Bad News

While I was installing some new system software, my back-up drive was nuked. I only  noticed a week later that my photo library was gone. After using some data recovery software I managed to get half my library back but all of the adjustments I have ever done we gone. This is a setback, but I can only hope that out of this will come good things. Word of advice, If you use time machine on an external drive make sure there is nothing important on it...

Utah 2008

Trip report

Hi there and thank you for visiting Location Unknown. This Spring Aimee, myself, and Vento drove off to Utah for a week of hiking, skiing, and non-alcoholic beer. Our trip began with a stop over in scenic Tri-cities where Aimee’s father and I gave my 94’ truck some much needed maintenance. My thermostat was stuck open so the car would never, no matter how hot it was, heat up. Consequently the heater would never get very warm and neither would Aimee.

After a not so quick fix, we set out for Utah stopping for a night in Idaho along the Snake river. Our drive the next day was long but scenic, with periodic snow showers. We arrived in Zion at sunset in the aftermath of an uncommon May snowstorm. We thought we were going to enjoy warm and sunny, but instead we had sunny and cold. By the next morning most of the lowland snow had melted away, but there was still snow on the upper rims of the canyon. Early that morning we motivated to climb angles landing for a better look.

A great hike plagued by demented tourist fed chipmunks, which refused to leave you alone. The top of Angels Landing gives you panoramic views of the entire Zion Canyon. Hike early to avoid the crowds and heat. This hike is not for the faint of heart. If you do not like heights, some parts may be daunting. Parts of the hike you must walk across a sliver of sand stone that plummets 2000’ down on either side. I have done this hike multiple times and it still gets the adrenaline pumping.

After lunch we were off to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. This area is situated in a small valley where the wind blows pink sand into giant dunes. Because it is a state park, motorized vehicles are allowed to drive all over the dunes, so watch out for the ATV’s. This was a welcomed respite out of the car for Vento. Nothing seems to drive the dog nuts like snow, food, and sand. Especially when he can barrel down the dunes at full speed without killing himself.

Up to Brice Canyon for a quick peek, then on to Escalante National Monument. There are many places to sleep in Escalante, most primitive, so we opted for a developed campground close to town so Aimee could use the Internet to take an online test. The next day we hit up a few slot canyons in Escalante as well as Devils Garden. Escalante is one of my favorite places because of its inaccessibility. There are no paved roads, not many signs, and most importantly no RV’s. It offers a much quieter experience than some of the other parks in Utah.

After a few days in Escalante, we without a decent meal we stopped in at the Hells Backbone Grill. This is a unique little place because it is a four star restaurant in Boulder UT population 200. This place has some of the best food and is a welcomed change from camp food. http://www.hellsbackbonegrill.com Over the hill we went on HWY 12 through Dixie National Forest. In peak summer heat Dixie is an Oasis. Its high passes, aspen trees and flowing streams are a paradise of temperate weather surrounded by desert. Most times I have been through here it has been at least 25 degrees cooler on the summit.

After a night in Capital Reef National Park we drove on to Moab and the surrounding parks. We hiked up to delicate arch at sunset wading through photographers to get a decent spot to take some shots. This s pretty entertaining to see ten aspiring photographers trying to heard tourists out of their shots with little success. It also made me feel a little disenfranchised with photography in general. It felt like an amusement park, and quite frankly the photographers up there on that day seemed no better than the people behind the cameras that take photos of you just before you plummet off the edge of the waterfall on the log ride at Disney Land, purely commercial.

I was saddened to hear that Wall Arch recently fell down in Arches NP. When Aimee and I were there in April, we saw a group of kids walking over this arch. Even though gravity and erosion were the cause I can’t help but think of those kids walking on the damn thing.
http://www.nps.gov/arch/parknews/news080808.htm

Word of advise: Never visit Moab Easter weekend, unless you drive a Jeep. Easter weekend in Moab is the National Jeep Jamboree. Every Jeep on the face of the planet descends on Moab for off-roading, drinking, and what else I don’t know. We figured all of the campsites would bee too loud to sleep, because with every jeep came a RV support craft. We managed to find a room at Motel 6 for a few nights.

Aimee had to take her final exam so while she was shacked up the motel Vento and I did some night photography and some early morning sunrises at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. I am most proud of the fact that I was the first person at Mesa Arch that morning. Usually this popular photo spot fills up quickly, so you have to get there early to get one of the best spots. The Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park has some of the best vistas in all of Utah. Early spring is great because it is not hot, and the visibility is unlimited. This was probably the best shot of the trip.