A week spent road-tripping to Arches, Grand Canyon, and Bryce Canyon National Parks, and a few more spots in between.
Looking north, not too long after ascending to the plateau that makes up the majority of Arches National Park. This is well before the first of the arches that are accessible from the main road.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east, not too long after ascending to the plateau that makes up the majority of Arches National Park. The first of the arches that are accessible from the main road can be seen in the distance. In the foreground (between the Junipers and the “mesas” on the horizon) is a field of “fossilized” sand dunes.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking south (back towards the park entrance), not too long after ascending to the plateau that makes up the majority of Arches National Park. This is well before the first of the arches that are accessible from the main road.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking west (the park entrance is below and behind this ridge), not too long after ascending to the plateau that makes up the majority of Arches National Park. This is well before the first of the arches that are accessible from the main road.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking north, not too long after ascending to the plateau that makes up the majority of Arches National Park. The park entrance is to the left, and well below, the ridge visible in this photograph. This is well before the first of the arches that are accessible from the main road.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking southwest from the first group of arches that are accessible from the main road. The arches themselves are off-frame behind, and to the left and right, of this photograph.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
The North Window arch, one of the first arches accessible from the main road in Arches National Park.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
On the trail around the South Window and North Window arches, two of the first arches accessible from the main road in Arches National Park.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
On the trail around the South Window and North Window arches, two of the first arches accessible from the main road in Arches National Park. As usual, Len is head of me on the trail, as I’m a photo-slow-poke.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking southeast from the trail around the South Window and North Window arches, two of the first arches accessible from the main road in Arches National Park.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
One of the many lizards that live in Arches National Park. Taken on the trail around the South Window and North Window arches, two of the first arches accessible from the main road in Arches National Park.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
The Double Arch, imaged with the wide-angle feature of the Android camera. These two arches were formed from a sinkhole in the containing mesa.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking southwest from under the Double Arch, imaged with the wide-angle feature of the Android camera. These two arches were formed from a sinkhole in the containing mesa. Len is siting in the foreground, near the center of the frame.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Len (on the left side of the frame), sitting near the Garden of Eden, a series of eroded rock ridges and towers.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east from near the Garden of Eden, a series of eroded rock ridges and towers.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking north from the aptly named Panorama Point, about halfway into Arches National Park.
Taken during the first day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking southeast from near the entrance of Arches National Park. The visitor center is just off the right side of the frame, with the main body of the park to the left.
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east towards the sunrise, about halfway into Arches National Park (just before the turnoff for Delicate Arch).
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east towards the sunrise, about halfway into Arches National Park (just before the turnoff for Delicate Arch).
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Tunnel Arch, the first major arch on the Devil’s Garden Trail at the end of the main road in Arches National Park. A smaller “sinkhole” arch (formed through a similar process as Double Arch) is visible just left-of-center.
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking north through Pine Tree Arch, the second major arch on the Devil’s Garden Trail at the end of the main road in Arches National Park.
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking northwest through Pine Tree Arch, the second major arch on the Devil’s Garden Trail at the end of the main road in Arches National Park.
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east from the “other side” (i.e., opposite the trail) of Pine Tree Arch, the second major arch on the Devil’s Garden Trail at the end of the main road in Arches National Park.
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking south from the “other side” (i.e., looking back towards the trail) of Pine Tree Arch, the second major arch on the Devil’s Garden Trail at the end of the main road in Arches National Park. If you look closely, you’ll see Len standing in the bushes towards the lower right.
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Me, photographing Len, photographing me at the Pine Tree Arch, the second major arch on the Devil’s Garden Trail at the end of the main road in Arches National Park.
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Landscape Arch, just west of the Devil’s Garden Trail in Arches National Park.
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Landscape Arch, just west of the Devil’s Garden Trail in Arches National Park.
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Heading south on the trail towards Sand Dune Arch, in Arches National Park.
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Sand Dune Arch, in Arches National Park.
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Len approaches the south side of Broken Arch, in Arches National Park.
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
The north side of Broken Arch (looking south), in Arches National Park.
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Delicate Arch from the Upper Viewpoint in Arches National Park. If you look closely, you can see all of the hikers that hiked the trail to Delicate Arch itself (Len boycotted us doing that, as the trail was “not for those afraid of heights”).
Taken during the second day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking west along the Grand Canyon from near Hermit’s Rest. The Colorado River is visible near center.
Taken during the third day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east along the Grand Canyon from near Hermit’s Rest. A sliver of the Colorado River is visible in the lower left.
Taken during the third day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
A tarantula hawk feeds on flower on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon near Hermit’s Rest.
Taken during the third day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
A tarantula hawk feeds on flower on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon near Hermit’s Rest.
Taken during the third day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Goldenrod Soldier Beetles, taken about half way between Hermit’s Rest and Hopi Point along the South Rim Trail.
Taken during the third day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Goldenrod Soldier Beetles, taken about half way between Hermit’s Rest and Hopi Point along the South Rim Trail.
Taken during the third day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east along the Grand Canyon from near Hopi Point. The Colorado River is visible near center.
Taken during the third day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking north across the Grand Canyon, somewhere between Hopi and Yavapai Points.
Taken during the fourth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Trees growing just below the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, taken near Yavapai Point.
Taken during the fourth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east towards Yaki Point from near the Grand Canyon visitor center. The next day Len and I would hike about a third of the way down the South Kaibab Trail to the Cedar Ridge overlook, just above the “temple” near the center of this image.
Taken during the fourth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking back towards a point between the South Kaibab Trail Head and Mather Point from the South Kaibab Trail.
Taken during the fifth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Len, ahead of me on the South Kaibab Trail.
Taken during the fifth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking down towards the Cedar Ridge overlook and across the Grand Canyon from the South Kaibab Trail near Ooh Aah Point.
Taken during the fifth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Len poses near the Ooh Aah Point on the South Kaibab Trail.
Taken during the fifth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Len and I take our obligatory vacation selfie near the Ooh Aah Point on the South Kaibab Trail.
Taken during the fifth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east across the Grand Canyon shortly after dawn.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking northeast across the Grand Canyon shortly after dawn.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking north across the Grand Canyon.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east across the Grand Canyon from the Desert View Watchtower. The Colorado River can be seen entering the Grand Canyon at the far left.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Sunset Crater, a volcanic cone less than a thousand years old, just south of the Grand Canyon. Sunset Crater is the youngest volcano in the San Francisco Volcanic Field. Taken from just inside of Sunset Crater National Monument.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
The San Francisco Peaks, the remains of a massive stratovolcano that exploded in a northeasterly direction (basically, towards where I’m standing) about 200,000 years ago. Taken from just inside of Sunset Crater National Monument, just south of the Grand Canyon and northwest of Flagstaff.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking across the Bonito Lava Flow, just northwest of Sunset Crater.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
The east side of Sunset Crater.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
A small plant grows in the lava flow east of Sunset Crater.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
The Glen Canyon Dam, with the artificial Lake Powell extending behind it.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
At left, the Glen Canyon Dam with the artificial Lake Powell extending behind it. At right, the Glen Canyon Dam Bridge, with the Colorado River below.
Taken using Android’s “wide angle” mode.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
The Glen Canyon Dam, with the artificial Lake Powell extending behind it.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Horseshoe Bend is within Grand Canyon National Park (the park begins at the top of the rim walls, and extends all of the way up to the Glen Canyon Dam), but the overlook itself is on BLM land.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation using Android’s “wide angle” mode. Not visible here: The 200-odd other people also looking west at Horseshoe Bend.
Horseshoe Bend is within Grand Canyon National Park (the park begins at the top of the rim walls, and extends all of the way up to the Glen Canyon Dam), but the overlook itself is on BLM land.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation using Android’s “wide angle” mode. Not visible here: The 200-odd other people also looking west at Horseshoe Bend.
A small flowering bush clings to the cliff just above Horseshoe Bend.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
The Colorado River snakes southeast from Horseshoe Bend.
Taken during the sixth day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Solar panels near the Bryce Canyon visitors center.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking northeast from Rainbow Point on the south side of Bryce Canyon.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking northwest from Rainbow Point towards the main extent of Bryce Canyon.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking northeast from Rainbow Point on the south side of Bryce Canyon.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon, just north of Rainbow Point.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking southeast from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon, just north of Rainbow Point.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking southeast from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon, just north of Rainbow Point.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking north from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon, just north of Rainbow Point.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east through the Bryce Natural Bridge, just north of Rainbow Point.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking southeast from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon, just north of Rainbow Point.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon, just north of Rainbow Point.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east through Swamp Canyon from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking southeast from Sunrise Point from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon; the Queen’s Garden Trail Head is just off frame to the left.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking northeast from Sunrise Point from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon; the Queen’s Garden Trail Head is just off frame to the right.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking southeast into Bryce Canyon from just south of Sunrise Point.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
A tree on the Bryce Canyon rim, about half way between Sunrise and Sunset Points.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking southeast into Bryce Canyon from just between Sunrise and Sunset Points.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking east into Bryce Canyon from Sunset Point.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking southeast into Bryce Canyon from the lower Inspiration Point.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
Looking across Bryce Canyon from between the upper and lower Inspiration Points; the main “amphitheater” of Bryce Canyon can be seen to the left.
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
The hotel that Len and I stayed at on the way back to Denver from Bryce Canyon provided a rubber ducky with the normal toiletries!
Taken during the seventh day of Len and my September 2017 national-park-athon vacation.
So green that Len couldn’t stop laughing.