The final post from our vacation…
There was no explanation in Park City about this Shoe Tree. Any ideas?
After a few days covered in the red sands of beautiful Zion, we decided to venture to Park City, home to the Sundance Film Festival and many of the 2002 Winter Olympic Game events. What we found was a city that could be the dictionary definition of Boom Town, but strangely quiet in its off-off season. The holy land of skiers, Park City appears to have more freshly painted vacation condos and kitschy gift shops than real, local residents. We showed up one week after the main ski area closed for the season, but before the snow has melted away for summer mountain biking. Lucky for us, this meant a very nice hotel room (hot showers and down duvets included) for next to nothing, and our pick of empty restaurants. The real find was Olympic Park, home of the luge, bobsleigh, skeleton and Nordic jumping events for the Salt Lake City games, and now Olympic training center and Museum. The Museum exhibits were ripe with the emotion of the games, from triumphs and defeats to national pride. It was much more than we expected (and free!).
After the proper amount of clean, fun tourism, we turned for our trek back home, driving through gale-force winds from Utah to Nevada, landing at Rye Patch Recreation Area where we hunkered down in our camper out of the winds. But the winds had a surprise for us. They brought clouds that released around 5 inches of snow on us throughout the evening. Despite little insulation from our canvas pop-up, we made it through the night with wool mittens, knit caps and down vests. We awoke to a sparkling white landscape for our last day of vacation. But it is these unexpected surprises that make our journeys so very special and stick in our memory long after vacation ends.
One of Utah’s many wonders is the number of amazing National Parks all within a short driving distance of one another. Taking advantage of our <2 hour proximity to Bryce Canyon we ventured on a day trip to see the Martian Hoodoos I’ve heard so much about. We hiked down between the spires, cooled by the extreme winds that are primarily responsible for these odd formations. Even the trees appear to grow like twisted rope from the wind’s force.
Tired from two days of hiking, hubby and I parted for our next day’s adventure, him for another strenuous scramble to Zion’s Hidden Canyon, and me for a dusty 3.5 hour horseback ride through the Zion Valley. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any pictures of the horse, but I can tell you her name was Ms. Ed.
Now we’re breaking camp while my dad makes us a batch of pre-road pancakes. Then we’re off to Park City for our final days of vacation. Where does the time go?
This post finds us sitting along the banks of the Virgin River in Springdale, Utah tiptoeing the border of Zion National Park. Readers of this blog likely recall our Wander the West road trip in May 2007 where hubby and I discovered this undeniably magical place. We fancied it so much that we thought it deserved more time than we gave it amidst many states last year and scheduled a well-timed meet up here with my father and step-mom.
Today we made the hike that no one forgets, Angels Landing. The relatively short distance (5 miles) rises quickly to 1488 feet and comes with the fierce warning “Strenuous. Long drop-offs and narrow trail. Not for anyone fearful of heights.†Fortunately we possess both the naïveté of youth and rock-climbing experience to assuage the fears that kept my family from joining us.
Once we conquered the several miles of steep switchbacks, we scrambled up the vertical rocks, aided in places by thoughtfully placed chains. We were rewarded with not only a Birdseye view of Zion valley, but also an above-Birdseye view of some birds themselves as they coasted the winds below us.
Happily sore, we’re ready for a relaxed evening before we take on tomorrow’s adventure. The only question is which one to do next.
PS As I was typing this an old rancher, rope in hand, walked into our campsite and asked Mike if he’d seen a calf come by. I love small towns!
After getting mostly over what I’m calling The Great Flu of 2008, hubby and enjoyed a quick romp in the snow of Yosemite. Like home, the weather was stormy there too, but resulting in beautiful, powdery delight, rather than muddy wet muck.
The timing of this little jaunt was for us to attend the last of the seasons Chefs’ Holiday Dinner, a five course meal (wine pairings and all) at The Ahwahnee Hotel. The tickets included a morning demonstration and cheese tasting from the ladies at Cowgirl Creamery (which we visited in Point Reyes Station over our anniversary), where we learned about how to test a washed-rined cheese (it includes a little cheese hammer!) and how they grow one inch thick “tennis ball-like” mold on the soft cheeses (and this is a good thing). Later that night we went back for the full-monty, including fall-apart short ribs in a red wine reduction, gnocchi, some more cheese and a few other sumptuous courses. It was exactly what we were hoping for.
By morning, the storm had cleared, revealing many inches of fluffy powder just waiting to be made into snow balls. We got some great pictures before we headed home, to yet more Santa Cruz rain. I’m ready to trade in the rain and move to Yosemite. The food and weather are better. =)
In the spirit of appreciating the year that was 2007, here’s what moments I’ll remember.
My Best Friend’s Wedding
Spending a week with my friend since Junior High, Rianna, was a treat. We shopped, we talked, we got hangovers, we had a great time. Oh, and she also got married. I was touched to be her Matron of Honor.
Wandering the West
Breaking in our new-to-us truck and 4 Wheel Popup camper on a two week trek around the West is an adventure we won’t soon forget. The desolate North Rim of the Grand Canyon, ancient cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde and (our favorite) hiking in Zion National Park. In fact, we were so enchanted with Zion, that we’re making plans to go back in 2008.
The 2007 Santa Cruz Film Festival
It took a lot of time and work, but the 2007 Film Festival had sold out audiences and Messrs. David Arquette and Pee Wee Herman in attendance. As a member of the Board of Directors, I couldn’t have asked for more. Be sure to put this on your calendar for next year, May 9-17, 2008.
Home Renovations
Hubby and I have a never ending to-do list when it comes to our house. This year we replaced our living room floor and completed renovating the downstairs bedroom into our new home office (post coming soon). We’re thrilled with the results. Next on the list, upstairs floor? Grout in the upstairs bathroom? New stair railings? Stay tuned.
Biking
The biking, ah the biking. My friend. My fun. Aside from my daily commute and new blog I had a couple of memorable rides in 2007: riding in the dark (no lights) at 10 pm in Death Valley, riding up the HWY 1 Coast by myself, and riding up to Waddell Creek for Nikkie’s birthday. Here’s to even more biking in ‘08!
It’s fun to stop and appreciate the good times we enjoy, instead of getting stuck on the bad or the sad. What was most memorable for you in 2007?