Southwest 2020, Arizona Strip

We left Valley of Fire and Nevada behind, headed for the narrow strip of Arizona north of the Grand Canyon. Even though the North Rim was essentially closed for the season, according to our research it was as open as we needed it to be, meaning it was open to drive into and have a hike around to the viewpoints. We didn’t need to pick up anything at the gift shop. But, as we were getting closer to Jacob Lake the snow started to get pretty deep and our stop at the North Rim started to look questionable. Sure enough, the sign at the Jacob Lake junction advised that the road was closed due to snow, and not to travel toward the park, as if the freshly fallen two feet of white stuff wasn’t enough of a clue. Well, there goes that plan. I guess the North Rim goes on the list for next time we happen to be in the neighborhood. With 12 cookies from the Jacob Lake Inn as our consolation we headed east toward the Vermillion Cliffs.

(more…)

Continue ReadingSouthwest 2020, Arizona Strip

Southwest 2020, Nevada

We had grand plans that started in 2019 – Baja in 2020! Fishing, camping on the beach, tacos, cervezas. Then a little pandemic came along. We started thinking backup plans. Three weeks off and where to go? November limits options to points south. The southwest it was – Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, here we come. This is the story of 23 days and over 4000 miles on the road.

Since I feel like I have to address it: for those of you thinking…. ‘you can’t travel, it’s too risky’…. consider the fact that we go to work every day in an office, coming into contact with all sorts of people, service over health has been the priority around here. Now three weeks on the road only going indoors once a week or so for groceries seems like a pretty safe proposition. Ok, that’s all I am going to say about that.

(more…)

Continue ReadingSouthwest 2020, Nevada

Fall in the High Cascades, 2020

Fall is the best time of year (and that's a statement, not a fact) and definitely the best time for hiking and camping in the high Cascades. The mosquitoes are gone, as are most of the crowds, and even though most areas are dominated by conifers there are still nice colors in the mountain ash and huckleberries to liven up the views. We stopped by Timpanogas Lake earlier in the year, and we were out…

Continue ReadingFall in the High Cascades, 2020