Touring Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Bryce, and Zion National Parks About This Page:

[shazza]

We set off tomorrow for a two week tour of four National Parks. The cast for this trip is me (Sharon) and my husband, Lou. For those of you who followed my Maine Report, you will notice that the traveling dog, Natasha, is missing. She will be staying in Cave Creek, Arizona with our friend Mij.

Lou and I have both been retired for several years and we like to travel. We left our home in Florida on June, and won't be returning until November. I think we will be logging about 12,000 miles in total. Fortunately, Lou likes to drive.

The purpose for this trip is to attend a one week Photo Workshop in Grand Teton and Yellowstone. We have travelled with this group before, starting in 2008. Our first trip was a one week workshop in the Smoky Mountains in the spring.

At this point, I had no real interest in photography. I was there because Lou was the one into photography. However, if I had to get up before sunrise everyday, I might as well take a few snapshots. Picture me with my little Panasonic Lumix point and shoot, and everyone else with their $5,000 cameras talking about "capturing the light" and more nonsense. This experience sparked my interest, and I've been continuing to shoot and learn more over the last 4 years.


Our second trip with the group was a 14 day trip to the Arctic, where most of our time was spent on a 60 passenger ship. Here is a link where you can see a few photos from that trip.

There are no polar bears in Yellowstone, but I do hope we see some wildlife and great scenery. The tour leader for this trip is Len Rue. One of the reasons we chose to do this Grand Teton and Yellowstone trip is because Len was the leader on our Smoky Mountains trip - he is knowledgeable, patient, and an all around nice guy. (Sometimes leaders on photo tours are more interested in taking their own photos - Len isn't one of those. He's always asking if he can help). Lou also did a one week trip with Len to Denali in 2009. Last minute work plans meant I couldn't go, so I decided to retire shortly after that (not exactly, but I did hang it up in 2009 )

There will be only 8 participants in the workshop, plus Len. The way these workshops generally work is Len forces us to get up at 4am or so, to get to a spot he has picked for sunrise photography. Then he'll take us to other areas to spot wildlife and shoot the landscape. We will have a box lunch picnic (we've already faxed in our sandwich choices), and then we'll decide what to do for the afternoon. Often, we'll go back to the hotel in the afternoon, then regroup for early evening sunset photography. Dinners are included in the workshop fee, and it's always fun when 8 people try to agree on where to eat!

We decided to add on a few days at the end of the workshop to see Bryce and Zion. We're looking at these as scouting trips, since we'd like to come back and do all the other National Parks in the area.

So, the stage is set. I'll try to do some live updating as we go throughout the week. There are sure to be lots of photos, but I'll share any other exciting happenings along the way.

I still have to go get a haircut, clean out the car, and re-pack. Right now, I'm loading all my software on the new MacBook Pro I had to get to replace my drunken one, but I'd better get hopping or someone will be giving me a lecture!

Here is our travel schedule, provided by the ultimate planner - Lou.

[lauriep]

The photo safaris sound so great! That polar bear shot is incredible. Hope you have a wonderful trip! I'm really looking forward to hearing about it and seeing the photos.

[CinderAbby]

Count me in to looking forward to this TR as well. I too love the polar bear photo and can't wait to see what beautiful photos you take this time around.

[lfredsbo]

Yeah!!! another photo TR!!!! Can't wait!!!! Although - I am going to miss those great shots of Natasha this time around.......as I am sure you are missing her!!!!

[jimmymac]

Wow! I envy you. Looking for to the TR

[shazza]

Originally Posted by lauriep

The photo safaris sound so great! That polar bear shot is incredible. Hope you have a wonderful trip! I'm really looking forward to hearing about it and seeing the photos.

Thanks Laurie. It should be fun. I'll try to describe how the photo tour logistics work. Traveling with people you don't know can bring all kinds of fun challenges.

Originally Posted by CinderAbby

Count me in to looking forward to this TR as well. I too love the polar bear photo and can't wait to see what beautiful photos you take this time around.

Thanks, Darlene. I'll try my best on the photos.

Originally Posted by lfredsbo

Yeah!!! another photo TR!!!! Can't wait!!!! Although - I am going to miss those great shots of Natasha this time around.......as I am sure you are missing her!!!!

Yeah, we'll miss the pooch. When I left to get my haircut today, she stood and howled at the door - I think she knows something is up with the suitcases packed again.

Originally Posted by jimmymac

Wow! I envy you. Looking for to the TR

Thanks!


Whew. Haircut - check. Car Clean - check (Lou did it ). Packed - Check

Now I just have to get my electronics packed up before bedtime. We plan to leave at 6am, which shouldn't be a problem, since I've been up before 5am every morning.

I did check the weather forecast ... looks okay, although on the cold side for those early mornings as expected:

If you've seen my other reports, you know I'm apt to throw something in that is not at all relevant to the topic. So, here I go again. I was up early and sitting in the backyard with the dog, when I saw a very weird phenomenon in the sky. I took a photo, in case it was the exhaust of an Alien Spaceship.

Turns out it was the contrail from a missile (actually two - since they sent the first one up, then shot it down) from White Sands, New Mexico. It was all over the news here, as it was seen as far away as Palm Springs, CA. I wish I would have taken the shot when I first saw it, as the whole tail was visible.

[lauriep]

Glad you're ready to go! I, too, will miss your furry companion. That shot of the sky really is weird! I'm glad you got the explanation!

Those chilly early mornings will wake you right up! We had temps in the 40's a couple of nights ago.

[Happymommy]

Have a great time. I've never been to Bryce or Zion, but I loved Yellowstone and Grand Tetons! Going there was an amazing experience. Enjoy!

[chezp]

I can't wait to see all the photos you get. That polar bear shot is just amazing.

The forecast looks very nice and, considering we were in Yellowstone just over a year ago - around 9 - 11 September from memory, it's not far off from the temperatures we were seeing, just a little bit cooler. We got some beautiful shots in that weather and I'm sure you will as well.

[Colexis Mom]

Great start!

[shazza]

Originally Posted by lauriep

Glad you're ready to go! I, too, will miss your furry companion. That shot of the sky really is weird! I'm glad you got the explanation!

Those chilly early mornings will wake you right up! We had temps in the 40's a couple of nights ago.

Brrr ... I'm already cold!

Originally Posted by Happymommy

Have a great time. I've never been to Bryce or Zion, but I loved Yellowstone and Grand Tetons! Going there was an amazing experience. Enjoy!

Thank you - I think we will enjoy it.

Originally Posted by chezp

I can't wait to see all the photos you get. That polar bear shot is just amazing.

The forecast looks very nice and, considering we were in Yellowstone just over a year ago - around 9 - 11 September from memory, it's not far off from the temperatures we were seeing, just a little bit cooler. We got some beautiful shots in that weather and I'm sure you will as well.

Cheryl - I've been through your Trip Report a couple of times - hoping ours goes as smoothly and we get as many nice photos.

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Great start!

Thanks!

OK - here's the update on Day One:

We left the house at 6:45 am, after having to unload Natasha from the car for the 5th time. Every time we opened one of the doors, she would hop in. We pulled out while her new best friend, Mij, entertained her.

It was strange driving without the pup, but we did make good time, because Lou drove for four hours straight before the first stop! Even he realizes that's too long, and we must stop at least every couple of hours to stretch.

Our goal today was to reach Fillmore, Utah - which is by the red arrow on the map below:






We did make it - we were checked in to the Best Western Paradise Inn by 4:30 pm (gained an hour, so driving time was about 8 hrs.). This Best Western is fine - has a restaurant, clean beds, free full breakfast, A/C that works, and even a 9 hole golf course. All for $79.

We were both dreading getting into the car for a long drive so soon after our cross country trek. Fortunately, the drive was wonderful - it was so much more scenic than we had anticipated. It's been a long time since either of us had been anywhere on this route. I took over 500 snapshots as we were driving. Sounds impossible probably, but many are duplicates or triplicates of the same thing - as I often snap a few in order to adjust composition or focus. With drive-by photography, it's always a guessing game.

Of the 500, I'll keep about 100. I've picked out some to share with y'all, so here goes.


We headed back to Hwy 17 to Flagstaff. Didn't we just do this (except going the other way)? We are about a half hour into the journey in this shot. You can see the weather is perfect.






We made it to Flagstaff in record time, connected to Interstate 40 for just a few miles, before hitting Hwy 89 North. This is one of the main roads people take to the Grand Canyon Area.






Much of this part of Northern Arizona is the Navajo Indian Reservation, and roadside stands were common:






We were fascinated by the changing landscapes and rock formations. Some looked much like what we'd seen in the Painted Desert, all in varying degrees of "completion." It was a cacophony of geological chaos.










We could see the Grand Canyon to the west of us (as in, see it on our GPS map), and we came to the Little Colorado River - this pic shows the old bridge. The next one shows a view looking towards the Grand Canyon.










Near Gap, Arizona, we saw lots of interesting rock formations, as well as some interesting artwork:






We made it to Page, Arizona where we had lunch at Jack-in-the-Box, after fueling up. That was a first - haven't been there in many years. It was fine. Although we are tiring of fast food lunches. Even if we get a salad, it all seems to taste the same.

I have photos of Page, but I will skip right to the more interesting stuff - We had a nice clear day for views of the Glen Canyon bridge and part of Lake Powell. For completeness, I'm including a pic of the Glen Canyon Dam, courtesy of Wikipedia (sharing is allowed as long as credit is given).





This photo from Wikipedia - all the rest are mine

















We soon crossed the border into Utah, where we continued to see many more geological formations of interest.










This is near the entrance to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
















We came into Kanab, which is the first larger populated area once you leave Page. It has a lot of old time western flair, and entrances to Zion and Bryce are nearby (Zion is closer to Kanab than is Bryce).










There were several sections of road with cliffs like the one below, foreshadowing what we'll be seeing in Bryce Canyon next week.






First time I've ever seen a solar-powered light-up deer warning sign.






We did see many horses and cows today. These shots were taken on Hwy 89, not long before we turned off on Hwy 20.














We turned onto Hwy 20 to go across to Interstate 15. Part of the road is twisty and windy, but it was an easy drive.






Is this bear going the wrong way? Edit: oops, that should be cow. Obviously tired after the drive






We had about 70 miles to go on I15. There was some construction going on, but nothing that stopped us for more than a few moments. The drive on I15 is not as interesting ...

This completes Day 1. Thanks for looking.

[chezp]

I hear you about the drive-by photography - definitely always worth it to get a heap of shots, as you never know how they'll come out. Yours are all beautiful though.

It was so weird seeing your photos of Glen Canyon and Lake Powell, as that's where I'm up to with my scrapbooking from last year's trip, so I did a double take at those ones!

My favourite shot though is the cow, right by the cow sign - love it!

[lauriep]

That was a long day of driving, but what beautiful sights! I'd love to revisit some of the national parks that I saw many years ago. I appreciated the beauty and strangeness of the landscape, but I'm more interested in geology these days and love all those formations, mountains and canyons. Beautiful shots. (So funny and sad about Natasha automatically jumping into the car. Must be strange not having to stop for puppy breaks.)

[dutchdisneyfamily]

I will be following your TR closely! I love your pictures and I'm certainly inti the geological side of things. I love that part of the country and I recognize some places already. I know Yellowstone has some amazing photo opportunities. I look forward to reading more!

[shazza]

Originally Posted by chezp

I hear you about the drive-by photography - definitely always worth it to get a heap of shots, as you never know how they'll come out. Yours are all beautiful though.

It was so weird seeing your photos of Glen Canyon and Lake Powell, as that's where I'm up to with my scrapbooking from last year's trip, so I did a double take at those ones!

My favourite shot though is the cow, right by the cow sign - love it!

That's a coincidence that you are scrapbooking the same area now. And I agree - the cow shot is one of those lucky moments. We just had to laugh, as it was even a black cow, not one of the brown ones.

Originally Posted by lauriep

That was a long day of driving, but what beautiful sights! I'd love to revisit some of the national parks that I saw many years ago. I appreciated the beauty and strangeness of the landscape, but I'm more interested in geology these days and love all those formations, mountains and canyons. Beautiful shots. (So funny and sad about Natasha automatically jumping into the car. Must be strange not having to stop for puppy breaks.)

Thanks, Laurie. I do wish we would have had more time to stop along the way, but you can't do it all. I should have taken a photo of Natasha, as she walked around on top of the suitcases in the back of the car, as in "hey, where's my spot?"

Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily

I will be following your TR closely! I love your pictures and I'm certainly inti the geological side of things. I love that part of the country and I recognize some places already. I know Yellowstone has some amazing photo opportunities. I look forward to reading more!

Thanks! Glad you will be following along.


We are up and getting ready to go again. Today's drive is about 7 hours, not too bad. From previewing Cheryl's report from last year, it probably won't be as scenic as yesterday, but still interesting.

I imagine my daily updates will get less complete as the trip goes on, but I'll try to include at least a short update each day, and follow up at the end as needed.