We Won the Lottery! In February...

[mph]

It was February 17, 2015 when we won the lottery. The place was Kanab, Utah and specifically the BLM Visitor Center. There was no monetary award but an award that people from all over the world wish for. Our number was drawn for a permit to the Wave!



I got excited and jumped ahead a little. Let me regress somewhat...The winter in the west has been mild to say the least. With snowpack numbers around 60%, the skiing has been marginal. With a week off in February, I started to watch the weather and keep an eye on what was possible. The weather was...well, mid Aprilish. We experienced temperatures from 70 to the low 80s. We arranged to meet our good friend Shane and his son Austin from Flagstaff. The plan was set...4 days on the Arizona Strip, 4 days on the Vermillion Cliffs, and 1 day in the GrandStaircase. The weather held...Bluebird skies and shorts weather in February is pretty dang nice!

We got to Tuweep in the afternoon. The thermometer read 83! It was crazy awesome...



The kids led the way for a gorgeous afternoon jaunt.



Lousie enjoying the GRAND views!



Shane always scouting out for his next shot. He is professional. He has an awesome gallery in Flagstaff.



The sunrise over the Colorado River was surreal. It was time to check out the views once again. Lilly was in her element. This is probably my favorite shot of the trip.



As we were packing, Lilly tried playing the harmonica to Kaya.



Lilly scouting our way back to camp.



We packed up and rallied West to the Whitemore Canyon area. On the way, we stopped at this crazy rock art site. The petroglyphs were etched into the lava rock of the area. Hundreds of them...



Our campsite was on the edge of the Grand. Tomorrow would be a Grand Day!



More to come...

 

[mannytranny]

Congrats! Great to see the pix...

Y'know what really pisses me off? The fact that AMERICANS have to compete with visiting foreigners in a lottery to win access to visit OUR PUBLIC LANDS!!!

Every other country in the world I've been to offers significant benefits to their own citizens when it comes to this sort of thing. Why does the BLM do this? Time for a ************** petition.

 

[trackhead]

Congrats! Great to see the pix...

Y'know what really pisses me off? The fact that AMERICANS have to compete with visiting foreigners in a lottery to win access to visit OUR PUBLIC LANDS!!!

.

Same reason the border fence is 3ft tall 1 mile off the main road.

 

[AA1PR]

to think when I was a kid if you had the $$ to make it there, you could see all you wanted very little

 

[mph]

The Whitemore Canyon area is breathtaking. This was a highly volcanic area about 200,000 years ago. The lava spilling from the volcanoes actually damed the river for 20,000 years or so. Today, the river flows and all that is left is cooled lava! It is an amazing area for the large barrel cacti that reside here.

We enjoyed a nice sunset here...







There were so many places to explore. Lilly and Austin exploring the volcanoes of the past.



School didn't seem to be in session on this day. The Mt. Trumbull School house is must stop on the Arizona Strip.





The following day, we ended up in Kanab, Utah at the BLM office. This is the place where one applies for a Wave permit. A famous, eye-candy rock site in southern Utah. People from all over the world try get the lucky number. On our day, people from Poland and Japan were present. I honestly didn't expect our number to be drawn. We had a 5% chance of winning! Well, my number was drawn second! Game on!



We had one day before we hiked to the Wave. What to do? There is so much to do in the area. The Vermillion Cliffs, Buckskin Gulch, etc. We found a lovely hike to an outstanding rock art panel.







Wearing shorts in February was crazy! It truly did feel like mid April. A glorious day...

More to come!

 

[mph]

yeah...i can only imagine...after hiking there, i can see why they want to control the numbers...however, how to do it? the wave is such a small, unique area that I think it would be a different experience with 100 people running around out there...

the ranger did say they are working on changing the permit system...stay tuned

to think when I was a kid if you had the $$ to make it there, you could see all you wanted very little

 

[fireball]

Awesome photos! We head back your way in about 2 weeks, been busy with the first leg of the trip and work, but I've got my UT maps in hand now and will shoot you an email to try and connect soon.

Looks like we should pack the sunscreen and leave the skis at home

 

[hitek79]

Good for you mph!! I applied twice in early feb and didn't get drawn for either. I'm thinking of applying online for next year and dedicating the time to make it out there then.

 

[Willman]

The Wave is a bucket list hike. Congrats on getting in.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Imnosaint]

Glad you made it, especially to Whitmore. There's so much to see there. Mother nature has closed that weather window at this point. Look us up next time you're down.

 

[mph]

Will do...Yeah, crazy. Might be some good skiing down there now

Glad you made it, especially to Whitmore. There's so much to see there. Mother nature has closed that weather window at this point. Look us up next time you're down.

 

[mph]

The next day was the Wave day! Now, it's a 6-7 mile hike round trip to get there. Lilly has done a lot of hikes but nothing in the 6-7 mile range. So, we knew it would be a big day for Lilly. We started the hike from the trailhead at 10. It's an awesome hike. Lilly did a wonderful job. There is so much eye candy along the way. The Wave itself is a small area. But, it's surrounded by so many other crazy rocks.

Lilly leading the way into the Wave.



Success! Lilly captivated by her surroundings.



Look around every corner. Eye candy everywhere!



The rocks...The colors in the rock are crazy. Looks like someone had a wild time with a spray paint can. So many swirls, colors, etc.





Daddy chasing daughter...



We made it back to the car around 3:30. Lilly did a wonderful job. Off we went to the Vermillion Cliffs. The sandy road lead to our next spot.



Once again...Crazy rocks! Lilly scouting out more wonderful sandstone.



Louise captivated by the moment...More to come!

 

[mph]

Thanks! Suncreen for sure...I am glad you are not coming now. You would need your skis

Awesome photos! We head back your way in about 2 weeks, been busy with the first leg of the trip and work, but I've got my UT maps in hand now and will shoot you an email to try and connect soon.

Looks like we should pack the sunscreen and leave the skis at home

 

[trackhead]

Parashant Canyon is one of my favorite places on the planet.

 

[mph]

The Vermillion Cliffs are made of rock and sand. And, oh what rock and sand it is...Lilly enjoying her surroundings!



Really, the land is for you to explore. By vehicle or by foot...The V. Cliffs have so much to showcase. It is still a land where cowboys reside and cows roam. Some of the area has been closed to cows though--good.





Just crazy colors.



Some of the area is know for its "brain rocks" or "cauliflower rocks". Lilly and Louise just explore the many lines in the rock. I like to call them "polygon rocks".



I have been to the Vermillion Cliffs two times in the past. Seen some neat stuff but didn't really realize how vast an area it is. Louise loves to look at old ranches. So off we went to explore...Louise found one.



The ranch looked to still be "working" in some manner. You need water, right? Capture it anyway you can...



Love to see the doors and ironwork.



There were no magazines. However, I had my own thoughts...



Packed up and ready to go to the next spot! More to come...