The boys and I just returned from a much needed road trip and raw nature fix. It was fantastic!! At times the freezing cold was brutal, the climbing icy and dangerous, the winds savage, but we were stimulated by the elements and loved every moment.
Our 5 day pass brought us to the Cameron Trading Post on the Navajo Reservation the first night where we pigged out on Navajo Tacos at the post’s fabulous restaurant.
The next morning we drove 18 miles south of Tuba City and on to a dirt road to Coalmine Canyon. Very few people know about Coalmine, it is quite isolated. You need a Navajo permit to hike around the rim and a Hopi permit to hike in the canyon.
Coalmine is nothing less than astounding! It rivals Bryce. The winds were close to 60 mph and the wind chill well below zero.
We then drove to Page and hiked to Horseshoe Bend and then on to Grand Staircase Escalante and hiked the Hoodoo trail in wind that pelted us with stinging sand.
Then on to Zion where we spent three glorious days hiking to Inspiration Point (8 miles) Emerald Pools and then up to Angels Landing. Angels Landing was a bit nerve wracking for the boys, ELG had done it several times with clients but not in these weather conditions.
The Park was practically empty and simply a fabulous time to be there. We enjoyed several nice restaurants and Polygamy Porter brews.
Dingo for being macho macho man and admonishing ELG because the wolf did not want to hike down Coalmine Canyon when there were 60mph winds and below zero wind chill.
-ELG who let a Thunder-blast in the middle of the night that woke everyone up, and then started choking and coughing in an attempt to suppress his giggles.
-Dingo, Jake, and ELG for being so cheap they only rented one room at the Holiday Inn where all 4 guys slept in 2 double beds.
-Lobo and Dingo for smuggling in Tequila in a Starbucks cup to the restaurant at Cameron, and then mixing it with lemonade when no one was looking.
-Lobo for saying “Howaya, where ya from?" to everybody he met on and off the trails.
-Jake for a vicious silent but deadly on the trail causing a hiker down the trail to yell, “I got wind of that!!”
-Cole for not leaning into the shower.
Thats it!! Still running against da wind!! Happy Holidays!!
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