This tour was supposed to go to the Grand Canyon. We decided for the southern part and made there a small hike down into the valley. In the end, it was not much, but somehow the air was out due to the American lifestyle. There was just no performance left. For comparison, in the Alps we ran later in one day 1200-1500 m up and! down again. Partially over 2000 m down. The Grand Canyon is only 1000 m deep. In the Alps, some run that in 45 minutes. However, of course, you should not underestimate the solar radiation and the heat.
„2022 USA – V17 – Hiking Grand Canyon“ weiterlesen2022 USA – V16 – Driving to Flagstaff Arizona
We had found this time near Mesa Verde times with 70$ a quite cheap hotel that had not completely disgusting dirty rooms. The furnishings were from the 70s, but at least clean. Our destination today was Flagstaff in Arizona. First, however, we drove to four corners, which, by the way, cost $5 admission per person and then through the desert past Tom Hanks Point, through Monument Valley and then to Flagstaff.
„2022 USA – V16 – Driving to Flagstaff Arizona“ weiterlesen2022 USA – V15 – Mesa Verde National Park
Due to the fact that we could not enter Arches National Park because of overcrowding, we finally drove on to our next destination. On the list was Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. On the journey to Colorado it unfortunately became colder and colder. We had snow and sleet again. We first wanted to spend the night in the park, but then didn’t because of the astronomical prices. Besides, it would have been even colder there. In the park itself it was again partly stormy and partly so cold that we could not stay outside. In the park itself were also again many sights closed but fortunately there were quite few visitors.
„2022 USA – V15 – Mesa Verde National Park“ weiterlesen2022 USA – V14 – Canyonlands National Park
After our night in Green River, where by the way exactly opposite of our hotel in campground was, which had quite a lot of campers, we wanted to visit Arches first. What we did not know was that you have to register here online in advance, because so many people want to go to the park and otherwise the park becomes too crowded. Once again, the park was full and we could not enter at all this time.
This was now the third or fourth park we could not enjoy. I anticipate that this will rule out trips to the western US for me in the future. We tried to get a ticket online, but it was impossible. So we drove to Canyonlands National Park which is right next door. I already suspected bad, but strangely enough the park was not so much visited. The park is one of my favorite parks in the US at all. Much better than the Grand Canyon and so many other national parks. So we did some hiking over the day there.
„2022 USA – V14 – Canyonlands National Park“ weiterlesen2022 USA – V13 – Driving through Utah to Green River
It was hard to believe, but once again there was a cold snap in April in the USA. As on the previous day, we drove again through Zion National Park and then the highway towards Green River in the direction of Moab. I knew that in Moab the hotels are very expensive and in Green River reasonably affordable. In the end, we got a Motel 6 for $120, which is quite outrageous by German standards.
The last time I was there in 2015 I paid just $40 in any of the motels there. The landscape on the way to Green River was quite nice, but different than expected. In the end, it went from Zion National Park to a fairly high plateau, which also caused the temperatures to drop sharply. From there we finally had snowstorms all the way to Green River and I was a bit worried about the road conditions.
„2022 USA – V13 – Driving through Utah to Green River“ weiterlesen2022 USA – V12 – Visiting Zion National Park in Utah
The day before we ended our trip in St George in Utah. The weather was not that bad in St George itself, i.e. no storms or other adversities. So as planned we visited Zion National Park near St George. But here we had another surprise. The actual valley with the sights was only pe bus shuttle to reach.
Actually, no problem, but this time the park was again so extremely crowded with tourists so that I was spoiled the fun. So I decided to drive through the park and make a turn around and drive back to St. George.
„2022 USA – V12 – Visiting Zion National Park in Utah“ weiterlesen2022 USA – V10 – Golden Canyon in Death Valley and Ghost Town Rhyolite
This day we were supposed to hike through Death Valley again. We started early in the morning around 0900 and drove to the Golden Canyon. The good thing about the relatively bad weather was that also relatively few people were on the road. But that was enough to occupy the few parking spaces almost completely, so that we just got a parking space.
In the end I had to realize that the National Parks in the USA are completely overcrowded. No wonder why the prices go higher and higher. After this hike we drove in the direction of Nevada to the next town outside Death Valley to Beatty and finally to the Ghost Town Rhyolite, which was once an extremely large town with three railroad lines and also visited a bottle house.
„2022 USA – V10 – Golden Canyon in Death Valley and Ghost Town Rhyolite“ weiterlesen2022 USA – V9 – Mosaic Canyon and Dantes View in Death Valley
The temperatures in Death Valley were extremely pleasant at around 37 degrees Celsius, after we had come almost straight from winter in California. So we decided to do a little hike in Death Valley. The distances are quite short for European conditions, however, one should not neglect the heat and especially the solar radiation.
Later we visited other places in Death Valley and finally Dante’s View with quite a nice view. Here, unfortunately, the storm still made itself felt, which met us now already for 10 days often times and made us the camping life difficult. The next day it should become a full-blown sandstorm.
„2022 USA – V9 – Mosaic Canyon and Dantes View in Death Valley“ weiterlesen