We picked up a copy of April 2000 National Geographic Adventure Magazine. It features America's Best—The Adventure 100. There are some spots that made the ranks that we likely won't be tackling in our lifetime (#40: Climbing Mount Shasta and Skiing Down the Avalanch Gulch Route, or #3: Dog Sledding in the Brooks Range of Alaska). But of those that are possible for adventuresome yet mortal, well-rounded humans (without excessive threat to important things like being able to breathe or move), we will try to get to them all before our time on earth is through. Of course, we also plan on making our own list, but for now we'll give National Geo some credit.
Hopefully we'll be able to tackle quite a few of the 100 on the trip. Five of them are already checked off, and there are a few in Hawaii and Alaska that will have to wait until some other trip. But on our way down to the Gulf, we traveled along #41 (Road Tripping in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona) and discovered a trail that we were surprised wasn't listed: The Great Western Trail.
A view from The Great Western Trail.
We stumbled upon it traveling east along Utah's Highway 24, and got out to explore. Topo maps posted at the trailhead revealed hundreds and hundreds of miles of trails. The trail and all of it's spurs were open to an amazing cornucopia of travelers, including hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers and even in some cases ATVs, motorcycles and off-road vehicles. We followed the trail and an access road up to the top of the highest peak, awarded with a 360-degree view of the nearby redstone cliffs which melted into green farming land and then abruptly turned to gypsum white petrified dunes. Down from the peak and up into the forested low-rise mountains, we stumbled upon a secluded reservoir, with clear cerulean water abundant with trout (don't worry, we didn't have our fishing poles), log bridges, and even the prerequisite rope swing.
West of the Million-Dollar Road to Boulder.
When we wrapped up our 2½-hour exploration of the Great Western Trail, we hopped onto the incredible scenic Highway 12 and wound across the million-dollar road to Boulder—a two-lane road carved along the top of a narrow ridge that drops off on both sides into green canyons and colorful natural desert skyrises. We were surprised to see at least half-a-dozen trail heads for The Great Western Trail on the 60-mile stretch south, revealing just how extensive the trail must be. The drive was well worthy of its rank on the NatGeo100. We trailed into the renowned Bryce Canyon in the early evening.
Winding Down into Bryce.
With a few hours of waning sunlight left, we starting down the Navajo Loop trail from Sunset Point. The earth was cool, like kiln-fired clay, and we trekked the mile-long loop with bare feet. It dropped steeply in tight switchbacks into the hoodoo spires colored strawberry. Towering from the deep canyons, solitary pines screamed green as they rose next to the sculptured rock castles. As quickly as it descended, the trail worked it's way back up to the rim. Because of the late hour, the weather was perfect and the trail was ours. If we could only give one piece of advise, it would be to travel/explore/visit during the shoulder season/time.
The Base of the Navajo Loop.
Bryce is beautiful. We were bummed that we couldn't explore any of the trail on mountain bikes, but the park is very strict about hiking and horseback riding only. Also we couldn't travel very south into the park because they didn't allow trailers past a certain point (limited turn-around areas apparently). But we got a taste of the beauty created by erosion's paintbrush, and tomorrow we'll explore Zion before heading east.
Hoodoos at Sunset.
