Capitol Reef, Bryce, GC and Zion...
Camp Blog # 2 - Capitol Reef, Grand Staircase Escalante, Bryce Canyon, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks.
A morning hike in Capitol Reed to Sunset Point. When the campers go back to school in the fall their teacher may ask what did you do this summer? Oh, I was just hanging around!
The campers in front of "The Capitol Dome" how the park got it's name.
Then we drove through the Dixie Forest National Forest full of pine trees, aspens and cool temperatures after the desert heat. On Scenic Highway 12 we drove up and over Grand Staircase Escalante one of the narrowest highways in America.
A grand view of the ampitheatre of colored rock from atop Bryce Point of Bryce NP.
Next we hiked into Bryce Canyon among the "hoodoos" the colorful pillars of rock. We started at Bryce Point taking the Peekaboo & Navajo Trail and split into two groups to see whom would reach the top first...the shorter, steeper group that took the Wall Street Trail won and reached the top via Sunset Point and hiked over to Sunrise Point to meet the group that took Queen Victoria's Trail. The campers were all rewarded with a ice cold drink on the back porch of the lodge.
Then back to the campground for a refreshing dip in the pool and a game of Marco Polo.
The next stop is the North Rim of the Grand Canyon!
The campers took their first hike out to the edge of the rim to Bright Angel Point and it is very hard for the kids to fathom that what they are standing on once was the bottom of the ocean. They found fossils of seashells to prove it!
On the back porch of the North Rim Lodge we attended a Ranger Talk about the reintroduction of the California Condor and caught a glimpse of one the next day on our hike...is it an airplane or a bird? A bird with a 9.5 foot wingspan! And at sunset we filmed Camp TV from the back porch overlooking the Grand Canyon (what an amazing backdrop).
The next morning we hiked down below the rim on the North Kaibab Trail to the Supai Tunnel where we enjoyed the shade, lunch, no mule trains (yeah), some R & R and refilled our water bottles for the long hike up!
A view out into the canyon towards the south rim and the Colorado River.
Coconino Overlook
The campers victorious after the hike were rewarded with "Fat Boys" (Utah's version of an overstuffed square ice cream sandwich).
After dinner we enjoyed the warmth of a campfire and some yummy s'mores!
On our way into Zion NP we were greated by 28+ Big Horn Sheep climbing gracefully near Checkboard Mesa. Collectively Chris, Lyn & Steve have never seen that many.
From the Temple of Sinawava we set out for the mile hike to the river where we plunged into the water of The Virgin River for a few miles to "The Narrows" and swam, floated and walked back. A great time was had by all...always a favorite camp hike!
A morning hike in Capitol Reed to Sunset Point. When the campers go back to school in the fall their teacher may ask what did you do this summer? Oh, I was just hanging around!
The campers in front of "The Capitol Dome" how the park got it's name.
Then we drove through the Dixie Forest National Forest full of pine trees, aspens and cool temperatures after the desert heat. On Scenic Highway 12 we drove up and over Grand Staircase Escalante one of the narrowest highways in America.
A grand view of the ampitheatre of colored rock from atop Bryce Point of Bryce NP.
Next we hiked into Bryce Canyon among the "hoodoos" the colorful pillars of rock. We started at Bryce Point taking the Peekaboo & Navajo Trail and split into two groups to see whom would reach the top first...the shorter, steeper group that took the Wall Street Trail won and reached the top via Sunset Point and hiked over to Sunrise Point to meet the group that took Queen Victoria's Trail. The campers were all rewarded with a ice cold drink on the back porch of the lodge.
Then back to the campground for a refreshing dip in the pool and a game of Marco Polo.
The next stop is the North Rim of the Grand Canyon!
The campers took their first hike out to the edge of the rim to Bright Angel Point and it is very hard for the kids to fathom that what they are standing on once was the bottom of the ocean. They found fossils of seashells to prove it!
On the back porch of the North Rim Lodge we attended a Ranger Talk about the reintroduction of the California Condor and caught a glimpse of one the next day on our hike...is it an airplane or a bird? A bird with a 9.5 foot wingspan! And at sunset we filmed Camp TV from the back porch overlooking the Grand Canyon (what an amazing backdrop).
The next morning we hiked down below the rim on the North Kaibab Trail to the Supai Tunnel where we enjoyed the shade, lunch, no mule trains (yeah), some R & R and refilled our water bottles for the long hike up!
A view out into the canyon towards the south rim and the Colorado River.
Coconino Overlook
The campers victorious after the hike were rewarded with "Fat Boys" (Utah's version of an overstuffed square ice cream sandwich).
After dinner we enjoyed the warmth of a campfire and some yummy s'mores!
On our way into Zion NP we were greated by 28+ Big Horn Sheep climbing gracefully near Checkboard Mesa. Collectively Chris, Lyn & Steve have never seen that many.
From the Temple of Sinawava we set out for the mile hike to the river where we plunged into the water of The Virgin River for a few miles to "The Narrows" and swam, floated and walked back. A great time was had by all...always a favorite camp hike!
Posted by Chris and Lyn Kimberly at 7/17/2011 5:42 PM 
Categories: Getting Ready For Camp Trip Across America
Categories: Getting Ready For Camp Trip Across America
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