2nd 2007 Road Trip (Grand Staircase & Lake Powell, Utah)

[boyfester]

Before 2008, I wanted to share photos from our second off-road trip of 2007. I took my son in July (see previous thread) but this time it was my son (8) and my daughter's (5) first big road trip. Mom stayed at home and enjoyed a week off. We drove 9 hours to Escalante, Utah and hooked up with my parents. We did everything from kayaking to hiking to rock jumping to trap shooting to quad riding and finally, lots of 4WDing in Utah.

As an opening shot, I thought I'd throw in a beautiful image of our Pilot in front of a huge arch while driving through Long Canyon along the Burr Trail.

[boyfester]

1st Day - Stopped at local outdoors store in Cedar City, Utah.



Met my parents (white Honda Passport) just outside of Bryce Canyon.

[boyfester]

2nd Day - We drove to a really cool cave in the Grand Staircase National Monument.



I placed my camera along the bottom of the cave floor to capture the ripples in the mud.


We climbed out of the cave and climbed on top of an arch which had a steep enough section that you could slide down.


My daughter and I running up the steep slope so she could slide down again.


Back in town to send a quick a postcard to Mom.

[boyfester]

3rd Day - Driving to Lake Powell (Bullfrog Marina) via the Burr Trail to go kayaking.



Just before the downhill of the Muley Twist dirt road section of Waterpocket Fold (Capitol Reef Natl Park) along the Burr Trail.



My parents got a shot of our Pilot at the bottom of Muley Twist.


Overlooking Lake Powell near Big Thomson Mesa.

This section of the road was supposedly closed. It was no problem for the Pilot and Passport.


This was what the sign said coming from the other direction.

[boyfester]

Heading into Bullfrog Marina.


Kayaking in Lake Powell. The water was soothing with an outside temperature of 100F.


Relaxing while my daughter does all the work.


My daughter and I tipping my son out of his kayak.



After kayaking, we cruised over to Stanton Creek primitive campground area and found another swimming hole.

[boyfester]

As the temperature was too hot for our liking we left for a higher elevation and ended up finding a perfect spot at Burr Trail Switchbacks picnic site (along the same route that we took earlier in the day; at the top of Muley Twist).


We had a killer view and awesome echos from our campsite! We even had a friendly tarantula visit our campsite in the morning.


The next day we stopped at a stream crossing in Long Canyon and found some mud and a snake.

[boyfester]

Our last stop before the end of the Burr Trail and back to Boulder Town was a great overlook.



We rolled back into Escalante, Utah and did some shooting. Mom loved these pics!



My daughter with the remote trigger for the clay pigeon thrower.

[boyfester]

The next day we rolled into town and fed horses and checked out a local vendor's set of water wheels.

[boyfester]

The next day we went to the Devil's Playground. This place was super cool!




Kids climbing around.


Holding me up!

[boyfester]

My mom with two pooped-out kids.



I started climbing around.

[boyfester]

Our last day, we were welcomed to red staircase rocks!


Before heading home, we cruised over to the visitor center.



My daughter crashed out while watching the documentary on Grand Staircase.


As we headed out of Escalante we pulled off on Main Canyon Road off Hwy 12 aka Bear Country.



We got to Tropic where the kids washed the Pilot's nasty windows!

[GreenMachine]

Great pictures, again! Was that a snake in that hole in the rock, and if so, do you know what kind?

You also answered my question on what rock jumping was..

In those last shots I noticed that it was a good thing you had those mud guards. Imagine what it would look like otherwise.

[Kalbo607]

Very nice photos, thanks for sharing!

[boyfester]

Originally posted by GreenMachine
Great pictures, again! Was that a snake in that hole in the rock, and if so, do you know what kind?

You also answered my question on what rock jumping was..

In those last shots I noticed that it was a good thing you had those mud guards. Imagine what it would look like otherwise.

Inside the hole were tons of acorn nuts that a squirrel stored. The sea snake was in the mud section under the bridge. I assume mud guards are a stock item on the EX because the only accessories I have purchased are roof rack cross-members which were not attached at the time of this trip.