The 2010 BVE Adventure

Transcription

1 The Best Vacationers Ever The 2010 BVE Adventure Utah Bryce/Zion Cruise Directors - Brenda and Connie Sheep - Peggy, Julie, Lisa L, Jill and Sue MIA Lisa R. Page - 1

2 Bryce Canyon is a paradise of odd shaped rock towers, fins and windows. These twisted rocks are called hoodoos. The hoodoos crowd together to form the massive showcase that makes up Bryce Canyon. One place among the collection of National Parks and National Monuments shines above all the others. Zion National Park, in Utah, portrays the type of beauty that stops us in our tracks, gaping in awe. Nature's extreme forces and the violence of mother nature have created perfection in the heart of Utah's Color Country. Years of raging storms pitting ice, water and snow against rock have produced wondrous creations protected by the National Park Service and kept pristine for all the world to enjoy. Zion National Park is the glory of Utah! A. Bryce Canyon B. Zion C. Duck Creek Page - 2

3 Daily Itinerary Date Day s Activity Points of Interest Friday/Saturday Sept 10-11, 2010 Sunday Sept 12, 2010 Monday Sept 13, 2010 Tuesday Sept 14, 2010 Wednesday Sept 15, 2010 Thursday Sept 16, 2010 Friday Sept 17, 2010 Saturday Sept 18, 2010 Friday - Travel to Des Moines o Stay at The Villa Saturday - Arrive at airport o Fly to Vegas, drive to Duck Creek. Utah 200 miles, approx 3 hours. o Purchase booze in Mesquite. Groceries in Cedar City. o Have a beverage to celebrate the trip. Explore Bryce o Explore the park, short hikes o Picnic Lunch o Have beverage to celebrate the days events Explore Zion o Explore the park, short hikes o Picnic Lunch o Have beverage to celebrate the day s events o Return to Zion o Angels Landing Hike o Optional easier hikes is needed. o On the wagon day no beverages Rent ATVs o Tear up the trails in Duck Creek! o Jump creeks and stumps o Race each other o Have beverages to celebrate the day s events Return to Bryce o Fairy Loop Trail o Optional easier hikes if needed. o Have beverage to celebrate the day s events Drive to Las Vegas o Gamble o Sit Around the Pool o Walk the Strip o Maybe check out a show o Relax o Have lots of beverages to cheer us up. Flight back to Iowa o Return Rental Car o Fly back to Iowa o Drive back home Page - 3 Utah's wide open spaces offer a patchwork of scenic, recreational and historic sites. The state offers five National Parks, seven National Monuments, two National Recreation Areas, a National Historic Site and six National Forests Bryce Canyon is filled with miracles of nature that have the honor of names such as Queen's Court and the Great Cathedral and is surrounded by a wonderful forest Spectacular" is uttered time and time again as eyes are raised to view the vast monoliths of the best of Utah's National Parks.. Traverses a narrow fin above Zion Canyon. PINEWOODS RESORT, ATV / SNOWMOBILE RENTALS Duck Creek Village, Utah ATV Snowmobile Rentals & Tours Toll Free (800) The trail leads to Campbell Canyons and the area around Boat Mesa. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas Excalibur 3850 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas, NV (702) Our flight leaves at 9:18AM

4 Lodging- Elegant, Private Family Home Location: Duck Creek Village, Utah, USA Accommodations: 4 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths (Sleeps 9-10) It has a gourmet kitchen with granite counter tops and a wine refrigerator. Fire pit and horse shoe pit in the back yard. Friday night motel in Vegas Excalibur Local/Park/State Websites Duck Creek Website: Bryce Canyon Websites: Zion National Park Website: Feel free to print out any information that is of interest to you for other options during the week. Page - 4

5 List of some things you may want to bring GPS Laptop Camera compass flashlight first aid kit binoculars comfortable shorts and long pants for hiking rain gear Chick Flicks clothes for degrees, hiking boots or shoes another pair of walking shoes sunscreen backpack hat cash books/magazines to read snacks to eat on the plane Page - 5

6 Trip Tips We will be renting 2 cars for our travels. As usual trunk space will be at a premium so please limit yourself to a medium sized suitcase and a carry-on. We have a washer and dryer in the house, so you will be able to do laundry, if necessary. Peggy has agreed to do everyone s laundry so you might as well take advantage of her offer and plan to pack a little lighter. Prepare for cold and warm weather. Pack jeans and sweat shirts as well as shorts and t- shirts. Also recommended is rain gear as rain is possible during any given week. Depending on the day s activities, we ll probably cook breakfast and evening meals. We will be purchasing groceries before we arrive at Duck Creek, so spend some time to think of some evening meals and what you like for breakfast. Sue will be bringing some of her delicious Tastefully Simple items Um Um. We will probably spend most evenings at the house, toasting the days adventures on the veranda, sitting by the camp fire, playing horseshoes. There is a humungo TV, 73, so if you have any chick flicks you have not had the time to watch; bring em along. There may be some things to do locally; visit the local ice cream shop, walk the trails, etc. Several tougher hikes are planned. With two vehicles, you can choose another activity if you d like, such as an easier hike or even enjoy the day at the house Be sure to bring a backpack or fanny pack to carry water and snacks for the hikes. Other good items to pack for hiking include: poncho (rain gear), first aid kit, kleenex, hand sanitizer. Back by popular demand will be some sort of water activity. Yes, yes..everyone is required to shower or bathe daily. Page - 6

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8 Rim Trail - 11 mile round trip The Rim Trail is an easy and well-traveled hike. It traverses the rim, from Fairyland Point to Bryce Point, connecting all the scenic overlooks for these two points. The section between Sunrise and Sunset Points is where baby strollers and wheelchairs can be used. The rim reveals a beautiful view of Bryce's Hoodoo's from above. Upper Inspiration Point -.6 mile round trip A wonderful view point showing off numerous, symmetric rows of hoodoos Mossy Trail - 1 mile round trip The Mossy Trail is an easy hike without significant elevation change. The entire mile-long round trip is different from the rest of Bryce Canyon National Park. To locate the trail, drive past the Bryce Canyon entrance and keep going north until you see a small trailhead sign to your right. This is a nice stream-side walk to a small waterfall and a small mossy overhang or cave. The Mossy Cave Trail is a wonderful hike to take kids or to find solitude away from the main amphitheater. Bristlecone Pine Trail - 1 mile round trip This hike is a fun one for kids who are often delighted to find out just what is the oldest living thing on the earth. Navajo / Peekaboo Combo mile round trip This hike is a good choice if you are short on time and will only be able to hike one trail. The path combines Navajo and Peekaboo and begins at Sunset Point. Many of the hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park begin around the large loop encircling the main amphitheater. Navajo / Queens Combo mile round trip Combine Navajo Loop and the Queen's Garden, taking the Rim Trail back to where the hike began. Begin at Sunset or Sunrise Point. Queens Garden Trail mile round trip. This is a short trail and although there is a climb, it is considered to be the least difficult trail leading below the rim. Begin at Sunrise Point and descend below the canyon rim, but keep in mind that the uphill climb is a steep one. Know your limits. The trail does not loop, but there is the option to combine with Navajo loop. Navajo Loop Trail mile round trip A moderately difficult loop from the rim at Sunset Point descending immediately downward into a series of switchbacks. The descent drops 520' in less than a mile. At the end of the switchbacks, the limestone slot canyon section begins. Walls close in tight with only a narrow walkway in some sections of the trail. In the midst of Wall Street, two towering Douglas Firs are thriving. The lower limbs of the tree are void of leaves due to the lack of sunlight, but the top of the tree is heavy in foliage. The trail continues for a short distance past Wall Street. You have Page - 8

9 the choice to return back the way you came and climb up the switchbacks or to choose a connecting hike. Hat Shop Trail mile round trip This trail has a steep return, but the views of the "hat" capped hoodoos are worth it. This trail is less traveled in Bryce, but it's very beautiful. Peekaboo Trail mile round trip This is a steep trail that is shared with horses. Begin the trail at Bryce Point. Tower Bridge Trail mile round trip Tower Bridge is a short spur off the Fairyland Loop Trail. The Chinese Wall is visible from this hike. Fairy Loop mile round trip Begin this strenuous hike at Fairyland Point or north of Sunrise Point. The trail leads to Campbell Canyons and the area around Boat Mesa. View along FairyLoop Trail Page - 9

10 Zion Narrows - This well traveled route through the North Fork of the Virgin River is as incredible as the East Fork and much easer to visit. Almost anyone can do at least a portion of the Zion Narrows by hiking the Riverside Walk Trail and dropping into the river. Short exploration is permitted from there without a permit. For a full dose of the Zion Narrows, Page - 10

11 obtain a permit and head to East Zion to begin the trail. The full Narrows hike is a rushed one day trip or a relaxed two day backpack. Angels Landing - This busy trail is one you will not want to miss. Begin the trail in Zion Canyon and hike up the West Rim Trail to find the half mile Angels Landing Trail that traverses a narrow fin above Zion Canyon. If you want more, return from the half mile fin from Angels Landing and continue up the West Rim Trail. This makes a nice two day backpack. East Rim - This beaten path can be done as a long 10 mile day hike or it can include Echo Canyon, Deertrap Mountain, Cable Mountain or Observation Point and Hidden Canyon. The East Rim can be done as a one-way trail with no backtracking. Observation Point - The Observation Point and the East Rim Trails share a good section of the path with each other. The Observation Point Trail is a busy one that begins in Zion Canyon. The less traveled East Rim Trail begins at the east side of the park and ends in Zion Canyon. Best Easy Trails in Zion National Park Weeping Rock - This short hike packs a lot of scenery into a short walk. This is probably the most traveled trail in the park. Lower Emerald Pool - Make sure to take the Lower Emerald Pools Trail and not bypass it by going up the trail to the Middle Emerald Pool. The middle pool and upper pool can be accessed once at the Lower Emerald Pool. This trail is probably traveled more than any other trail in the park other than the Weeping Rock Trail. Riverside Walk - This nice paved trail allows you to get your feet wet in the Zion Narrows and to get a sneak peak of one of the best trails in the USA and the best trail in the National Park System! This trail is in the top three most traveled trails in Zion. Canyon Overlook - This fun hike begins at the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel and climbs to an impressive view of the Zion Switchbacks and lower Zion Canyon. The beauty is that it is a high altitude view (due to the higher elevation on the east side of the park) without the work of hiking to the top of Observation Point or Angels Landing. Best Easy Remote Trails in Zion Two Pines Arch - A short hike to an arch in Zion that few visitors ever get to see. Many Pools - If it's been raining and the potholes are filled with water it makes this route all the better. Shelf Canyon - This is a great little slot canyon located on the east side of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Page - 11

12 Pine Creek Waterfall - A short hike with a bit of scrambling takes hikers to a refreshing pool and beautiful waterfall. Hidden Gardens - A fun little slot down in Clear Creek. Clear Creek - This section of Clear Creek is near the tunnel so you hear a lot of road noise, but it's still a beautiful and easier part of the park to explore. Gifford Canyon - This hike is a little longer, but it's away from the crowds and after getting into the wash it's a nice stroll. Best View Points in Zion National Park Progeny Peak - This route lies in the center of Zion's slick rock circle. It goes past a charming arch, Two Pines Arch, and then up to Progeny Peak. The view is magnificent from the mountain. This is an unmaintained route rather than a trail is is off the beaten path. Lady Mountain - This unmaintained route cannot be beat, but there needs to be at least one rock climber in the group. The 360 view is a showstopper! Observation Point - This well traveled trail begins at the Weeping Rock parking lot in Zion Canyon and leads to one of the best views of Zion Canyon. Angels Landing - The Angels Landing Trail is one of the most outstanding trails in the US and other than the Zion Narrows it is the best in the National Park System. The trail begins at the Grotto parking lot in Zion Canyon and ends at a spectacular view of Zion canyon. Canyon Overlook - This beauty of a trail begins on the east side of the Zion Mt. Carmel Tunnel and boasts a great view of lower Zion Canyon. Deertrap Mountain - This trail begins at the first turn-off from the east entrance of the park and ends high atop a mesa with a grand view of Zion Canyon below. Cable Mountain - The trail begins at the first turn-off from the east entrance of the park and leads to a wonderful view of Zion Canyon. Page - 12

13 View along Weeping Rock Trail Page - 13