08.02.2011

Backpacking Day 3
This is me making breakfast in the morning.

Backpacking Day 3
The final day of our fast 3-day backpacking trip in the Pemigewasset Wilderness area of White Mountain National Forest. We got hit by a massive rain storm in the middle of the hike on the way back to my car.

Backpacking Day 3
A cool rock cairn.

Backpacking Day 3
Chris atop Mt. Liberty at 4,459 feet.

Backpacking Day 3
Us enjoying the view atop Mt. Liberty at 4,459 feet.

Backpacking Day 3
Me walking the cool ridgeline to get to Mt. Flume at 4,328 feet.

08.01.2011

Backpacking Day 2
The morning shit show at our campsite.

Backpacking Day 2
Chris and woke early to get a head start on the trail. We had more miles to cover this day. In the afternoon we had a rainstorm roll in, forcing me to pack away my camera. So no rain photos.

Backpacking Day 2
Chris taking a little rest nearing the top of Mt. Lafayette (5,260 feet) in White Mountain National Forest.

Backpacking Day 2
Headed for Mt. Lincoln at 5,089 feet.

07.07.2010

Mesa Verde
Spent the night camping at Mesa Verde National Park and then started the day on a self-guided tour of the Far View Tower.

Then we paid for a guided tour of Balcony House (below). It was a very exposed hike to get there and I was surprised at all the fat, out-of-shape people that were on it. I was thinking the whole time that it would suck to be a ranger doing the tours, as you’d be fearful all the time of someone slipping and falling to their death.
Mesa Verde

Mesa Verde
Here is the Cliff Palace, another paid tour. This place was so beautiful . . . I wound’t mind living there myself!

So we had to leave since we could only get a campsite for one night. So we packed up in the evening and mushed on towards a campsite I found in my Don Wright’s Guide to Free Campgrounds, western edition, for the night. We had to travel about 60 miles south to a $5 BLM campsite, no running water, of course.

07.06.2010

Grand Gulch
En route from Capitol Reef, Utah, to Mesa Verde, Colorado. Made a few stops along the way, like this view looking down at the Grand Gulch from atop the mountain. Next stop: the Navajo Rez to show Chris the impressive Monument Valley.

Monument Valley
The last time I was in Monument Valley was in 2002 (click here to see my old Visual Journal post). And man, the place has really changed!! They built an air-conditioned monstrosity and a huge paved lot where the old campground used to be!!! I was saddened to see this vulgar display of “progress.” But I guess if the Navajo Nation wanted to develop their tourism, it’s their right. But my heart was truly broken to see it like this.

They even improved the dirt road so cars could drive down in the valley!! No more 4-wheel drive needed.
Monument Valley