Last hiking photos

These are also from Grand Staircase - Escalante NM.  We have lots of great photos we were not able to post.  Let us know if you're interested in seeing them.

We're Back!

Sure was getting a little cold in UT.  Glad to be back in our sunny and warm home.  Since our start on July 17, Paul walked 1003 miles and I walked 860.  It was a fabulous way to spend the summer and we saw so many beautiful things.  The blog will be quiet for the next couple months and we look forward to catching up with all of you in person.  We will start postings again when we leave for Asia in mid-Jan. 

Leaf Peeping

This part of the trip brought out the buried leaf peeper in me.  These pics will not impress the mid-western readers, but may interest the Phoenicians.

Grand Staircase Escalante NM

We're so pleased that this land was preserved for all as one of our newest national monuments.  Some of the most gorgeous landscapes we've seen. 

8.7 miles to go.

It is really really cold here in southern utah at night.  We have been hustling to finish up this past week at grand staircase escalante national monument.  Tomorrow we could hit 1000 miles and get back to phoenix.  We will see.  Southern utah has some of the most beautiful land in the country.  They manage gsenm as a fossil preservation park.  This means that getting hike information is a pain.  I can't believe that they disappoint so many with that literal implementation of their preservation mandate.  Still, if you push thru the hype you can find some spectacular miles .  Looking forward to hitting the trail tomorrow.

Paul

History

Southern UT is a great place to see the stuff ancestral Pueblans left behind.  Here's some of that.....

Pictures from Canyonlands

Enchanting.  Still my favorite national park...  Jen

22 degrees

Ok AZ has us light on the temp tolerence.  The prospector hotel is hosting us tonight.  We have a touchtone non cordless phone in the room.  We frooze out at 27 yesterday and decided to take things indoors tonight.  131 miles to go.  After walking 106 miles in Canyonlands last week things are looking good for finishing up and getting back to phx soon.  Warming trend this week will find us looking at more ancestral pueblo stuff.  That was missing from the first 700 miles.  Grand gultch and natural bridges are on tap.  The SE Corner of UT is a funky corner of America in general,glad to be here. US 191 runs an interesting path thru AZ and UT .  It takes a break around I 70.  National geographic should do a spot on that road if they have not yet.  It is a beauty.  Hope all is good with you. - Paul

Pics from the Coast

The Coast

ThThe last week and half have been a vacation from our vacation.  We had a great time visiting friends, checked out the Ft. Bragg Abalone Cook-off, Anderson Valley, and Lagunitas.  Paul went salmon fishing and caught a nice and delicious fish.  And we walked another 50 miles at Pt. Reyes.  Saw elephant seals, elk, and a bobcar and were absolutely menaced by multitudes of raccoons.  Thanks to all those we visited!  Paul hit 750 miles and I'm lagging him by 83.  Headed to UT to finish hiking in what we hope will be great weather.

Sleet and Snow

We left the Sierras about a week ago due to a combination of sleet, snow, and minor illness.  We got sleet and snow in Yosemite and headed down to Sequoia.  We had a great time with the giant trees and were prepping for a high country hike when the first weather of the season was predicted.  We decided to head for the coast and were glad we did when it snowed.  Had a great time heading for the coast, stopping at Sun Maid raisins and the brewery tour at Sierra Nevada.  They're making a new stout - Narwhal Stout, so keep an eye out for that.

Pictures from Yosemite and Sequoia

A few more for your viewing....

Off day in yosemite.

We are enjoying an off day just south of yosemite in oakhurst.  The dirty donkey here has two dollar beer specials and we are staying just up the road at a snow park.  Just us and some rv guy who we scare the hell out of.  He moved his whole set up once we pulled in.  All is going well.  Last week we were up 5 passes in 5 days.  Tons of elevation and granite but beautiful.  Froze 3 of 5 nights and we r going lower from here.  Another 70 miles in yosemite starting tomorrow and then down to kings canyon and sequoia for more. ~ Paul

Backcountry Yosemite pics

A few more photos

Sorry if I've posted any of these before but while I have access to data I thought i'd get a few more out.

Big fish

Picture of one of the 4 giant fish caught on our rest day in Sacramento.

Photos from hwy 50 to hwy 108

500 Miles!

Last Thursday we finished 500 miles at Sonora Pass (Hwy 108 on the map).  We decided we needed a little break and rode down to Sacto with our friend Chad.  I want to thank everyone who has helped us get this far.  First there's Chad whose helped us with logistics.  Not only has he mailed all our food boxes and moved us around the fires but he showed up at the pass with hot pizza, salad, and cold beer!  Then there's my mom who is taking care of all of our business and mail as well as tracking where we are in case we don't turn up where we're supposed to.  These two are critical to our adventure.  Thanks to both!  Also thanks to all who supported the hike by giving us stuff we needed.  Thanks to paul's mom for the best water filter ever and the maps.  Thanks to Grandma L, Grandpa C and Gerri for our new high-tech camp matts which are so warm we're just starting zip our sleeping bags.  Thanks to the Girards for the packtowels and compression sacks.  Thanks to mom and dad for our tiny stove and titanium mess kit and the tiny pillow.  Thanks to Rachel for the knife.  Thanks to many for the socks and snacks.  We use all this stuff everyday on the trail and think of y'all.  Thanks to all for the well wishes.  Paul started hiking to Yosemite on Tues.  I'm resting my knees til next Monday when I will meet him there.  If the weather holds out we'll do another 200 miles or so.  It's getting harder to post in the hi sierra but we will if we can.

More pictures

Helmet cams have been suggested.  Maybe next time.... here's a few more.