Working and experiencing Bryce Canyon and The Great Staircase, Utah

[westcoastas]

Hi Maggie! To be clear, we haven't "backpacked" yet...just truck camping so far. We have backpacked a total of 150 feet at one campground from the truck to the picnic table, with an elevation drop of about 12 feet.

Baby steps for us.

[Lily&Me]

Still, you’re in a tent, and I’m very impressed!

Maggie

[Utah Man]

Great photos!!

[PamsCruiser]

Great photos, thanks for sharing. I love Utah, it is so beautiful. A new discovery around every corner. Hell's Backbone is cool. Wish we had driven the entire HWY 12 to Capital Reef but had competing interests. I look forward to going back for more exploring. Utah really captured my heart. Enjoy!

[Hittenstiehl]

Twisted, gnarly, burnt tree ghosts one of my favorite pictures to take.

[westcoastas]

I agree, Hittenstiehl. I remember while boondocking in the Sawtooths and just outside Ketchum, I would remark to the locals what a wonderful area they live in and how carefree it must be. More than one said they had one great fear: fire. Later in our visit we came across a patch of burnt out forest. When I took the accompanying photographs, it was a clear blue day but I swear the wind picked up and I thought I heard the moans of the dead trees - it was one of the spookiest sounds I'd ever heard. Who knows?

[steverino]

If ever on the Burr Trail again, there’s a short hike off of Upper Muley Twist to the Strike Valley Overlook. The overlook yields a spectacular view of the Waterpocket Fold.

https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvis...ist-canyon.htm

[westcoastas]

We have a couple weeks left of employment outside Bryce Canyon National Park now before hitting the road again. I've said it many times about living on the road - if you stay in one spot long enough, you can make some lifelong friends. My friend here was a working cowboy since he was a young boy on the Arizona Strip and is a heckuva hunter in southern Utah. We don't agree on certain things politically but we both love sports and trash talking. He took me hiking up to his favorite secret hunting grounds last Fall and this year I finally got to ride one of his horses. I last rode a horse 46 years ago but at some point you just have to get back in the saddle again...even if it's for laughs. For some reason, open country looks even better from atop a horse.

And yes, the Airstream facilitates all my dreams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKptgBWiYz8&t=22s

[Lily&Me]

What a good decision buying your Airstream and hitting the road was, hmm?

You are living the life many only dream of.

Maggie