Here’s a “flip through” of my sketchbook from this summer, post PCT. After I came home from hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, I went to Wyoming to work on Red Rock Ranch, a dude ranch near Jackson, Wyoming and Teton National Park. It was so beautiful, and a great way to escape most of the hottest of Louisiana summer. Best of all, I got to enjoy lots of hiking, see lots of mountains, and hang out with some great folks.
I then traveled to Washington to go backpacking in the North Cascades. Originally my friend Debbie and I planned on going to Glacier National Park, but there were, well, FIVE FIRES in and around the park. It was pretty smokey. So after staying in a hostel right out side the east entrance of the park, we woke up early and high-tailed it to Washington to see the North Cascades. Absolutely gorgeous! Until… the smoke followed us there. We thought we were being pretty sneaky, but there were fires all around Washington too. We backpacked nonetheless, even though we really couldn’t see too much. Still fun, and I was excited to experience Debbie’s first backpacking trip! Because, you know, I’m the expert since I only started backpacking this year too. It was crazy because the trail we chose, unbeknownst to us, included a portion of the PCT. So I ended up on the trail and seeing one of the last available stops before hikers made it to the northern terminus. Stehekin, WA is a tiny town that can only be reached by boat, plane, or foot. Almost all of the hikers we met had to skip the Sierras (due to snow conditions) and portions of Oregon and Washington (due to fires). They were heading up to Canada, and then back down to try and get the rest of the portions they missed.
After Deb left, I ended up meeting friends in Southern Utah. Eddie and Nicole had planned on traveling the beautiful Canadian parks, but again, FIRES. So we met up and explored.
Zion National Park included Angel’s Landing, an incredible hike with about a billion switchback affectionately called “Walter’s Wiggles” after its trail designer, as well as steep areas with chains to hold on to so you don’t slip and fall to your death (maybe not the best hike for someone as clumsy and afraid of heights as I am. But eh, it wasn’t actually that bad).
Bryce Canyon National Park was filled with “hoodoos,” crazy looking rock formations formed by the rock layers there eroding in a certain manner. There were also neat arches and natural bridges. Just a really magical looking place.
In Escalante, Utah we saw the remains of a petrified forest, with ancient tree trunks turned into rock of every color of the rainbow. We also did a backpacking trip down the Escalate river in which we walked most of the way in the river, while towering canyons rose up on either side of us. A quick stop in Telluride, Colorado and Santa Fe, New Mexico concluded my trip before heading home. I didn’t do the BEST job of keeping a sketchbook, but here’s what I do have!
Here’s a random array of photos from my travels!
And here’s a random array of photos in video form from the ranch, with me and one of my fellow ranch hands singing Shenandoah.
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