Embedded Files
10/25/2019 Arches National Park. We have set up camp in Moab and Arches would be our first park from the “Utah Mighty 5” list. I often find myself baffled by the fact that we live (and have for years) only 5 hours from places like this and yet we’ve never been here. Oh well, we are here now!
10/25/2019 Arches National Park. We have set up camp in Moab and Arches would be our first park from the “Utah Mighty 5” list. I often find myself baffled by the fact that we live (and have for years) only 5 hours from places like this and yet we’ve never been here. Oh well, we are here now!
We are the end of the road in the park, which means we are at Devil’s Garden and now on foot to see Landscape Arch. Usually a “hike” would put Grant in a foul mood, but he seems pretty excited for this one.
We are the end of the road in the park, which means we are at Devil’s Garden and now on foot to see Landscape Arch. Usually a “hike” would put Grant in a foul mood, but he seems pretty excited for this one.
…..and in case you missed the background of that picture, Grace seems super “thrilled” as well….
…..and in case you missed the background of that picture, Grace seems super “thrilled” as well….
I’m trying to get myself included in more pictures. I REALLY am, I promise! You have all noticed that I am not in very many pictures and have suggested that I should be in more pictures, but this is what I am working with!!!
I’m trying to get myself included in more pictures. I REALLY am, I promise! You have all noticed that I am not in very many pictures and have suggested that I should be in more pictures, but this is what I am working with!!!
This is “Landscape Arch” and the longest arch in the park. A football field would fit beneath it with room to spare!
This is “Landscape Arch” and the longest arch in the park. A football field would fit beneath it with room to spare!
No, Grant is not taller than me, but that’s just the way this picture has worked out. I’m sure It’s coming sooner than I want though.
No, Grant is not taller than me, but that’s just the way this picture has worked out. I’m sure It’s coming sooner than I want though.
This picture isn’t anything super “special”. It’s really just Val, Grant and Grace sitting down to work on the Junior Ranger book, but I just loved the way the setting sunlight was coming through and hitting rocks in that ‘V’ shape. It just “worked” for me.
This picture isn’t anything super “special”. It’s really just Val, Grant and Grace sitting down to work on the Junior Ranger book, but I just loved the way the setting sunlight was coming through and hitting rocks in that ‘V’ shape. It just “worked” for me.
10/26/2019 Arches National Park. Day 2 at Arches finds us starting at an area known as “The Garden of Eden”. Unlike Landscape Arches, you are allowed on the rocks here and all of us are pretty excited about that fact.
10/26/2019 Arches National Park. Day 2 at Arches finds us starting at an area known as “The Garden of Eden”. Unlike Landscape Arches, you are allowed on the rocks here and all of us are pretty excited about that fact.
Hey, just in case you scrolled right by that last picture, once again, THIS is what I am working with here folks!!!!
Hey, just in case you scrolled right by that last picture, once again, THIS is what I am working with here folks!!!!
We’ve moved onto an area known as “The Windows” and on top of these arches being quite amazing both in beauty and in size, they are also the first ones we’ve encountered that we’re allowed physically approach.
We’ve moved onto an area known as “The Windows” and on top of these arches being quite amazing both in beauty and in size, they are also the first ones we’ve encountered that we’re allowed physically approach.
Ready to play a game? It’s called “Spot the Howell Kids”…..
Ready to play a game? It’s called “Spot the Howell Kids”…..
Give up? Yep, they are the ones that have climbed higher than seems reasonable.
Give up? Yep, they are the ones that have climbed higher than seems reasonable.
This is “Double Arch” and I think it was my favorite in the park. Truly a sight to behold.
This is “Double Arch” and I think it was my favorite in the park. Truly a sight to behold.
Another Junior Ranger badge in the book.
Another Junior Ranger badge in the book.
You’ll also notice that Grace is not present for this swearing-in ceremony (more on that later).
You’ll also notice that Grace is not present for this swearing-in ceremony (more on that later).
One of the activities in the Junior Ranger book is to go stargazing at night in the park. So, we ventured out after dinner to catch some stars in this certified “Dark Sky Park”. Even the moon was below the horizon so it was D_A_R_K!!! ….aside from my flashlight of course! :-)
One of the activities in the Junior Ranger book is to go stargazing at night in the park. So, we ventured out after dinner to catch some stars in this certified “Dark Sky Park”. Even the moon was below the horizon so it was D_A_R_K!!! ….aside from my flashlight of course! :-)
10/27/2019 Back at Arches. Remember when I pointed out that Grace was missing from the Junior Ranger Badge swearing-in? Well, here’s how this works; to earn the badge, every park requires that the kids do a certain amount of the book to earn the badge. It’s usually some easy formula like “do a page for every year you are old” or something like that. However, here at Arches, Grace has made the personal decision to complete every page in the book before getting her badge. Who are we to say ‘no’ to that?! So, here she is getting her badge after completing the entire book. You go girl!
10/27/2019 Back at Arches. Remember when I pointed out that Grace was missing from the Junior Ranger Badge swearing-in? Well, here’s how this works; to earn the badge, every park requires that the kids do a certain amount of the book to earn the badge. It’s usually some easy formula like “do a page for every year you are old” or something like that. However, here at Arches, Grace has made the personal decision to complete every page in the book before getting her badge. Who are we to say ‘no’ to that?! So, here she is getting her badge after completing the entire book. You go girl!
10/31/2019 Dead Horse Point State Park. Situated in-between two big name National Parks (Arches and Canyonlands) is this, downright amazing, state park. Easy hikes and amazing views? Yes please!
10/31/2019 Dead Horse Point State Park. Situated in-between two big name National Parks (Arches and Canyonlands) is this, downright amazing, state park. Easy hikes and amazing views? Yes please!
….and being that it’s a State Park and not a National Park, they allow dogs on the trails! YAY!
….and being that it’s a State Park and not a National Park, they allow dogs on the trails! YAY!
Not a bad “classroom” for the day!
Not a bad “classroom” for the day!
11/1/2019 Canyonlands National Park. Here’s an fun fact for you; according to the National Park Service, in the year 2018, Arches National Park had 1.663 million visitors. At the same time, Canyonlands National Park had 739,449 visitors. On top of that, the entrance to Canyonlands is about 35-40 minutes from Arches. How is it possible that Canyonlands can be THAT close to Arches and yet, year over year, they have less than half the visitors?! That is very strange to me.
11/1/2019 Canyonlands National Park. Here’s an fun fact for you; according to the National Park Service, in the year 2018, Arches National Park had 1.663 million visitors. At the same time, Canyonlands National Park had 739,449 visitors. On top of that, the entrance to Canyonlands is about 35-40 minutes from Arches. How is it possible that Canyonlands can be THAT close to Arches and yet, year over year, they have less than half the visitors?! That is very strange to me.
We are at a formation called “Whale Rock” because all the signage says it’s a good hike for kids and we want to put that statement to the test.
We are at a formation called “Whale Rock” because all the signage says it’s a good hike for kids and we want to put that statement to the test.
The kids have decided that this is the whale’s blowhole.
The kids have decided that this is the whale’s blowhole.
Grace was juuuuuust about to give me her best goat noise and this picture was taken a fraction of a second before she could belt it out……or she was about to burp…..I can’t remember.
Grace was juuuuuust about to give me her best goat noise and this picture was taken a fraction of a second before she could belt it out……or she was about to burp…..I can’t remember.
Upheaval Dome is NOT to be missed if you visit Canyonlands. This dome is a complete anomaly in the park as it’s the only place where the rock layers are tilted and darn near vertical in places. Ever more amazing, it’s STILL unknown as to how it formed. Whatever the case, it is really something to behold.
Upheaval Dome is NOT to be missed if you visit Canyonlands. This dome is a complete anomaly in the park as it’s the only place where the rock layers are tilted and darn near vertical in places. Ever more amazing, it’s STILL unknown as to how it formed. Whatever the case, it is really something to behold.
I have surprised everyone with a side-by-side tour of Moab. We have been watching these machines run around Moab the entire time we have been there and I thought I would regret it if we didn’t give it a try.
I have surprised everyone with a side-by-side tour of Moab. We have been watching these machines run around Moab the entire time we have been there and I thought I would regret it if we didn’t give it a try.
Grant is 100% ready, Grace is trying to figure out how to NOT mess up her hair and Dylan wants to know why there is a camera on his helmet.
Grant is 100% ready, Grace is trying to figure out how to NOT mess up her hair and Dylan wants to know why there is a camera on his helmet.
If you’ve never done this before (we hadn’t), there is a moment of pause when you are faced with something like this in front of you. Yes, it REALLY is _that_ steep.
If you’ve never done this before (we hadn’t), there is a moment of pause when you are faced with something like this in front of you. Yes, it REALLY is _that_ steep.
Another perspective of the angle….look in the mirror.
Another perspective of the angle….look in the mirror.
We stopped in multiple places for sight-seeing and picture taking.
We stopped in multiple places for sight-seeing and picture taking.
It was a metric ton of fun! I’d LOVE to come back with my own machine and just go exploring for days on end!
It was a metric ton of fun! I’d LOVE to come back with my own machine and just go exploring for days on end!
11/2/2019 Day 2, Canyonland National Park. We have made the decision to go for a “real” drive and head down into the floor of the canyon via Schaffer’s Trail. All signage “recommends” a high clearance vehicle, but lots of reviews suggest it’s doable in your average sedan. I’ve simply decided to give it a try because, what’s the worst that can happen? I assure you that we got plenty of “is that a minivan?” looks.
11/2/2019 Day 2, Canyonland National Park. We have made the decision to go for a “real” drive and head down into the floor of the canyon via Schaffer’s Trail. All signage “recommends” a high clearance vehicle, but lots of reviews suggest it’s doable in your average sedan. I’ve simply decided to give it a try because, what’s the worst that can happen? I assure you that we got plenty of “is that a minivan?” looks.
My main goal was to see Dead Horse Point from the valley and we’ve made it. Remember this picture from the day we visited Dead Horse Point State Park?
My main goal was to see Dead Horse Point from the valley and we’ve made it. Remember this picture from the day we visited Dead Horse Point State Park?
We’ve turned around and are heading back for the canyon rim. Val has made a rare Big Horn Sheep sighting. The rangers were quite surprised when the kids told them we saw them. I guess it’s pretty darn rare to ever see them.
We’ve turned around and are heading back for the canyon rim. Val has made a rare Big Horn Sheep sighting. The rangers were quite surprised when the kids told them we saw them. I guess it’s pretty darn rare to ever see them.
This is “Mesa Arch” and yes, we are in Canyonlands, not Arches National Park. Mesa Arch is not biggest and not the most impressive arch we’ve seen, but the total “package” of the arch and the view that it frames is breathtaking. It’s easy and cliché to say “it’s like nothing else on Earth”, but in this case it really, REALLY applies. It’s truly unbelievable.
This is “Mesa Arch” and yes, we are in Canyonlands, not Arches National Park. Mesa Arch is not biggest and not the most impressive arch we’ve seen, but the total “package” of the arch and the view that it frames is breathtaking. It’s easy and cliché to say “it’s like nothing else on Earth”, but in this case it really, REALLY applies. It’s truly unbelievable.
…….and you can walk right up to the edge. The really scary part is that it’s not a sheer cliff, the cliff face actually comes back in underneath you (it’s concave). So, when you come up on the edge of it, the ground just disappears from in front of you. The pucker factor is high on this one!
…….and you can walk right up to the edge. The really scary part is that it’s not a sheer cliff, the cliff face actually comes back in underneath you (it’s concave). So, when you come up on the edge of it, the ground just disappears from in front of you. The pucker factor is high on this one!
If he knew what was directly behind him, he would not be smiling like this……putting it another way, Grant doesn’t like heights.
If he knew what was directly behind him, he would not be smiling like this……putting it another way, Grant doesn’t like heights.
At the end of the road in Canyonlands National Park is a place they call “Grand View Point” and the word “Grand” isn’t quite big enough. I’m not sure what fits though. Your brain knows it’s real, but your eyes are doing a darn good job of arguing the contrary. It’s like something from a movie or a well done painting.
At the end of the road in Canyonlands National Park is a place they call “Grand View Point” and the word “Grand” isn’t quite big enough. I’m not sure what fits though. Your brain knows it’s real, but your eyes are doing a darn good job of arguing the contrary. It’s like something from a movie or a well done painting.
This giant hill of red sand is on the road leading in/out of Moab and the kids had asked multiple times to stop. Today was the day for playing in the sand!
This giant hill of red sand is on the road leading in/out of Moab and the kids had asked multiple times to stop. Today was the day for playing in the sand!
Bear isn’t what you’d call a “frisky” dog. On those rare occasions when you can get him riled up, it’s usually pretty humorous. We were on this back road early in the morning and he just decided it was time to play.
Bear isn’t what you’d call a “frisky” dog. On those rare occasions when you can get him riled up, it’s usually pretty humorous. We were on this back road early in the morning and he just decided it was time to play.
11/7/2019 “Moab Giants”. Right on the edge of Moab (on the same road that you’d turn down to go to Canyonlands) is this fun little place. Lots of history about the area, how it developed over millions of years and the creatures that have lived here over the millennia. We had driven by it time and time again finally caved into the kid’s multiple requests to stop.
11/7/2019 “Moab Giants”. Right on the edge of Moab (on the same road that you’d turn down to go to Canyonlands) is this fun little place. Lots of history about the area, how it developed over millions of years and the creatures that have lived here over the millennia. We had driven by it time and time again finally caved into the kid’s multiple requests to stop.
The highlight for Grace ANYWHERE we go would be a bunny sighting.
The highlight for Grace ANYWHERE we go would be a bunny sighting.
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