Willis canyon

While Robert and Tom got lost looking for canyons, Lenny, Hanna and I hiked down and then back up Willis Canyon. Lenny was a very strong hiker and Hanna giggled every time he jumped from rock to rock!

More canyons

Today, it was my (Robert's) turn to go canyonerring. I went with Tom - a new friend Colette made yesterday on her trip.  We did Peekaboo and Spooky slot ("slot"=very narrow canyon), and hiked across the Escalante River canyon to see a neat place called Golden Cathedral. Here are some pictures:

Here is the Golden Cathedral:

Canyoneering in escalante

Today I got a day off to go canyoneering with a guide company while Robert went hiking with Lenny and Hanna. 

First, a cute shot of Hanna outside our cabin last weekend at Capitol Reef National Park, then some canyoneering photos!

Escalante

We are in a small town called Escalante - right on the edge of the eponymous National Monument. This is canyon country, and we are doing a lot of hiking into the canyons. The house we are staying in is great - it even came with a pig!

Weather change + Capitol Reef

We haven't been able to blog recently because our Internet access has been very limited for the last few days. Quick update: after leaving Moab, we drove to Torrey - the gateway to Capitol Reef NP. It rained all day, and temperatures plummeted to near freezing. So we found a cabin instead of camping - a wise choice as evidenced by snow overnight. Here are some pictures from the drive and from Capitol Reef.

Visiting the Crystal Geyser by the Green River

No eruptions while we were there, but Hanna still got her shoes wet, and...

...yes, that's hail.

Driving on I70. Storms like this pounded us all day. Outside temperature around 40F.

crossing the San Rafael Reef

The Rochester petroglyph panel 

Detail from the Rochester panel

That's fresh snow on the mountains all around us...

First sighting of the Capitol Reef

Hiking in the Capitol Gorge. Full winter gear on.

Sun warmed things up 

Hanna likes to climb

She says "up!", and then walks up until she tumbles backward. Repeat.,,

Lenny hiding in the cave

Lenny running ahead to hide and surprise us

From the drive on Burr road through Capitol Reef.

Camping in Moonflower Canyon + random pictures

Last night, we camped and hiked in Moonflower Canyon - a short canyon right off the Colorado river, ending in a cliff with a pool underneath. The site we stayed in has been occupied for thousands of years as evidenced by nearby petroglyphs and layers of soot on ceilings of alcoves. 

And here are some random pictures: