Above Gifford Wash in Zion (Spring 2004)

Mike and I scrambled from the Canyon Overlook up into Gifford Wash and then across slickrock and canyons to see an isolated part of Zion. Mike here with the West Temple behind him.











There's a big arch on the other side of that peak. We will hike out to it another day.

Havasupai (Nov 2003)

For my birthday, Kim surprised me and kidnapped me to Havasu Canyon. We drove nearly 7 hours to the trailhead, started hiking down the 9 miles to the village. We didn't arrive until 5:30 PM and everything was closed and starting to get dark. We barely found someone who could give us our hotel key and another place where we could buy a microwave dinner and breakfast snacks!




















The next morning we got up early and hiked to Havasu Falls.















Further down is Mooney Falls. To get to the bottom requires careful negotiation on slippery ladders and use of chains.

Whitmore Wash and Kanab Point (Oct 2003)

I car camped out on the Arizona Strip at Whitmore Wash, hiked to the river and back (only 1000' vertical), then drove out to Kanab Point the next morning.




Incredible view of the river from Kanab Point in the Grand Canyon.
















From my truck camp spot, I was able to look down river from Whitmore Point.














At the bottom of the 1 mile trail, pictographs grace the cliffs just up from the river.

Family Trip out to Monument Valley (Oct 2003)

For UEA we drove the kids out to Southeastern Utah to camp in the camper and see some of Monument Valley.




Our camp spot was on the edge of a 2000' cliff. This was our view from where we slept.
















I hiked around. See the camper at the top?










The loneliest road to nowhere!

R2R2R (Sep 2003)

A photo from my first Rim to Rim to Rim with Mike Walker. This was taken about an hour after the start on the second day along the South Kaibab Rim.

Zion Subway descent (Sep 2003)

Call us crazy. We took the kids and some friends down the Subway on Fall Equinox in 2003. Sasha was only 6.5 years old! Jan and Chase had never hiked anything remotely this difficult. There was lots of swimming, crawling on ledges to bypass cold pools, downclimbs, and short rappels. We all made the 9 miles in about 9 hours



The group at the top of the slickrock descent.

















Brooke excited to be there.

















Kids by the famous leaning log.

















Smiles once we're past the difficult downclimbs and pools. Now only 4 miles of rock hopping and a 600' cliff to ascend at the end.

Angels Landing (June 2003)

John and Janet came and stayed with us in June. We drove to Zion one evening, rode the shuttle up the canyon, and did a quick hike up Angels Landing just as the sun was setting.

Antelope Canyon and Grand Gulch (April 2003)

In Spring 2003 I took a road trip east to visit Grand Gulch and Antelope Canyons for hiking and photographic opportunities.


Big Man pictographs are seven feet tall, and found in Kane Gulch.















Todie Canyon ruins and granaries.

















I believe these ruins are found in Arch Canyon.











The filtered light coming down through the slot canyon walls makes the rock neon and surreal.

















Yin Yang. Is the left or right side in front?

Monument Valley and Arches (Oct 2002)

Our UEA camping trip to Southeastern Utah.




The Mittens.





































Famous Delicate Arch.

Subway up and back with family (Sep 2002)

Fall equinox in 2002, we hiked up to the Subway and back. Sasha was only 5.5 years old, and she hiked the entire 9 miles!




Posing on a cascade.












Sasha showing off her wink.










We were able to upclimb the difficult slope to gain access to the Subway tunnel and the famous leaning log.

Adventure of getting Cleo, the new puppy (Sep 2002)

Sasha, Brooke, and Stephanie's first meeting of Cleo.

Big Island hike to lava flow (July 2002)

When the family went to Hawaii, we spent a few days on the Big Island. One day we drove to Volcano National Park. The road was closed due to a new lava flow. They let us hike in. The closer we got, the hotter the air got. It felt like 150 degrees and was difficult to breathe. When we got up close to the lava flow, it was oozing and slowly moving towards the sea. This picture shows some red hot spots and small fire burning the brush.



















Compare that to this tropical, lush waterfall!

Various Hikes with Mike Burkley (2002)

Various photos of hikes around the area with Mike Burkley during 2002 and maybe from some other years.









Willis Creek
























Bull Valley Gorge

















Top of Red Mtn

















Upper Pine Creek
















West Rim backpack in Zion



















SB Point in Grand Canyon



















Hellhole during rainstorm























Mike with Cinnamon in Hellhole


















Cascades in Coyote Gulch


















Me next to waterfall in Coyote Gulch


















Steven Arch, Escalante River




















Jacob Hamblin Arch



















Navajo Mountain

Paria (April 2002)

I spent a couple of nights car camping in the Paria River area. I hiked up to the top of this red colored sandstone peak, as well as up and down the river a ways.

Sky Cloudster aka Mike Graves flying adventures (2001)

Mike Graves lived down the street from me for a couple of years, and was good to take me in his Cessna 180 out into the backcountry to do some adventurous flying, camping, and hiking. He is and was a great friend and guy.


Mike always took along gourment food like lamb chops and other healthy chow. Here is our camp at Boulder, Utah dirt airstrip. We biked and hiked to Upper Calf Creek Falls.









I am at the end of this dirt strip. Look how short it is! We had to land and takeoff above and around these cliffs near Mexican Hat Mountain in the San Rafael Swell.











A hike into the Lower Black Box.













These cliffs are appropriately called the 'little grand canyon'.










Mike and his friend Jim and I flew to Moab and mountain biked the famous slickrock trail.