Nevada

The Route

During our stay at Thousand Trails Las Vegas 

the average high temperature was about 104.

 So one day we headed to the mountains 

where we spent an enjoyable day in the mid-70's.

Private homes added to the beauty of the Spring Mountains NRA.

During a snack stop we learned about the area.

Over 900 nuclear bombs were exploded at the Nevada Test Site

on the valley floor below.

  Most were underground, but during the first years

 of testing they were all above. 

The "sinkholes" can still be seen and were 

produced from the early 50s to the mid 60s.

Near the ski area, the aspens were showing off their fall colors.

We re-visited this NRA, but did not hike to the area's hot springs.

Our last visit to this area included seeing the new bypass 

bridge about half finished.  This time we got to walk it.

We do not think that this counts as a high point, 

but you can see that our feet are smiling!

CHEESE!

On the Hoover Dam.

Lake Mead is at about 38% capacity.   

That's down about 147 feet in the last fifteen years.

 It has not been this low since it started to fill in the 1930's.

However, it is still beautiful.

Arizona bound.

Utah

The Route

We stayed overnight and toured the island.

The bison grazed in our camp site. 

 They were where I am standing,

 but we waited until it seemed safe for the picture.

  Especially since the afternoon before I had

the requisite bison burger while visiting the island.

You can nearly see Judy in this return visit to the capitol.

Judy, Don, JoAnn, Barb, Dennis, and Nai. 

 These good friend hosted a pizza happy hour

 and visit on their deck.

  We all met when the six of us (and others) put our motor homes

 on el Chepe flatbed train cars 

and toured the Copper Canyon in Mexico.

We stayed long enough that we had to move the party inside!

Cannot say thanks enough!  See you in December.

Millard Fillmore was president when Fillmore in Millard County

 was chosen by Brigham Young to be the territorial capitol of Utah.

  We visit presidential sites, but do not know if this library qualifies.

We also visit capitol's and have toured all 50,

 plus several territorial and first capitols.

Staying in southern Utah for a couple of days allowed 

us to again view the beauty of the area. 

 Kolob Canyons is a lesser visited section of Zion National Park.

At the end of the scenic drive in Kolob Canyon.

At 10,000 feet the aspens were turning. 

 We enjoyed the views as we headed

 through the Dixie National Forest.

Cedar Breaks National Monument is above 10,000 feet

 so breathing was labored while we hiked a couple of miles.

   The spectacular views are similar to Bryce Canyon National Park. 

Overlooking the "break".

Our hike through the aspens yielded 

more pictures than you can imagine.

See,

I told you.

After Cedar Breaks, we took the long way home

 and re-visited Zion National Park.

  This time in a 3 hour tour--mostly in the car.

We just made it to the Visitor's Center before closing

 and in time to buy an Angel's Landing t-shirt and postcard. 

 We missed the opportunity after we hiked

 to the top on October 18, 2006.

Angel's Landing is a great and very scary hike. 

 I was white knuckled the whole way up. 

 There are chains to hold onto so you

 don't fall as you climb the narrow ledge.

It is about a 5.5 mile hike with an

 elevation gain of nearly 1500 feet.

This was our third trip to Zion.

 I think it gets more stunning each time. 

This trip we did hike  the Canyon Overlook Trail. 

 That is Dennis across a side canyon 

on our way to the overlook.

The view at the end of the trail.

  Walk this trail in the morning for better lighting.  

But the view is still worth the walk.

Heading to Las Vegas for a week or so.

Idaho

Idaho

The Route

The pack bridge over the Clearwater River in

the Clearwater National Forest on our way to

 Jerry Johnson Hot Springs. 

 It is a one mile stroll through a cedar/pine/spruce forest. 

 This spot is one of our favorite hot springs.   

We made the trek three times to soak 

while staying in a nearby campground.

Another hike through the woods to Weir Hot Springs

 ended in a dead end at a jumble of fallen trees.

Outside of Cascade and in the Boise and Payette National Forests

 we searched out and found 7 hot springs. 

 This was the very best and the first one we found.

Trail Creek Hot Spring was so good we returned the next morning.

Mile-16 (Sugah) Hot Springs was a little too hot

 and took a while to acclimate. 

 Bring a bucket for river water transfer.

The other five springs we found were in burned out areas.

 No one has been visiting or maintaining the sites.

Near Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve 

is a roadside soak called Milford Sweat Hot Spring.

  It is on BLM land but the soaking pool is on private land. 

 The owners allow use.

The soaking pool is surrounded by sun flowers

 and a cow pasture.

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve

We visited this monument before the added 

distinction of becoming a National Preserve.

With the temperature at 55 degrees and the wind about the

 same number of mile per hour, 

 we decided to "run" to the top of Inferno Cone. 

 When we reached the visible top in this picture we were 

confronted with another stretch of

 climbing the hill blocked from view.

We made it to the 6181 foot top--at a brisk walk.

  Judy is half way up at this point where she stopped running.

At the top the view was terrific.

We did not stay long because of the cold.

The sun warmed rocks at a spatter cone made for

 a good picture and a break for the wind.

Our plans have changed yet again. 

 We are headed to Las Vegas and  Laughlin, NV

 before the balloon festival.