Dream of the Desert

[Let'sgoflying!]

I have a fascination with the desert SW, last trip to Utah included Canyonlands and Arches (Moab).
Right now we are in the Bryce/Escalante area for a Viking fly-in. Spent the day driving and hiking Kodachrome and Lower Calf Creek falls in The Grand Staircase (Escalante)
It is soooo cool here! Y'all must visit someday. Sky, rocks, creeks, wildlife is outta this world.
Batt low, at cafe in town, will try to append some pics. My photo skills don't do it justice.

 

[Everskyward]

That brings back memories. I spent three weeks backpacking in that area a long time ago (1983?).

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Those are beautiful, Dave. The only thing better than hiking down in there is seeing it from above, too... (you WILL post some in-flight photos later, right?!)

 

[gprellwitz]

Brings back memories. Right after we got the Mercedes SUV, we were both laid off. So we took it to Moab and did a couple of the trails there. I remember driving along on slickrock, looking for the cairns that marked the trail, and having a cowboy come up on an honest-to-goodness horse asking if we'd seen his missing calf.

 

[akite]

Dave, I hope you didnt come to Utah without stopping to see me!

 

[Richard]

And I'm in Page flying over Lake Powell.

 

[alaskaflyer]

Spent five years of my life in that country. Like many places, living there isn't quite the same as visiting, but it cannot be denied that I saw some of the most beautiful sights in the world while I was there.

Of course some of the areas southeast of Marfa aren't bad either

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

Today has been a lot of fun so far too.
Drove Bryce; Its a 45 min trip one way, interspersed with scenic views - pull off, get out, walk the edge of a 1000' bluff.
Amazing views. The sky was alive with action too.
At the end of the park, it started to look dark to the north, the clouds were getting lower and angry looking, so we decided to head back.
A snowstorm came up as we headed back and over 10 mins we watched the dash thermometer drop from 55 to 34F, and we saw hail, rain and snow. Then we were out of it at the park exit and the wet roads were steaming so much it was like a local ground fog!

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Wow, great pictures and a nice-looking couple, too! Quite a temp drop, you saw SNOW today?! Cool.

Tornado warnings/watches up here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area on up into Arkansas and SE Oklahoma.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

Dave,

Excellent! That area (And the surrounding couple of hundred nm) has some of the most stunning, rugged, beautiful terrain on the planet.

 

[BillTIZ]

Sounds like a great trip Dave!! We are about 200 miles south of you, soaring in weak wave and ridge lift with Booming thermals!!! Got up to about 80F today, warmer tomorrow and 99 by next Friday!!

 

[Gary]

Great trip, the Bryce/Zion area has some of the most striking landscapes I've ever sen. Bryce in particular is just incredible, we had a wonderful time there a few years ago.

Gary

 

[akite]

Nice pics Dave, I guess I may have to head down there for some hiking between glider flights.

 

[Ddayle]

Nice place.... as long as I have an airconditioned viewing area. As i remember every time i have been there it was HOT.

 

[Dave Krall CFII]

Today has been a lot of fun so far too.
Drove Bryce; Its a 45 min trip one way, interspersed with scenic views - pull off, get out, walk the edge of a 1000' bluff.
Amazing views. The sky was alive with action too.
At the end of the park, it started to look dark to the north, the clouds were getting lower and angry looking, so we decided to head back.
A snowstorm came up as we headed back and over 10 mins we watched the dash thermometer drop from 55 to 34F, and we saw hail, rain and snow. Then we were out of it at the park exit and the wet roads were steaming so much it was like a local ground fog!

Cool. I saw a PIX at some FBO down there of a plane completing a smoke trailed loop through an arch like the one in your PIX... before photoshop too.