So far this place seems like it belongs on another planet. Wow, oh my God, and holy @#!% seem to be on repeat. Before heading out and leaving Arches, we needed to see Delicate Arch. The view is spectacular.
On a tip from a stranger, we put Arches in the rearview and off to Bryce Canyon we went. We took a longer route, HWY 12 which is hands down, the best drive I can recall taking. I have taken quite a few and nothing really can compare. One of these days, I’ll put a link to a gallery to have a glimpse, but that won’t happen tonight. We were also able to check another park off our list, Capital Reef, which was one I didn’t think we would see.
We still made great time and were able to set up camp in the afternoon with plenty of daylight. Great little tent site, car camping at its finest. After setting up camp, my plans of a fine dining experience turned into the convenient, but equally tasty backpacking meals. Seriously, these are legit and can outdo many restaurants I’ve been to. Plus, I’m always looking to mess with the gear I accumulated for a thru hike that will most likely never happen. Stars. I’ve never seen the Milky Way like I saw that night, Elizabeth agrees. While a trip to Maine was the leader in star viewing experience, a clear night in Bryce Canyon moved into first place. Iphone photos…
Had to get up early to pack up camp and vacate the tent site before we set out on the Figure Eight Trail, a way to combine Queen’s Garden, Peekaboo Loop, Navajo Loop Trail, and the Rim Trail. A little bit more challenging than I thought. It would be fine for most, and we did it in about 3.5 hours, so it is perfectly fine, but still, the climb BACK up had me silently begging for mercy on the switchbacks.
Hoodoo after hoodoo after hoodoo…
Tired, tired, tired, but we had our sites on the next surprise stop (Elizabeth finds out on a trail what the next 24 hours look like. Next stop… Zion National Park. After a 36 degree ground sleeping night, we will start to rest our bones with a little more style, here on out. Staying just outside the park at OpenSky, a camping with comfort experience. Just what we need!
That’s it for now. Elizabeth has a ton of pictures I want to upload as well. Tomorrow we do the Narrows…
Peace