this incredible area twice! And what a fun time it was. My clients were 7 great guys from Miami. One of our first hikes was to St. Mary's Falls. It is an easy 1.7mile round trip journey with spectacular payoffs.

The glaciers above St. Mary's Fall provide gorgeous Caribbean blue waters. Jump in though and you will realize the temperature varies greatly from the warming waters of the Caribbean.

View of St. Mary's Falls

Group portrait! Such fun gents to guide and travel with. They made my job easier by providing many laughs.

Virginia Falls is just over half a mile from St. Mary's Falls.  

Upper Grinnell Lake.

You may remember from my last trip to the area that we encountered two Grizzly. And even though you should always carry your bear spray when hiking in Glacier the leading cause of death here is not bear attacks, it is drowning. So hike and swim safe!

View of Upper Waterton Lake in Canada's Waterton National Park. This park is over the border from Glacier. 

Just outside of Fernie B.C.

Kudos to this group of adventurers. Their last hike was also their biggest and the bi payoff was this scenic view. I hope I get to guide these fine folks again.

Also outside of Fernie. Crystal clear waters on this little lake.

During our hikes in the Fernie area we got a glimpse of the curious Pika. This cartoon like creature chatted us up as we crossed his path.

One of the fellas filmed and slo mo'ed the footage of me demonstrating the Puffball mushroom. This mushroom, when squeezed or tapped, shoots out a cloud of its spores. 

MORE PICTURES FROM SCOTLAND

I was looking at some of my photos from my Scotland trip this July and thought I should share more of the country's beauty!

 Other views of The Pinnacles of the Quiraing

Elgin Cemetery

What is a trip to Scotland without a sighting of a Highland Cow?

Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye. So charming!

And just for fun, here's a pic of a traditional Scottish Breakfast. It is sure to fortify for a day of hiking and exploring the countryside.