An Unexpected Sandbox...

It was time for our next phase of our adventure,

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve!

I have to tell you, it's a little bizarre to see a big ole' pile of sand next to the Rocky Mountains..

Hello!  In 1999 You became a National Park

It's like God just dumped a bunch of sand at the bottom of the mountains

National Parks have this amazing ability to take my breath away.  I love to just sit and take it in, some times at the expense of hiking around.  The beauty and diversity of the parks are the major reasons I am trying to see all of them.  Great Sand Dunes is no exception and I found out something very important for me....

If I am hiking thru sand, there had better be an ocean near by!  Walking in sand is HARD work!

someone trekking thru the sand, poor soul

look for the dots on the ridges, they are hikers.. crazy souls.

We trekked across what would be the Medano River during the Spring and early Summer and made to the actual Dunes.  Up and down....  Across...  and plop...  It was unseasonable warm the day we visited and the sand was HOT and as I said above, hiking in the sand is not easy....

the trek across the Medano River area... (the dark line in the distance is the other edge)

We pretended we were hiking across the Sahara, because once you were in the dunes, they were all you could see.

Patterns in the Sand

Where in the world are we?  Colorado.....

Where's my ocean?

Ok, here is my nerdy tip for visiting National Parks, take advantage of the Visitor's Center!!!  Watch the movies, attend lectures by Rangers, and ask for advice!  I have never once failed to get information that made my visit better!!!  For the Sand Dunes, I learned about the amazing ecosystem the Dunes are a part of and support....

The Mountains, The Dunes, The River which lead to the Wetlands.
Amazing what Nature can do....

For the active crowd, you can rent sand boards and sleds to play on the dunes with, but I did not have the best shoes for the sand, so I skipped that, but it did look fun....

My final tip, just outside the entrance of the park, there is a gas station/ store/ restaurant.

STOP!!!!  and have a piece of pie.

Trust me....

I would love to go back to Sand Dunes in the spring when the Medano River is running.  It is shallow and from the movie in the Visitor's Center looked like a lot of fun to cool off in after playing in the sand.

Still getting the sand off...

Melissa

The Other Canyon....

You're going where?????

My reply, "The Black Canyon of the Gunnison"....

Huh?

It's a National Park in Colorado, just outside of Montrose.

Trust me when I tell you to go, and maybe this will help.

the view from the first lookout.

It is absolutely STUNNING!!!  and the views just kept getting better....

Before I get into details and pictures about the park, I guess I should tell you about the drive there.

We pulled out of Salt Lake at around 7am and headed south on I-15, then turned onto Highway 6 and continued toward I-70.  Once on 70, we headed east and once I passed the turnoff for Moab, I was in an area I have never been....  I've been to Colorado, just not the section around Grand Junction, which is much larger than I thought, by the way.  In Grand Junction, I picked up Highway 50 (it's the year of driving 50) and headed to Montrose.  5 hours, or so, after leaving SLC, we were in Montrose.  A very pleasant and beautiful drive, plus by leaving early, we had plenty of time to explore the park.

Welcome....

We arrived just after lunch time, so first on the agenda was to find a picnic area and have some lunch. The park is pretty remote and the closest place to eat is probably 20 miles away, so we planned ahead and brought a cooler, and pretty soon had company...

He was quite shy...

Now, it's time to formally introduce you to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison....

It is steeper than the Grand Canyon

There are no trails like at the Grand Canyon to go down

The steep walls of the Black Canyon range from 2700 feet deep to 1700 in others.  There is no other canyon combines the depth, narrowness and sheerness of the Black Canyon.  Only advanced technical rock climbers attempt the walls....  The majority of the trails in the park require a permit and a stern lecture from the Ranger before you hike them.  While we were in the visitor's center, a man was attempting to get a permit for a trail and the conversation went a bit like this...

     Ranger:  "What kind of hiking have you done?"

     Hiker:  "I hiked the Grand Canyon 2 years ago?"

     Ranger:  "Ok, you might have the physical ability to hike the canyon, but do you know have to read a topographical map?  Find obscure trail markers? "

     Hiker:  "I think so...."

    Ranger:  "I think so doesn't cut it around here.  I think you would be better off not going."

   Hiker:  "Wow...this place is intense."

The extreme nature of the park was once again brought into focus when we were having lunch at the North Rim's campground and met a guy (well, his dog first) who was there for training as he was a member of the area's Search and Rescue squad.  He said that they do not do many rescues out of the canyon, due to the fact that the climbers and hikers that attempt the canyon are very, very experienced and therefore, rescues have a tendency to be true accidents, not someone who got in over their heads.

After all of that, why would I tell you to go?  This is why,  the park system, in its infinite wisdom, has 2 overlook roads with about 20 short hikes to view the canyon in a safe and easy way.

The amazing geological lines of the rock looking across to the North Rim

not my shadow, it's the canyon!  cool, huh?

It is a place of silence and birds soaring on the thermals of the Canyon.....

My meditation location...

and the whimsy of Nature...

a sitting camel

nature's own chair

We spent a day and a half there and enjoyed every moment of it.  During the Summer, a rafting adventure down the Gunnison River  would of been a fun adventure, but the season had passed.

Thank you Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park for your silence and beauty.

Melissa

Hello, Colorado!

Colorado is right next door...
not that far away,
but for some reason, I really have not spent a ton of time there.

Thanks to my BucketList, which has visiting all of the National Parks on it, a trip was planned....

to visit 3 out of the 4 in Colorado, and a few other places.

The plan:
    one week with the following places to visit:
                             Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
                             Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
                             Durango and Silverton
                             Mesa Verde National Park
                             4 Corners Monument
                             Hovenweep National Monument

The week before we left, I checked the weather in all of the locations and got very happy temperatures, mid 70's, but by the time I pulled out of SLC (it was another driving trip), the temperatures had risen dramatically.

Record or near record highs were reached at all of the locations we visited.
grrrrr...It was a little warm, ok HOT, but we still had fun.

This is just the introduction,
I will be doing a post for each one of the parks and the other adventures, due to all of the pictures I took on the trip.

However, to start it off, I would like to introduce you to our constant companion in Colorado.

Rabbitbush or Goldenrod, we are still confused....

Hi Colorado...
It was nice getting to know you better.

Melissa

   

12 in 6...

Something hit me the other day, within a 6 hour drive or less, I can be in 12 different National Parks!

How incredibly lucky am I?

National Parks are my favorite places to vacation to.  You have peace and quiet, nature, different ecosystems from where you live, amazing rangers who share information in an entertaining way and so many other benefits.

Why would you go anywhere else?

So, here are the 12, I can get to within 6 hours from Salt Lake City...

the 5 in Utah:  Arches
                        Bryce Canyon
                        Canyonlands
                        Capitol Reef
                        Zion

the 4 in Colorado:  Black Canyon of the Gunnison
                               Great Sand Dunes
                               Mesa Verde
                               Rocky Mountain

Nevada has one:  Great Basin

Idaho/Wyoming/Montana's:  Yellowstone

Wyoming's:    Grand Teton

Ok, and I just google mapped it, as a bonus, in 6 1/2 hours, I can be at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon from my house, so I thought I should mention it.

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know that I created a Bucket List a while ago, and one of the top items is to visit all 59 of the National Parks.  I recently took a trip to Colorado to visit 3 of their parks, and with those visits, I have passed over the half way point!  :)

I really need to get to Alaska and visit its 9 parks, but I am very happy with my number at this point.

The reason of this post is this, as I have been visiting parks in the past year or so, people have been telling me that they have not gone to a park ever!  This just hurts my soul.  For one thing, visiting a park, for the most part, is a relatively cheap vacation, especially if you camp, and another, your tax dollars help support the parks, so take advantage of a wonderful use of your money.

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now,
but leave you with an impassioned plea,
GO VISIT YOUR NATIONAL PARKS!!!!

Just home from another amazing National Park Adventure,
Melissa
                          

Mom....

It's my Mom's birthday today....
and I don't think she is getting any older, she's actually getting younger.

She roller skates, on skates she got for Christmas....
She's always up for anything....
She's willing to try new things...
She got introduced to Sephora and now is an addict like me....
She volunteers...
She knits hats for preemies and cancer patients....
She reads children's books...
She has fun and laughs a lot..

All of this information I've just given you should not give you the impression that she has had a life of ease or without complications, she has dealt with a lot....

But her greatest gift and lesson to me has been this...
Always keep moving forward.

So,
Mom,
I love you more than words....
Thankful for all that you have given me...
Beyond grateful for you always being there...

Happy Birthday!
Love
Melissa

Infinite Love....

On Monday night, while taking pictures of the 'SuperMoon', I was astounded and upset when my camera, which was on a tripod, was knocked over and the parents of the kid who did it said very bluntly and rudely...

"It's your problem, not mine."

It destroyed my lens and camera.

And for a moment, my optimism.........

Why are people so mean?  Why do people not care?  When did it become acceptable to be cruel?

Then, it began....

the kindness,
the words of comfort,
the care.

I realized something very, very important,

what we focus on is what we see.

There is good in the world and in life, and when the random moments where meanness, lack of care, or cruelty come into our lives,

focus on the good...

because it is still there and it will help heal the wounds from those that are not.

Believe in Infinite Love...
Melissa

Sounds of Summer.....

I have decided that I do not like to travel in Summer.....
the crowds, the heat, and the pressure for a perfect summer make it not so much fun, and since my schedule is flexible enough that I can travel in the Fall, Winter, or Spring,  I spend my Summer money on other things.....like concerts.

I  love concerts in the Summer, especially outdoor ones.

Red Butte Gardens is my favorite venue here in Salt Lake City for Summertime concerts.  It is not too big, so no matter where you sit, you've got great seats and the sound is amazing.

In the Spring, when the lineups were announced, I FREAKED out!!!!!  Four of my all time favorite bands/musicians were heading to Red Butte:

Sarah McLaughlin.

The Avett Brothers.

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band.

Chris Isaak.

The irony of it all, I have introduced multiple people to Chris Isaak and they had proceeded to see him live, but I NEVER EVER had, til this Summer.

Red Butte's Amphitheater is general admission, so the earlier you arrive, the better your spot on the lawn.   Since I was aiming to see my fav's this summer, I got there early.....for all of them.

Gates opened at 6:30 pm, I was there by 3:30.....
Dedication is required, people, and a full battery on your phone.

So, without further ado, here is a sampling of my Summer love...

Sarah McLaughlin.
Here's one of her more well know songs, World on Fire

Love, Love, Love her voice......

The Avett Brothers.  A North Carolina group that defies categorization.  Folk, Rock, Country, Bluegrass, and Rockbilly can all be used to describe them.  I got introduced to their music a couple of years ago and have rapidly become a HUGE fan.

This is a beautiful song, don't worry about the title, and just listen...
Murder in the City

This is my current favorite song by the Avett Brothers...
Head Full of Doubt

Next in my Summertime adventure was Lyle Lovett and His Large Band...
His voice just slays me....and this was the first song of his that I ever heard.

Church

Now, I come to the end of my concert series with a confession....
I might be a stalker.
Not a scary one, mind you, but a I LOVE YOU and think you are ABSOLUTELY AMAZING one...
for Chris Isaak.

His voice, his looks, and his personality... drooling.

So here is Somebody's Crying.

and I can't end this without my favorite Chris song..

Life will go on.

If you ever have a chance to see any of the concerts I had the amazing opportunity to see this summer..
GOOOO!!

With my iPod playing my favorites,
Melissa