Two guys and a Jeep

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Day 41 (Last Day)

We're home! After leaving Grand Canyon, we decided to power through and get back to Arlington Heights. We drove over 1300 miles in one day in about 18 hours. Whew! But to be back with our family, friends, and own beds, it was worth it. Looking back now on my trip, this has truly been a life-changing experience. I feel like I know so much more about our country experienced it firsthand. I also have new respect for how amazing nature can be. And most importantly, I got to spend some quality time with my dad before I go off for college. Thank you all for following our blog, it really means a lot to us that there are people we can share our experiences with. And thanks dad for making this trip possible. I have so many memories of it that I will cherish forever.

Max

(By the way, in case any one is wondering I am clean-shaven now!)

Days 39 and 40

These past couple of days we saw two spectacular national parks that really showcase how the forces of nature can sculpt some amazing things. The first was Zion, in Utah. It feels almost like a fortress in the middle of the desert. The park is filled with walls of rock colored with all sorts of earthy red and whitish hues. Overall, the park is pretty arid. Our hike into the canyons was tiring and hot. But then we reached our destination, the Emerald Pools. They are three separate pools of water within the rock walls of Zion. As soon as we reached them, I noticed a sudden shift in the environment. Dust and gravel gave way to flourishing plant life and the occasional chipmunk or squirrel. These oasis-like ponds created a mini ecosystem in the canyon, supporting all sorts of life. It was truly an amazing experience. After taking a break at the ponds, we hiked back down to start making our way to Grand Canyon. I knew that Grand Canyon was the crown jewel of the national park system, but I couldn't comprehend it until

I actually saw it. We made it just at sunset to the north rim. Standing on the edge, looking out into the canyon as far as I could see was truly a profound experience. The colors of the sunset merely added to the grandeur of the canyon. That night we couldn't find a hotel so we had to sleep in the car for the first time. Sure, it was a bit uncomfortable with a seat that can't recline because we stuffed so much into the car. But for me, it was worth being able to walk out and see the most vivid canopy of stars I had ever seen. For once I could actually make out the Milky Way clearly (check out the pictures of it below). In the morning (feeling a bit sore and grungy) we drove to the south rim of the Grand Canyon for some equally spectacular views. The north rim looks in from above, while the south rim allows you to look more into the canyon rather than over it. Both views together really make for a great Grand Canyon experience in my opinion. For the last two national parks of our trip, Zion and Grand Canyon really led us out with a bang.

Goodbye Las Vegas

Hello Arizona!

One of the big rivers that carves Zion

The vegetation around the Emerald Pool

The smallest Emerald Pool

Narrow!

Different views of Zion

Last National Park!

Looking out into the canyon (north rim)

Sunset at Grand Canyon

The beautiful night sky (it looked way better in person!)

Our sleeping spot

Views from the south rim

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Day 38

No Blog post today, just having a day of rest. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...

Day 37

Death Valley is driest place in the USA. It is also the hottest. So imagine our amazement when it not only rains but we find ourselves in the middle of a flash flood! But I'll get to that later. Entering the valley in the morning, we were greeted by a pleasant temperature of 110 degrees. Our first hike was through the Mosaic Canyon, a narrow canyon named for the rocks walls composed of many tiny stones cemented together. Water is vital out here. After Mosaic Canyon, we already went through five water bottles. In the middle of the canyon, we noticed some storm clouds on the horizon and decided we should head back. We didn't think much of it. Next, we saw what I originally thought of as a "desert", the sand dunes. As we walked into them, I just saw endless fields of sand around me. It was amazing to see but it also made me realize how helpless I would be without my car and water. Visiting the nearby remains of an abandoned Borax mine, it was evident how difficult life is out here. The next two places we visited were some of the coolest things I've ever seen- Artist's Palette, and the Devil's Golf Course. Artist's Palette is a rock wall covered in all sorts of different colors because of the different minerals it's composed of. The fact that it recently had rained made the colors all the more vivid. The nearby Devil's Golf Course is an alien-looking landscape covered in rock made of crystallized salt. If you listen carefully, you can hear the sound of the salt expanding and contracting in the heat. On our way out of Death Valley, we saw that the road was completely flooded. Both of us worried that the road would be closed but the traffic official took one look at our Jeep and said "Yeah, you're high enough. You'll be fine". Soon after we saw the best sight of the day, a beautiful rainbow in the desert. How lucky is that! On that note, we're going to be trying our luck tonight staying in Las Vegas.