Nine Days of Summer, Part 1

So remember those back-to-school compositions where you had to write about what you did with your summer vacation? Well, this is like that, but with photos instead. This summer Dan and I headed out West for a little bit of wilderness, a lot of nature, and some hanging out with good friends. 1200 miles of driving, some 40+ miles of hiking, and five national parks later, we had a greater appreciation for our country (as well as for what a hot shower really means).

The trusty Lonely Planet.

A view from the dashboard.

A few places to get food.

But most of the time we did camp food (ok, we have to work on the camp food).

Bryce Canyon National Park, where everything looks very other-worldly.

Cairns are rocks that mark a trail; but in this case, many hikers made their own, which made this place feel like a little sanctuary.

This feels pretty tough at 8,000 feet.

The Fairyland Loop at Bryce Canyon, named because everything looks like life-sized sand castles.

I feel like this is a Rorschach test. To me, these look like several Titanics.

Storm on the way.

Self-portrait, inside Dan’s sunglasses.

Stay tuned for Part 2!