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May 01, 1998
Grand Canyon
Wrtitten by Sam.
The Grand Canyon was fantastic - I went there as a child, and was very worried that I would be disappointed by what I saw. But this was definitely not the case. It is incredible, beautiful and enormous. It is beyond comprehension (OK I'll stop now!) Go there - it's groovy, just book your accomodation well in advance, it's not cheap to stay in the park.
We arrived at the Canyon at sunset, it was glorious deep red and blue. We were so keen, we rose at dawn to see the sunrise (5:15 am). This was the best time to see the canyon - devoid of the hourdes. The air was fresh and crisp and the canyon was silent. Awesome!
This is the Eastern end of the Canyon, looking down on the Colorado as it emerges from the painted desert.
We followed the Kaibab trail down into the Canyon for about 1 1/2 miles, droppping over 1000 feet (1/5 of the Canyon's depth) Just as we started to descend, a mule train came up the path
This is the view from the trail - the trail was steep and dusty, the heat made it very hard work (especially the return journey)
This is me at the point we turned around. The start of the trail is above where I'm pointing
Wrtitten by Sam.
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
CA, NV, AZ, UT
In May we set off on a week-long road trip. We visited four states (California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah) and travelled approx. 2500
miles! We had a fantastic time, and saw some incredible sights. America is amazing - the sheer scale of the place and the vast
endless landscapes really took our breath away. The map shows our route (as close as I could get it). Just click on a place name, in
the table below to see our photos.
(1) Our first night was spent at Paso Robles, a small town 150 miles North of Santa Barbara. The most notable thing that happened was a terrible meal at 'Smokie's restaurant, where we drank beer out of boots and John consumed 1/2 a cow! The next day we set off for Palm Springs.We rested at Santa Barbara (2) for lunch, before tackling the madness of L.A.
(3) L.A. didn't look too enticing as we drove through. It was a grey day - but we saw the Hollywood sign.
(4) We spent the next night at Palm Springs. An Oasis in Mojave Desert, where the very rich come to play golf. We sought and found the Betty Ford Clinic, but our photo opportunities where thwarted by security cameras. The best thing about Palm Springs was the enormous wind farm that has been built there. It looks very surreal smack in the middle of the desert. Oh yeah - and we saw REAL tumbleweed, tumbling.
(5) We left Palm Springs the next morning and headed for Joshua Tree National Park
(6) From Joshua Tree we crossed into Arizona and drove to the Grand Canyon but not before a plane tried to land on top off us on the highway!
(7) We went the long way round the end of the Grand Canyon, and drove through the Painted Desert, crossing briefly into Utah
(8) The next night was spent in Las Vegas. It was seedy and sad, but the hotels are incredible. John's favourite was the Luxor
(9) From Vegas, we drove to Death Valley
(10) Then up through Owens Valley to Bishop, passing by Mount Whitney, at 14,494ft the highest point in the lower 48 states. We went in search of the Palisades Glacier at Big Pine
(11) Mono Lake sits in the middle of a volcanic tableland at the north of Owens Valley. We a stopped on our way, as we desperately searched for an open pass road through the Sierra Nevada. The mountains are still covered in snow. Some roads have now been closed for 6 months
(12), (13), (14) We made our way home via Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, and Berkley (where we had an incredibly insipid Indian while listening to a jazz trio(?))
Written by Sam.
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
Joshua Tree National Park
zJoshua Tree National Park is brilliant! It covers two deserts - the Colorado and Mojave deserts, and is home to the weird and
wonderful Joshua Tree. It covers 80,000 acres, and was originally home to the Pinto Indians. In the 1930's settlers came and set up
cattle ranches and mined for gold.
It is frighteningly desolate, but the rock formations and trees also make it incredibly beautiful. We loved it! John even said that it was
'better than Brimham' so it must be good.
Shortly after entering the park we stopped and climbed one of the rock formations. You could hear the path clearing before you, as the lizards took refuge in the rocks. The view was fantastic.
The settlers built Barkers Dam, to provide water for their cattle and for mining purposes. It is now used by the park wildlife
John wanted a picture of his car in the desert, so here it is!
Posted by John at 12:00 PM
Death Valley
Death Valley is bleak and frightening, it is the hottest, lowest place on earth. Settlers were trapped here in 1849 after thinking they had found a short-cut to the West coast. Only one person died. The air
temperature averages 120F and the ground can reach boiling point. The land falls to 282ft. below sea level.
The valley is barren and harsh. There are huge sand dunes in the Western end of the valley.
Of course we took the bear!
Written by Sam.
Posted by John at 12:00 PM