LooseCrew-JeffO: Last days of Vacation - Days 5 & 6

LooseCrew-JeffO

Ramblings of an adventurous guy living in Denver and playing in the mountains.
For my trail adventures, visit my Trail Bum blog

Monday, March 03, 2008

Last days of Vacation - Days 5 & 6

Paul's and my last couple of days of vacation were spent dodging storms. Once the rain in Death Valley started, basically there was nowhere in the entire West that was "nice". But all things considered, we threaded the needle and lucked out, mostly.
We drove to the northern part of Zion National Park, but didn't have time for more than a very quick drive that made our jaws drop. It was like a miniature, red Yosemite. I do plan to return to the Bryce/Zion area in the next few years.


We slept on some slickrock west of Green River until 3am, which is when it started snowing.
We drove to the Utah/Colorado border and went for a ten mile run on the Kokapelli trail. We ended up on the cliff overlooking the Colorado River. Even this far north and east, it was mighty big and you could hear it from a thousand feet above.
We stood there in the snow, soaking up the view, looking across to the lonely valley on the other side, wondering on how to get there and camp out in the future.

Then we started to hear a sound - kind of like the sound of the river but it kept growing louder. Then the Zephyer roared by on the tracks below and we jumping up and down like a couple of kids waving. They must've looked up from the dining car at all the desolate wilderness and then seeing us a couple of wild trail runners... More coffee, they must be seeing things. Too early in the morning. Maybe they're a couple of modern Kokapelli's doing their morning dance?
Then we drove to Marble, Colorado. Last Fall, Paul won a night for two at the hotel. It was our only night of lodging the whole vacation, and cost us nothing. Wow, what luxuries: running water, hot water, a microwave, refrigerator, sink, two beds, heat. We'd neglected to bring our running snowshoes so we just packed and left early.


3 Comments:

At 6:38 PM, Blogger Talon said...

Isn't Bryce/Zion amazing?! I loved it there! Sounds like a way cool and fun trip!

 
At 10:13 AM, Blogger Meghan said...

Aw man, wow, thanks for sharing the last few days of your adventure.

I once mapped out a 40+ mile trail run in Zion, but haven't gotten around to doing it. Your photo just incited the desire to go and do that run!

Now what? I'm all jazzed for more on your blog! :)

Have a stellar day!
Meghan

 
At 4:53 PM, Blogger JeffO said...

Meghan,
If you don't mind sharing, send me a route of your Zion run.
or post it to your blog - I'm sure some others would be interested.

 

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