Utah Discoveries 3: Hiking to Delicate Arch at Arches National Park

31. December 2014 · Comments Off on Utah Discoveries 3: Hiking to Delicate Arch at Arches National Park · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , , ,
My boys got annoyed in a hurry with my attempts for the perfect Delicate Arch photo. I was doing everything in my power to keep other people out of the shot, which was quite difficult.

My boys got annoyed in a hurry with my attempts for the perfect Delicate Arch photo. I was doing everything in my power to keep other people out of the shot, which was quite difficult.

The ultimate goal in our visit to Moab was a visit to Arches National Park. The geology of the region is incredibly unique, with soft sandstone being unevenly worn away due to wind erosion. The terrain doesn’t even look like it belongs on this earth! Delicate Arch, towering over six-stories high, is the most famous of these arches (even appearing on the current Utah license plate, and getting there isn’t easy. More »

Utah Discoveries 2: Camping in Moab

31. December 2014 · 4 comments · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , ,
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There’s a creek right behind the tents on the “lower level” of our tent site. Luckily, we didn’t have any heavy rains.

We elected to camp in Moab, which might not have been the best idea. We didn’t think about Moab being at a lower elevation than the previous places we visited (Durango and the Grand Canyon), it being the month of July, or the noise we’d experience in a state that allows all sorts of personal use fireworks. More »

Utah Discoveries 1: Driving through Monument Valley

31. December 2014 · Comments Off on Utah Discoveries 1: Driving through Monument Valley · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , ,
This is a VERY famous view. Read on about Monument Valley.

This is a VERY famous view. Read on about Monument Valley.

After leaving the Grand Canyon on the morning of July 4th, we set forth on an approximately 8-hour drive to Moab, Utah. We chose the route that took us through Monument Valley, which is just north of the Utah/Arizona border near U.S. Highway 163. The drive is gorgeous, taking us through numerous ecosystems and significant terrain changes. More »

Grand Canyon: Our Junior Ranger

31. December 2014 · Comments Off on Grand Canyon: Our Junior Ranger · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , , ,
Timmy performed all the tasks to earn Junior Ranger. He then had to pledge to respect nature and the environment before earning his Junior Ranger badge.

Timmy performed all the tasks to earn Junior Ranger. He then had to pledge to respect nature and the environment before earning his Junior Ranger badge. We did this on our way out of the park on our last day.

Timmy earned his first National Park Service Junior Ranger badge while we were at the Grand Canyon. He was required to complete several age-appropriate activities in a workbook (which includes things like taking observations, coloring pictures, answering questions, and writing a poem about the park), attend an age-appropriate Ranger-led program, and then take a pledge to be respectful and protect the things the National Park Service finds important: nature, the environment, and animal life. More »

Grand Canyon: Stunning Sunset

31. December 2014 · Comments Off on Grand Canyon: Stunning Sunset · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , ,
Nothing like it in the world...everybody needs to see the beauty of a Grand Canyon sunset.

Nothing like it in the world…everybody needs to see the beauty of a Grand Canyon sunset.

I am resuming my summer travels writing…although we’re now nearly 6 months departed from this trip. I need need need to get these memories written down so I don’t forget everything.

I have a couple weeks until my next block of work begins at the Air Force Academy, so I figured I’d use this time to continue catching up. I had arranged my photo albums based on my blog posts, so it’s a little less chaotic than it might have been with a huge clump of photos.

This post is about the stunning Grand Canyon sunset. There are two things every visitor needs to do: hike down below the rim and see a sunset. The amazing colors in the geology and sky are worth the effort. Take a good camera, you’ll want to have fun with the settings to try to capture the colors. More »

Colorado Discoveries 43: Ski Copper (Not Cooper)

21. December 2014 · Comments Off on Colorado Discoveries 43: Ski Copper (Not Cooper) · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , ,
My boys on the ski lift!

My boys on the ski lift!

Earlier this month our family took advantage of a local Boy Scouting promotion called “Scout Family Day” at Copper Mountain Resort. A day lift ticket, breakfast, and lunch all for $32 per person!

I had to clarify that this is “Copper” and not “Cooper” because I wrote about Ski Cooper last season. Ironically, the two resorts are very close to each other. More »

The Boys’ School Portraits

05. December 2014 · Comments Off on The Boys’ School Portraits · Categories: Uncategorized

I’ve had these for a couple months, sorry it took so long to post these. Enjoy!

 

2014 10 03 Jacob School Portrait 2014 10 03 Timmy School Portrait