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**jakeWI** · 06-02-2010, 09:23 PM

Well I got back from my trip about a week and a half early. The trip itself was great. My write up is kind of half a** because I became sick early on but I'll do my best haha. I will probably be doing single days at a time because I jumped right into working again at home. Sorry I didn't get a chance to meet you in Denver Mark (mcatald). The route took my I-76 instead of I-70 which took me away from Denver. Someday, and someday when I have my jeep

**jakeWI** · 06-02-2010, 09:39 PM

My girlfriend and I left around 6:30 am on March 17, 2010. It was a gloomy drive until we reached central Nebraska. We ended up driving from South Eastern Wisconsin to Colorado Springs, Colorado. So basically we drove from about 1050 miles just to get it out of the way which ended up 16 1/2 hours including stops. We were going stop in Nebraska but it was early in the day still so we trucked on. We ended up sleeping in the Ford Explorer in a Super Walmart parking lot.

Our first stop in the morning is going to be Garden of the Gods.

P.S-Nebraska is not as boring of a drive as North Dakota.

**jakeWI** · 06-02-2010, 09:59 PM

Well we woke up early this morning. It was a chilly night. Once we woke up we got situated and then headed to Garden of the Gods. We ended up getting there around 5:30 Mountain time. The place was packed full of early morning runners.

After we walked around there for a bit, we headed to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. It was still looking gloomy and I was hoping it would lift. We set up camp at site 4 in loop 1. It was a great looking site with a good view of the dunes. Once we arrived we soon found out the dunes are 30 square miles in whole.

Our goal was to head up to the very top of the dunes. Our first attempt was halted by rain/snow and thunder. It cleared up and we made a second go at it. The hike is a bigger PITA then it looks. Loose sand, steep hills and we were fighting a strong discouraging wind that followed the mini storm. After several thoughts of turning around we made it, FINALLY!!! It was a beautiful view. Took about 2-3 hours of fighting the wind and sand to make it to the top and about 45 minutes down! I like down much better.

Afterwards we made diner and went to bed, Extremely tired!

Proof! Doesnt do it justice.

Then before bed

**jfxj67** · 06-03-2010, 02:04 PM

AWESOME pics so far, hope you feel better soon!!!

a single tree in the middle of the desert in the middle of the mountains, now that's just weird.

Waiting patiently...

**WJCraig** · 06-03-2010, 06:50 PM

Does that qualify as a "Tree"?

Cool pics!

**jakeWI** · 06-03-2010, 07:09 PM

Thanks guys haha. The "tree" was at the very top at the highest point of the dunes. I don't know who carried it up there. It was signed by other people that have went to the top. All I know is that I would never have even attempted to carry that thing up there.

**jakeWI** · 06-03-2010, 07:11 PM

P.S- Im not sick now. I became ill on the trip after the dunes climb which is why I meant to use it as a reason of why my write up might be half ass. haha. I think it may have been a form of elevation sickness.

**jakeWI** · 06-03-2010, 07:23 PM

May 19 2010:
Well today started out terrible. Began waking up at 1 am and every so often after that. Some how I have a stomach flu (now believe it may have been a form of elevation sickness or so). The day was pretty miserable. Angela drove the whole way to Mesa Verde National Park. Camping costs were higher then posted on their website, or at least when I was doing research. Good thing they have showers and they are FREE!

I was slowly feeling better so we drove to the visitor center and farview cafe and giftshop. I needed to eat something so I bought a cup of soup.

We then visited Park Way overlook which is the highest point in the park. Then off to Spruce Tree cliff dwellings. The dwelling are truly impressive to say the least. Many of them date to around 1500 years ago with modifications over time. There is a petrograph trail there as well. Hoping to save it for tomorrow.

On our way back to Moorfield campground (site 58) we stopped at farview ruins and Farview tower.

Hope I feel better tomorrow.

**jakeWI** · 06-03-2010, 07:35 PM

Well I feel a little better today. Probably around 90%. Woke up early today and went and checked out the Mesa Loop. It was interested to see the Pit house's. Afterwards, Angela and I went to see the Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwellings in North America and they were just amazing. Then we saw the Balcony house which is not as fun for people who are claustrophobic or afraid of heights, Im both. Also the tunnels crawled through were a tight squeeze, much more then they made it seem. The cliff dwellings are impressive. Some of them would have required a lot of guts to climb up or down using foot holds on the face of a cliff. It is un-believable the amount of work they would have taken and some dating back 1500 years.

Then it was on to the Petrograph hike which is 2.8 miles and fairly strenuous. The elevation kills my breathing. Make sure you drink a lot of water!

Then showered and did laundry today because who knows when we'll get another chance.

**jfxj67** · 06-03-2010, 09:14 PM

It just keeps getting better...

**mcatald** · 06-04-2010, 07:49 PM

It must have been a bad twinkie, oh wait they have the half life of uranium. Could have been the altitude it does take some getting used to.

Awesome stuff by the way. I look forward to more!

**jakeWI** · 06-04-2010, 10:16 PM

Today we drove through the desert to the Grand Canyon. On the way we planned on stopping at the Four Corners Monument, but only to find out it was closed due to construction/renovation. When we got there we found out the only camping left on the South Rim was at Desert View campground. We found site #10 to be our home for the night. After setting up camp we took off site seeing. I have been to the Grand Canyon before but Angela has not. First stop was the tower since it is basically across the way. Afterwards we stopped at the Visitor Center, Market Place, Kolb Studio and then Hermits Rest. The architecture by Mary Jane Colter (One of the main architect of the old buildings of the GC) was really great. It flows with the landscape well.
The west end of the park seemed overcrowded already and it was early in the season. That end also hosts the large Mathers campground and lodges. The commotion was slightly irritating. We are going to head to Zion Tomorrow because I don't know if I am up for the 2 day hike to the bottom of the canyon and up. The desert, sand, sun, and heat are getting to me.

BLAME CALI for hazy views. What don't they do. Steal water from Colorado and ruin the views of the Grand Canyon in AZ. jerks.

**jfxj67** · 06-06-2010, 11:18 PM

Hope you had a great weekend...

Don't leave us hangin', Bro!

**jakeWI** · 06-07-2010, 05:21 PM

haha sorry. i will try and get more up tonight. I was away from my computer most of the weekend.

**jakeWI** · 06-07-2010, 10:33 PM

Today we were off towards Zion National Park in Utah from the Grand Canyon. Much of the way we drove a scenic route which was AZ 89A. The drive itself was beautiful and was worth any possible longer time it took to get to out next destination. The drive got even better once we reached the Kaibab Natonal Forest up around the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. There were trees/pines and it was great. We stopped at Jacob's Lake for breakfast which was a touristy area but still nice. Then finally reached Zion National Park earlier in the day around 10 am maybe. Found out all the camping was full and so was every campground, hotel and motel within 30 miles of the park. We were pretty upset because with no place to stay it really cut into the things we could accomplish during our visit. The city/town on the southside of the park, I think it was called Springdale was a busy yuppie town. Don't get me wrong, it was a nice town but it was def. a vacation area. We decided that with the money we saved by not being able to camp there we would use and go on a mule/horse ride through Zion National Park. We did a few of the hikes such as the Emerald Pools. We wanted to go up part of the way of Angel's Landing but didn't have the time. I know I wouldn't be able to do the whole thing, wouldn't even try because it wouldn't have been safe with my fear of heights.

After all of that we decided we would head to Bryce Canyon National Park in hopes to find somewhere to stay. Once we got there, which it was late we found out that there was no camping there either. One cool thing was that I saw a Ford Conversion Earthroamer, looked pretty sweet. Best Western built a crazy town/village/hotel right outside the park. In no way would it be full, it was to large. Sure **** it was full. We ended up finding another hotel to stay at for the night which was sure nice to finally shower and sleep in a bed. So that was a nice change.

Zion was a beautiful park. It was much more then I expected. Anyway, heres some pictures from Zion.