Well, perhaps not exactly Heaven, but definitely a far cry from Indiana scenery--Utah's red rock district anyway.

As promised, I've returned. No problems (except for a speeding ticket--a future post). I never got sick or injured (although my knee is troubling me). The other volunteers and leaders were great (one exception--and there's always one).

Details (you can skip this if you don't care):
As stated in my previous post, I took 3.5 days to drive to my destination (just north of Moab, UT, in the Colo.R. canyon, next to Arches NP). In the Commanche Grasslands, south of LaJunta CO, I speed-hiked 5.5 miles to some dinosaur tracks, then back (11 mi total), all in 3 hours. I was trying to beat the sunset. I questioned my sanity. Afterall, I'd done this trail once before (4-5 years ago). But, I like the challenge and needed the exercise after 2 days driving.

I did sleep under the stars (OH MY!!), despite the wind. The next day, I drove across southern Colorado, stopping to hike a boring 4 miles in the Alamosa Nat. Wildlife Refuge.
On both hikes, I never saw another hiker! Don't people walk anymore? Am I just crazy? The drive over Wolf Pass in the San Juan Mts. was treacherous--snow and ice covered the highway. I stayed in a motel in Cortez CO.

On Sunday morning, I visited Lowry Ruins (Canyon of the Ancients Nat. Mon.). Again, I was the lone person there, but it was ccccold. A planned drive up to an overlook of the Delores River was stopped short of my goal due to snow in the higher elevations. Best laid plans.

Once in Utah, I checked out several "points of interest"--Wilson Arch and a tourist attraction, Hole in the Rock. I paid (no, wasted) $5 to tour the living quarters of some man and his wife in a blasted out rock wall (50 years ago). Interesting, but hardly worth five bucks for a 12 min tour.

I was the first to arrive at the campsite (2PM), where we were to meet at 4:00. So I put my tent up in a "prime" location, shelterd from the wind--or so I thought. One never avoids the wind out there. And, although most days and nights were pleasant enough, it did blow ferocially one time as a front passed through. One gal "lost" her tent in the wind (She deserved it--the "exception"). Most days were sunny and cool (lower 60s), nights comfy (40s).

Our four work days (M-T-Th-F) were all spent on one trail, called the Negro Bill Trail (to Morning Glory Arch) (named after a black "settler"). We re-routed parts of the 2.5 miles long trail, widened it, and repaired eroded sections with "cribbing" and water bars. It was hard work, but rewarding. This trail gets a lot of hikers (for once!), plus dogs. We had to carry in tools and log posts every day (and our backpacks with gloves, water, and lunch).

On our day off (Wed), I drove to Canyonlands N.P, the "Island in the Sky" section. I tried to visit every site, see every overlook, hike every trail. Although it was impossible to do in one day, I did accomplish much of my goals (hiked over 8 up and down miles). All free, with my Senior "Golden Age Pass". $10 gets me in to any national park or monument for the rest of my life!

We all ate well, although most meals were "heavy", with lots of beans and pasta. Fruits and greens were infrequent. I've had better food on previous trips. We all got along great. This one gal (about 35), however, was "odd man out". She bragged about her photography abilities and her biking expertise, etc., etc. But she was a "slacker" when it came to working or helping out. Her excuse was her "shoulder". She wasn't group-socialable (but could talk your leg off), and simply grated on everyone else's nerves. Thank goodness she quit the trip Wed. night! We think she was "put out" by no one offering to help her re-stake her tent when it blew away. I know I tried to avoid her. The leaders "black listed" her for future W.V. trips!

Upon leaving the campsite, I hiked the Fisher Towers Trail, about 20 miles up the road on the way out. Climbers scaling the shear walls, scenery, the hike itself-all spectacular!
Then I drove to, and through, Colorado National Monument, just south of Grand Junction. Again, I stopped to hike as much as I could, thoroughly exhausting myself by day's end. Another amazing place to visit.

Needless to say, a hot shower in a motel (New Castle, CO) was most welcome. A week of working and hiking, with red sand/dust infiltrating every pore, was washed down the drain. Now I have to do the same to my tent and everything in it. I hightailed it home in two days after that, mostly on the blue highways.

I have some catching up to do, so be patient. I just deleted 204 emails--mostly junk. Back to my real life. Yes!