Antelope Canyon - Take 2

This is my second trip to the lower Antelope Canyon.  It's still as breathtaking as ever with new perspectives, new angles and new lighting and exposure.  Enjoy!

Mt. Rainier NP Backpacking Adventure

This is the first (of hopefully many) overnight backpacking trips with my kids, nephews and brother-in-law to the area surrounding Mt. Rainier NP.  The kids learned firsthand how to pack for an overnight trip with necessary provisions like water, food, sleeping bag, pad, medical and survival gear, etc.

The Naches to Dewey Lake Loop is about 7.5+ miles round trip with several areas of gradual elevation gains.  The descent to Dewey Lake as our destination the first night was met with excitement and joy.  When the backpacks came off, the kids left the dads to set up camp while they fished and hunted frogs and snakes.

Dewey Lake at Sunset

The approx. 800 foot climb out of Dewey lake back to the Naches loop was an epic challenge for each kid but well worth the reward of incredible views of Mt. Rainier for the rest of the hike.

This pristine wilderness adventure is the perfect trail for kids learning to backpack and parents who are learning to backpack with kids!  For more pics, go to Mt. Rainier Backpacking Trip @ Blaze-A-Trail.com

Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is the most famous slot canyon in the Southwest.

The Narrows

The Riptide

Perpetual Wave

Pierce the Darkness

Solitude

The Descent

The Chamber

For more photos, visit:  Antelope Canyon @ Blaze-A-Trail.com

Horseshoe Bend (Near Page, AZ)

Horseshoe Bend is a popular destination for photographers and is located just south of the City of Page, AZ. The mighty Colorado River exits Lake Powell and begins its long and winding journey to the Grand Canyon. Horseshoe Bend is quite remarkable as the river takes an almost 360 degree turn around the deep canyons that it helped to create. 

Notice the clothes on the photographer (Billy R) below. It was about 25 degrees and dropping as night was setting in.  Each location around the bend offers a fantastic perspective. 

The photographer below had his tripod leaning out over the precipice.  Funny story.  As the sun was going down, this guy convinced me to stay a while in order to photograph the stars.  I was about to leave as it was about 18 degrees but decided to be a tough guy and accept his invitation.  Then, he told me he was hiking back to his car to get something and be right back (the trail is less than a mile, but longer than I wanted to hike there and back at night).  So I hung out as the night just got darker and darker.  No stars yet, but dark and cold nevertheless.  Now it got too cold and I had a pair of long underwear in my backpack (no, I wasn't wearing them because earlier it wasn't as cold.)  I made the executive decision that if I was going to stay for a while, I needed to take my boots and pants off and throw them on as quickly as possible.  Well, that was a fun time with no light, standing on boulders next to a huge canyon and trying to get them on while freezing my ___ off!  When I finally got my boots back on, my toes felt frostbitten and my legs weren't much better.  The warmth I expected wasn't really happening.  After waiting another 15 minutes, I finally said forget this and packed it up hiking the dark trail back to the car - had I not had a flashlight, it would have been a huge problem.  I think I saw one star come out that whole time and don't ever remember seeing the guy come back and his car was not in the parking lot when I got there.  Sucker!!!!  

This was my first visit to the snow laced canyon and I can honestly say it won't be my last visit. Pictures are beautiful but being there and watching the sun bounce off the walls and water is an amazing experience.  Just make sure you don't let some crazy photographer talk you into staying to shoot the stars in the middle of the coldest part of December.

Link to website:  http://www.blaze-a-trail.com/Arizona-Excursions/Horseshoe-Bend/

Grand Teton National Park

One of the most familiar mountain ranges in the U.S. is the Grand Tetons.  As part of our father-son outing last August 2011, we explored all this National Park had to offer.  It didn't disappoint as we saw some incredible wildlife and views of the peaks.  My son and I had the opportunity to do a couple hikes that brought us close to deer, elk, fox and moose.  It was a great bonding experience and my son still asks me when are we going back to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons... Enjoy a few pics of this gorgeous place!

Mt. Moran at sunset - Grand Teton National Park

Take one guess why it was hard to get a crystal clear reflection of the mountains??

Elk herd below Mt. Moran at Dusk

Elk herd below Mt. Moran at Dusk

Mt. Moran Sunset - Grand Teton National Park

See more photos at:  Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks at Blaze-A-Trail.com