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South West US Parks Trip

September - October 2021
From searing desert floors to cool mountain peaks, our South West US Parks Trip covers it all. Hitting the highlights & getting off the beaten track, exploring gulches, rivers & cliff edges, we're exploring God's creation in this part of His world. Read more
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  • South West US Parks Trip
    Day 20

    Day 20 - Mammoth Lakes

    September 30, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 8 °C

    We have been staying in a hotel near Yosemite and the luxury of a pool and hot tub was embraced by us all this morning. It was a hot day and probably the last time the Canadian residents among us will swim outdoors, so we revelled in it. Becky and I had to go get COVID tested before our flight in 2 days time. It was a streamlined, drive-thru process that allowed us to go back and swim again before packing up and heading out. But due to rising numbers on the US, labs are flat out and we doubt these test results will come in time. So an expedited (and pricey) test in Vegas is going to have to happen.

    We explored the little town of Oakhurst, grabbing local sushi for lunch, perusing some stores and finding wicked deals on gently used quality outdoor clothing/gear! We are headed the direction of Death Valley tonight, and not being sure how far we wanted to go we asked the outdoor store guys. They were a wealth of knowledge and told us of some hot springs near Mammoth Lakes (a few hrs north of Death Valley). We were stoked: off the beaten path recommendations are our favourite. Off we drove, delighted and a little shocked when a bobcat sped across the road right in front of us, his pointy ears and bushy tail a rare sight indeed. Becky's defensive driving saved both us and the bobcat. Beautiful, speedy creature.

    Our three hour drive took us back into Yosemite valley and up the other side, through Tuolumne Meadows (stunning, high alpine meadows with yellow waving grass amidst stunted pines). We were above 9000 feet, but tomorrow will take us to below sea level in Death Valley.

    We arrived at our free campsite as the sun was setting and right next to a hot spring! The weather was cool and it took some encouragement (or fomo...) for Cilla to get into her bathers and join Becky, myself and a few other travellers in this tiny pool someone had created. Only about 7 feet across, the ingenious creation was a concrete and stone 'tub' set in a hollow 15 ft from a natural (and very hot, mud and algae-filled) puddle that was the hot spring. A pipe carried stinking hot water (literally - vague rotten eggs from the sulphur in the water!) into the pool. We met some locals, one of whom was a geologist and, always hungry for geeky info, we picked her brains about the formation of the area. Turns out we were in in a valley filled with calderas (large depressions made after a volcano collapses). Volcanic activity causes these hot springs all over the area and we were very much enjoying that fact! The irony of 'warming up' before sleeping on our last day of camping just as we 'cooled down' before sleeping on our first day of camping was not lost on us!

    Over two hours and many shooting stars later we decided to brave the cold and climbed out to dry off and get some sleep. Despite the gear and clothing we had brought with us, we struggled to stay warm. The temperature dropped to -3C and the summer sleeping bags we'd brought weren't holding up. Cilla (in the winter sleeping bag :)) eventually bailed to the car to defrost her frozen toes. Becky managed some sleep after wrapping her toes in all the clothes, while I barely slept a wink all night (thanks also to the polar bear snores!).

    Tomorrow is our last day! Hard to believe its been 21 days, feels like 210 and 2 at the same time.

    - Nomes & Becky    Read more

  • South West US Parks Trip
    112
    Day 21

    Day 21 - Death Valley

    October 1, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    The sunrise over the mountains was beautiful. Steam from the scattered hot springs rose gently into the crisp air. We packed up camp in our usual efficient manner and headed off towards Death Valley, still several hours away. Seems we should call this the Day of Irony, as we are leaving our coldest location to go to the hottest place in the world.

    On that note, Death Valley holds several records: hottest temperature on earth recorded here in 2021 and the deepest point on the North American continent. For us, it's a personal record - Death Valley is the 16th and final official park/recreation area we visited on our 22 day trip. The most any of us have done in a concentrated amount of time.

    Death Valley possesses an otherworldly beauty, but surprised us with the variety of colours and features there were to explore. The park boasts a waterfall, brightly coloured hills and huge stones that mysteriously 'move' ever so slowly across the desert floor, leaving obvious tracks. While we didn't have time to explore all these we did stop by 'Badwater Basin' - the lowest point in the park and North America (and 8th lowest in the world!). The salt left by evaporating water creates a crystallised crust across the dry lake bed. Becky found the deepest indent in sight so she could say she stood at the bottom of America. Cilla scuttled across the searing saltpan to snap stunning shots of the scintillating scene (couldn't resist 😉). We stopped at Artist's Palette and Natural Bridge and drove many miles of beautifully windy road (unless you're a motion-sick prone Nomes, then beautiful and windy don't belong together :)).

    We were staying at Panamint Springs Resort: an old collection of camp sites, scattered motel rooms, a general store and restaurant. Nestled in the valley, this peaceful and quite location was a perfect spot to spend our last night. Cilla cooked up a scrumptious meal with a random assortment of leftovers (kinda wishing there was a recipe!). We finished off the night and celebrated the repacking of our cases with an equally random pancake recipe, cooked under the stars (also delicious).

    Hard to believe it's our last adventuring day, we've packed so much into every day, going home to routine is going to be a big change.

    - NomesThe sunrise over the mountains was beautiful. Steam from the scattered hot springs rose gently into the crisp air. We packed up camp in our usual efficient manner and headed off towards Death Valley, still several hours away. Seems we should call this the Day of Irony, as we are leaving our coldest location to go to the hottest place in the world.

    On that note, Death Valley holds several records: hottest temperature on earth recorded here in 2021 and the deepest point on the North American continent. For us, it's a personal record - Death Valley is the 16th and final official park/recreation area we visited on our 22 day trip. The most any of us have done in a concentrated amount of time.

    Death Valley possesses an otherworldly beauty, but surprised us with the variety of colours and features there were to explore. The park boasts a waterfall, brightly coloured hills and huge stones that mysteriously 'move' ever so slowly across the desert floor, leaving obvious tracks. While we didn't have time to explore all these we did stop by 'Badwater Basin' - the lowest point in the park and North America (and 8th lowest in the world!). The salt left by evaporating water creates a crystallised crust across the dry lake bed. Becky found the deepest indent in sight so she could say she stood at the bottom of America. Cilla scuttled across the searing saltpan to snap stunning shots of the scintillating scene (couldn't resist 😉). We stopped at Artist's Palette and Natural Bridge and drove many miles of beautifully windy road (unless you're a motion-sick prone Nomes, then beautiful and windy don't belong together :)).

    We were staying at Panamint Springs Resort: an old collection of camp sites, scattered motel rooms, a general store and restaurant. Nestled in the valley, this peaceful and quite location was a perfect spot to spend our last night. Cilla cooked up a scrumptious meal with a random assortment of leftovers (kinda wishing there was a recipe!). We finished off the night and celebrated the repacking of our cases with an equally random pancake recipe, cooked under the stars (also delicious).

    Hard to believe it's our last adventuring day, we've packed so much into every day, going home to routine is going to be a big change.

    - Nomes    Read more

  • South West US Parks Trip
    Day 22

    Day 22 - All good things...

    October 2, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    ... Must come to an end. Sigh.

    We've driven 6,300+ km's, 22 parks, walked a combined ~180,000 steps, covered 4 states, climbed countless hills/switchbacks, drunk dozens of litres of water, rafted 1 river and have been blessed with safety and health the entire time. So thankful for it all.

    Cooking breakfast at Panamint Springs, we soaked in one last mountain view before setting out for Las Vegas. With errands to run, our morning and early afternoon was a picture of efficiency until we were able to relax at one of our all time favourite restaurants: Texas de Brazil.

    Becky kindly shouted our meals here and what a treat this was. The salad bar was unbelievable (and I'd come for the lobster bisque alone) but then servers come around with skewers of scrumptious meats, carving pieces straight onto our plates. My favourite (and Cilla's!) was the leg of lamb and Becky's was lamb chops... seeing a theme? Lamb is expensive in Canada and the Aussies miss Mum's Sunday roast so much. As we were belatedly also celebrating my birthday, our server gave me a free dessert and we shared a Key Lime Pie (after the obligatory candles and singing). It was great, but not as good as Mum's! Suffice it to say, we rolled out of the restaurant and think we'll be full till lunch tomorrow!

    We loved our car fridge so much we decided to bring it home! So we stuffed it full, wrapped it in cardboard and bubble wrap and will check it as Becky's luggage. Bring on car camping with no floating food in melted ice baths!

    Cilla's flight left at 8.20 and ours at midnight. We decided to check all our luggage in at once, but belatedly found out we were leaving from different terminals. While we rushed over to check our luggage, Cilla's boarding time was swiftly approaching so Bek kindly volunteered to finish the process while I hurried back to Terminal 1. So thankful for Olaf, but giant airports and parking are never the easiest to negotiate, so by the time I arrived at Cilla's terminal it was 20 minutes till her boarding time. I've never run so hard through an airport, been so stressed (and empty handed) going through security, or been quite so relieved to see a lil chipmunk Cills waiting on the other side. Suffice it to say, our face masks turned into water boarding instruments.

    Cross-border land travel is looking slightly more likely (but we've heard that story a dozen times before). God willing we will see each other again before another year passes (hopefully 10x less than that!).

    Becky and I had a couple hours, so headed to 'The Strip' (a long street lined with brightly illuminated hotels, stores and the inevitable casinos) to see the Belaggio Fountain show. We were delighted when 'Singing in the Rain' came on, with jets of water dancing to the music. There's nothing like a timeless classic in a modern, glitz-filled city. We'd had quite enough after an hour and were quite happy to head back to the airport.

    It's been such a blessing to spend this time together, exploring God's creation, making new memories, reliving old ones and just being. We're so thankful for this opportunity, and what an adventure it's been!    Read more

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