My mom and dad and I went and did a big portion of the tour I'll be doing later on this summer. Its going to be fantastic. I'm so glad I did the "scouting trip". I feel much better about getting paid very little to be doing something so fun!
We saw 5 National Parks (Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands) and 1 Navajo Tribal park also (Monument Valley). in 6 days. It was brutal. Poor dad got sick along the way so we hurried home faster than we normally would have. We were going to try and add Mesa Verde National Park but there was alot more planning needed before we tackled that one!
I've got to say its really tough to be in the desert. These UK people coming on this trip will have never experienced anything like this until now. They may be world class hikers etc but when its 100 degrees on a trail with no shade, its really brutal and the hikes are at elevation too so its not going to be easy. I'll be checking on their health pretty regularly! I also can see why they recommend I not do any hikes along the way...it would be tough to hike in the heat and then take care of all the details as well. I might do a few new trails (shorter ones) but we'll see. It would be a shame to miss them but I'll have 3 chances to give it a go.
Its going to be a FANTASTIC trip though! These places are beautiful and I can see why they pay to go see them! I collected 41 US States and 4 Canadian Provinces and we talked to a lady from Switzerland who flew into Las Vegas and rented a motorcycle to do her Grand Tour.
The tour group will see 8 National Parks total (all the above and Yosemite, Death Valley and Joshua Tree) and Monument Valley which is the Navajo Tribal Park in Arizona. That was my favorite. The Navajo are amazing people and so friendly, I think my group will really like their time there.
We are staying in a few dumpy places though so I hope they are prepared for that. The outsides are ugly but the insides are clean and comfortable...I think I'll give them a "positive heads up" on those details.
I'll be busy until end of September. I got my official schedule yesterday.
The scenery is so BIG that you need a wide angle and zoom lens to really get the picture. It was great. You'd get out of the car and as far as the eye could see in any direction was rock. Beautiful colors though so it was a totally different landscape than the big "rocks" in Yosemite.
Now I study my history, geology and Indian lore. There is so much Geology, its in your face everyday. Layer upon layer of rocks. Big ones too. As far as the eye can see. I can't wait! These people will be blown away every day! My dad asked if I had a favorite but they are each so unique (I know you're thinking how that rock that covers an entire southern Utah state be unique but it was) you can't even compare them. The colors changed, the shapes changed the grandness changed. It was great.
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