ANNUAL TRIP WITH SISTER, NIECE AND FRIENDS
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WE'RE LUCKY THE GIRLS STILL TRAVEL WITH US

For seven years now I have guided my sister and niece and their two friends on a new adventure.  How great that they chose the Grand Canyon and Sedona this year! None of them had ever been to the Grand Canyon, thus it was extra special to introduce them to this national marvel.

GRAND CANYON

 Thanks to my buddy Drew for securing this incredible campsite for us ahead of time! The sunrises and sunsets were intense and colorful because of two nearby fires. This location can't be beat as it is only one mile from Grandview Point on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Relaxing times were spent napping in hammocks, chatting around the camp fire and eating delicious hobos (veggies and salmon wrapped in foil and thrown into the fire).

We hiked and enjoyed many sites along the Grand Canyon's quiet south rim.

The South Kaibab Trail on the way to Ooh Aah Point

Made it to Ooh Aah Point!

We then visited Dessert Watch Tower before heading to the Navajo Reservation. A lot of beautiful spots along the way made for a fantastic day!

SEDONA

The town of Sedona is great and known for its restaurants, art galleries and funky shops, but just stepping out of the city limits brings you into the looming and majestic red rocks. To really experience this area my niece, her friend, her mom and I took a Pink Jeep tour. (My sister knows herself well and opted to skip this part. A bit too bumpy for sis!)

Many opportunities to get out of the jeep and enjoy the surroundings. The Agave and Century Plants were showy and in full bloom. The shadows change the colors of the layered rock. 

 Good Friends

Submarine Rock- the perfect place for contemplation

 Gotta dig the panoramic

LOVING THE PINK JEEP!

If back county four wheeling isn't enough excitement you get real up and personal with the rocks and climb them!

 

NINA

I've watched her grow up the past seven years. I always enjoy her droll and witty humor.

MAISIE

My niece. Couldn't more proud of this intelligent and adventurous young woman.

How lucky I am to spend time with my family and their dears friends, exploring the best parts of our country! Until next year ladies!

BONUS!!!

Click on this link for "Sedona", the music video by Houndmouth. Currently one of my favorite songs. I apologize in advance for getting this stuck in your head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8wifV5RYr8

DEATH VALLEY AND JOSHUA TREE

Professional and Personal Trips

I love this area whether guiding or playing with my friends because desert landscapes increase people's imagination. The topography is bizarre, much different than what an average person experiences on a regular basis. Thus the mind conjures ideas of other worldly places, found in science fiction and their dreams. This environment invites you to unplug and get absorbed by the funky surroundings.

Below are pictures of my clients on a trail in front of Zabriskie point in Death Valley. We started hiking with about 1.5 hours before sunset, the rocks turning to richer colors as the sun set. Being in such a moonscape makes you feel like the Starship Enterprise is about to touchdown.  This trail is desolate, pickle weed is the only living organism, which can thrive in very salty soil.

Zabriske Point is on my list of the best places to watch a sunset! The panoramic allows you to see a large part of Death Valley. In the pictures below you can see Badwater Basin off in the distant left of the second pic and just beyond the foreground in the third. It is one of the largest salt flats in the world, covering close to 200 square miles. Views of snowcapped Telescope Peak were off to the left. This peak is over 11,000 feet in elevation.

Of course I can't visit this area an not post a picture of a Joshua Tree. A couple of my friends shared a story that when they first visited JT they kept trying to find out where the Joshua Tree was, not realizing that there are many. They had a point though, it isn't called Joshua Trees National Park!

It is rare that I get to travel to places I have loved guiding with my friends. Just a couple weeks ago I spent a few days tromping around Joshua Tree and the Death Valley area. I got to go on a couple of my favorite hikes and show my buddies this awesome landscape. 

Here are some pics of the places at which we had great fun:

Just outside of Joshua Tree is an old western movie set called Pioneer Town. Lots of old buildings to walk through, but the highlight were baby goats! They were just weeks old and frisky, jumping up on things and over each other. But they loved being held and would fall asleep in your arms. The furry creature in the other picture is the house cat at Pappy & Harriet's, the saloon in the town. This cat reigns over the patio, perching and lounging on the roof. He was kind enough to meet his minions half way down the tree for pets and photo ops!

These pictures are from an incredible outdoor art installation, created between 1989-2004 by artist Noah Purifoy. I would strongly suggest visiting it as it is enormous, 7.5 acres of the wildest art you can imagine. So much to look at and explore.

I stayed for the first time in the very funky, desolate desert landscape that is Tecopa, CA, at the Tecopa Hot Springs Resort. Tecopa is just outside of Death Valley National Park. The on site Bistro was inviting and delicious. A great place to bring a book, sit on a rocking chair on the porch, and sip your cup o' joe! Off the motel rooms there are four private mineral pools that are really good and hot! The perfect thing to do once the sun goes down!

The Crow Bar is another great haunt, in neighboring Shoshone Village. Fabulous patio!

No visit to Death Valley would be complete without a drink on the deck at The Furnace Creek Inn. What a lovely show to watch while enjoying your favorite cocktail!

To finish the trip in style my partner, and Administrative Assistant, Erin and I had celebratory Mai Tai's at The Golden Tiki, a very detailed and festive Tiki bar in Las Vegas. They said to take a "Shellfie" in this clam shell but I went ahead and did the honors. 

I'm thinking my hometown of Livingston, MT needs a tiki bar!

LEAPIN' LIZARDS!

I was recently in Joshua Tree and Death Valley with a National Parks Conservation group. One of my clients, Mike Crowley (thanks Mike!), took some great pictures of area lizards. They are so cool! Thought I'd share a little info on all of them.

                         WESTERN FENCE LIZARD

This common lizard will most likely be seen in the Mohaje Desert

or in the back yards of California residents. Otherwise known as 

the "Blue Belly" because of its distinctive coloring.

COMMON SIDE-BLOTCHED LIZARD

The male of this species has blue flecks that cover their backs and tails. 

Their sides can very, either orange or yellow.  Mating behavior indicates this color.

                                                                                                        CHUCKWALLA                                   

        

 JUVENILE CHUCKWALLA 

The Chuckwalla is part of the Iguana family. These Chuckwallas were found 

in the Mohaje but they can also be found in the Sonoran. They habitat preferences include

lava flows and creosote bush.

                         NORTHERN DESERT IGUANA
During breeding season the Iguana's side become pink, in both
sexes. Only one clutch of eggs is laid each year. The tail is unusually
long as it is one and half times the length of its body.

HORNED LIZARD

This lizard is also known as a Horny Toad or Horned Frog. 

These fascinating creatures, when attacked, will shoot blood from their eyes.

Ants makes up the majority of their diets.

I travel back to this area tomorrow for a personal trip with friends. I can't wait to share the desert's diversity with them. When I return I will share more details about this fascinating part of the desert.

WINTER WONDERLAND

My trips into Yellowstone totaled five this winter! So much beauty. Two of the trips were with National Geographic and one of those was a photography based trip. Some of my clients have been kind enough to share their photos from that trip (and others). I love the photography adventures because I get to work on my skills as well!

Here are some highlights...

THE CURIOUS PINE MARTEN

This adorable weasel's looks deceive it's great hunting skills. They often catch prey much larger than itself. Robert Caddy got these pics.

And these are by Glen Mai.

So cool to see how each photographer captured him.


WINTER SOLACE
Great shots by Bill McNeece that really show off this frigid wonderland.

BISON

Robert Caddy's bison shot is too cool!

                    

Tim Lewis wasn't on the photography trip but he also has an eye for "shooting" bison.

I am so fortunate to guide so many fun, interesting and talented individuals. Here is a group shot of from one of this year's trips. What a crew!                        

MY RECENT PICS

The Winterkeeper at Canyon is responsible for keeping the roofs of various buildings in the area from collapsing under the tremendous amount of snow the park gets each year. He and a co-worker are seen below clearing the roof that houses a restaurant and gift shop. He's been doing this gig for 40+ years! The snow on the roof is over 6ft high. They cut the snow into blocks with saws and then push the incredibly heavy snow off the roof. With 300-400 inches of snow so far this winter the entire side of this building disappears behind the wall of removed snow, only the roofline is visible!

Beehive Geyser's eruption is more erratic and higher than Old Faithful's. Intervals between eruption can be up to more than 24 hours and it consistently spouts to 200 feet, compared to Old Faithfuls whose average is 145 feet. As we walked by we were surprised by its eruption! Lucky to catch it but not so lucky to be drenched by it in the middle of winter. An incredible sight though, even when soaked.

Winter in Yellowstone is always magical. The ice rink at Snow Lodge in Old Faithful simply magnifies this allure. Don't you expect to see Anna and Elsa gliding along this "frozen" scape?

And so after five trips this winter season to our country's first National Park I had my last ski and bid one of my favorite places in the world adieu!