Zion NP, Bryce Canyon NP in the snow and more

[fgrsk8r1970]

As most of you know I don't have a lot of time anymore to regularly hang out here but that doesn't mean that I am not thinking of you when I travel around and take photos - we all know this pro-board illness LOL.

My dad arrived last Thursday from Germany again for a month long visit with us and as you may remember he has to fly non-stop because he doesn't speak any english and really would get lost trying to connect. There are no non-stop flights from Frankfurt to Phoenix so he usually either flies into LAX or Las Vegas. This time it was Vegas again and we drove in to pick him up. We surprised him by drive back the roundabout way through Utah as he had never been there and I had been wanting to show him Zion National Park and especially Bryce Canyon!

With this cool front coming through again during the one weekend I planned to go to Bryce I was worried the roads would be closed again due to snow as it had happened 2 years ago when I planned to go there with him. Luckily despite the snow that had fallen the day before all roads were clear and dry and we were presented with gorgeous "winter wonderland" views. Here are some of the photos. I hope you'll enjoy

[fgrsk8r1970]

Zion National Park - Utah

[fgrsk8r1970]

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

[tod2]

It is absolutely AWESOME!! I love rocks - small or big. I love looking at the layers of their structure and not being all that well informed, only know that each layer is another monumental occasion that happened all those billions of years ago.

Tell your dad I will chaperon him from Frankfurt anytime he feels the need!

[fgrsk8r1970]

Mar 5, 2014 16:07:18 GMT tod2 said:

It is absolutely AWESOME!! I love rocks - small or big. I love looking at the layers of their structure and not being all that well informed, only know that each layer is another monumental occasion that happened all those billions of years ago.

Tell your dad I will chaperon him from Frankfurt anytime he feels the need!

LOL - Thanks so much Tod!!! I'll let him know

I have been to Zion & Bryce 4 times now in a 25 year span and I am blown away every time I see natures beauty and the intricate designs carved and created along the way!

I am debating if it'll be worth it to drive 7 hours to White Sands NM in 2 weeks..... decisions decisions, but the 4 weeks will be over so quickly I should just do it right???

[htmb]

Oh, Skater, your photos are absolutely brilliant!!!! I have wanted to visit Bryce Canyon ever since my seventh grade teacher showed us slides of his summer trip. I may make it yet, as your photographs certainly provide some real incentive. Thank you for thinking of us while traveling with your dad.

[fgrsk8r1970]

Thank you htmb!!! It is my favorite (even though that's really hard to pick to be honest, but something about Bryce has always put it on the top of my list if someone asks me)

Here are a few more:

[htmb]

You are truly an excellent photographer, skater. Absolutely stunning!!!!

[Deleted]

I love both Zion and Bryce and long to return there one of these days, even more so after seeing these pictures. I am less attracted to the Grand Canyon and have not yet seen Yellowstone, so I am no expert.

[fgrsk8r1970]

Thanks again htmb and Kerouac!

We live only 3 hrs from the Grand Canyon and one thing I would like to do someday is do the hike into the canyon. While I think it is beautiful I also admit that it doesn't grab me like Zion or as I said Bryce Canyon.

I visited Yellowstone in 1994 with my sister and BIL but don't have any of my photos here in the US and honestly I didn't have the best camera then. So the plan for my cowboy and I is to do a road trip later this year to visit as he has never been there and after 20 years I think I am due for a return visit

To round out this short photo report - we drove back through Kanab, Utah which sits right at the border of Utah and Arizona and has been the location for many Western Movies. Since the US-89 is closed right now from Page through Lake Powell we take the U89A back through the Vermillion Cliffs and Marble Canyon which in itself is a gorgeous drive with majestic cliffs alongside the road that are reminiscent of Zion. We have driven this road many times but again it was a first for my dad and we had never stopped at the "Cliff Dwellers" which are big boulders alongside the road people used to use for housing and shelter. So this time we did which was really fun (and quick) and then on the way to Flagstaff I saw that the Volcano Crater just outside of Flagstaff also had snow which for me was worth the small loop through the NM area - and since my cowboy has the Senior Pass we get to go to all of these parks for free now which is an added bonus!

Cliff Dwellers in Marble Canyon:





Volcano Crater outside of Flagstaff:

[fumobici]

Amazing photos! Haven't been to this part of the country in a long, long time. Too long. Magical.

[mossie]

Some absolutely super scenery. I am no geologist, but those rock formations are fabulous. they certainly chart time in a big way.
Is it really true that George Dubya believes the world is only a few thousand years old? Crazy.

[Deleted]

I came back for another look to see the great weather that you had. I know that spectacular blue skies are the norm in that part of the United States, but it doesn't make them any less beautiful.

[Deleted]

Spectacular photos!
I've never been "out there", but, can truly understand the allure.
Thank you ever so much for sharing these with us.
Even more special, how and why you chose to share this experience with your father.
A very moving and meaningful tribute of your thoughtfulness and generosity.

[fgrsk8r1970]

fumobici, mossie, kerouac and casimira - I really appreciate and thank you for your kind words and I am so happy that you are enjoying the photos and hopefully you will be able to visit/revisit this magical spot someday !

[bjd]

It's all the more interesting to see these landscapes with snow on them, contrasting the warm colours of the rocks. It all does look spectacular.

How long does it take to drive through Bryce Canyon?

[lugg]

Wonderful skater ....Such beautiful clarity - makes me imagine the joy of taking a breath whilst enjoying the views .

[fgrsk8r1970]

bjd- It was partially closed due to the snow this time but it is on the smaller side for a National Park. I think you could do it in about 90 min including the view points along the road/loop.... but if you walk a little further into some of the view points (along the rims) it would obviously take more time.

Thanks lugg - yes the air was wonderful however coming from Las Vegas and going up to 8100 feet the cold air & altitude gave me quite the headache this time LOL. All the other times before we had stayed for several days in Kanab which is around 5000 feet so we were way more acclimated to the altitude.

[nycgirl]

I've been away for awhile and I see that I missed some really good reports. Lovely photos.

I'm always glad to see photos of what I think are two of the best National Parks in the country. I've never been there in the winter, so wish I had some snowy Bryce photos like yours. The contrast between those orange and red cliffs and the pure white snow is stunning.

Zion is a particular favorite of mine. My husband recently went and took some lovely photos (without me).

[fgrsk8r1970]

Thank you so much nycgirl We just took my dad back to the airport and then spent a week in LA with my cowboys family so I haven't been on much - and of course now we both caught a cold. That's what you get when you hug to many family and friends I guess

[Deleted]

Well, your father can now take a cold to share with everybody in Germany.

[Simon]

I dream of seeing such things one day.