With a 3-day weekend and one free night in a Best Western that was about to expire, we decided to leave gray skies and 30 degree temperatures and head south. We arrived in St. George on Saturday in time for some geocaching in Snow Canyon State Park, followed by pizza delivered to our room so we could watch Olympics. On Sunday we drove to the Valley of Fire (Nevada State Park) about 40 minutes past Mesquite and 40 minutes before Las Vegas. It was a fabulous day weather-wise with temps in the high 60’s. Back home, in February, you forget the sky is blue in other parts of the world and you can go outside without coats and gloves! We went on three hikes (3/4 of a mile to 3-1/2 miles) found a few more caches, took loads of photos and saw rockin’ rocks. It wasn’t too crowded and we got a lot of good exercise. We stayed in Mesquite and had Mexican for dinner—shrimp enchiladas for me. On Monday we drove back to St. George for more caching and climbing around on the slick red rocks above the skyline drive on the north end, before heading home to more Olympics. We found a total of 15 caches and exchanged 3 Travel Bugs for 3 new ones. Pretty fun weekend.
Snow Canyon...someday we've got to devote a day or more to exploring it.
A sandy wash in Snow Canyon with lava rock on one side and red rock on the other. What a contrast.
Dad and a Big Rock along the wash.
Mom and a Big Rock near a cache called Tuacahn.
We've never been to the outdoor Tuacahn Theater in St. George, but since we were caching in the area, we took a peek. Pretty awesome setting for musicals/plays/concerts.
Just inside the Valley of Fire, we stopped for a picnic lunch and enjoyed feeding some little chipmunks.
They weren't very shy...this guy came up under the picnic table about a foot away from my shoes!
Dad thought this rock looked like a dinosaur. Yeah, it does.
A slab of petroglyphs on Mouse's Tank Trail. There were many cool ones throughout this canyon. (enlarge to see better)
Mom and some petros we named "The Stansbury Barkers."
Erosion makes interesting holes.
Shaved red rock along the trail. Mouse was the nickname of an early pioneer and at the end of this trail was a pool (tank) of rainwater trapped in between the rocks.
This is the Rainbow Vista Trail through Fire Canyon.
The face of this one rock changes color abruptly from red to cream.
Posing in an alcove.
Looking east towards Fire Canyon from The Silica Dome area. This is where Star Trek Nexus was filmed...where Kirk bit the dust.
We found a cache here called "Pretty in Pink." There were beautiful pink stripes and splotches in the rocks.
Dad said these 3-dimensional rocks looked liked turned wood. Cool.
Landscape in the Valley of Fire. Cholla cactus in front, red sand and many layers of rocks in the distance.
Descending to view the White Domes. Near the bottom of this staircase was an area where a famous western called "The Professionals" was filmed in the 1966 (93 on the Tomato Meter.) Part of an old building is still standing.
Fabulous colors...looks like bacon.
Orange and blue. Wow!
Of course we stopped to see the famous Elephant Rock that you kids should remember. The Fam stayed in Mesquite and hiked around this area just after Christmas 2002.
One of the beehives on the western side of the Park.
Back side of a Beehive.
Back in St. George, climbing on the rocks above Skyline Drive.
Dad on the slick rocks with St. George (D for Dixie) in the background.
Snow Canyon...someday we've got to devote a day or more to exploring it.
A sandy wash in Snow Canyon with lava rock on one side and red rock on the other. What a contrast.
Dad and a Big Rock along the wash.
Mom and a Big Rock near a cache called Tuacahn.
We've never been to the outdoor Tuacahn Theater in St. George, but since we were caching in the area, we took a peek. Pretty awesome setting for musicals/plays/concerts.
Just inside the Valley of Fire, we stopped for a picnic lunch and enjoyed feeding some little chipmunks.
They weren't very shy...this guy came up under the picnic table about a foot away from my shoes!
Dad thought this rock looked like a dinosaur. Yeah, it does.
A slab of petroglyphs on Mouse's Tank Trail. There were many cool ones throughout this canyon. (enlarge to see better)
Mom and some petros we named "The Stansbury Barkers."
Erosion makes interesting holes.
Shaved red rock along the trail. Mouse was the nickname of an early pioneer and at the end of this trail was a pool (tank) of rainwater trapped in between the rocks.
This is the Rainbow Vista Trail through Fire Canyon.
The face of this one rock changes color abruptly from red to cream.
Posing in an alcove.
Looking east towards Fire Canyon from The Silica Dome area. This is where Star Trek Nexus was filmed...where Kirk bit the dust.
We found a cache here called "Pretty in Pink." There were beautiful pink stripes and splotches in the rocks.
Dad said these 3-dimensional rocks looked liked turned wood. Cool.
Landscape in the Valley of Fire. Cholla cactus in front, red sand and many layers of rocks in the distance.
Descending to view the White Domes. Near the bottom of this staircase was an area where a famous western called "The Professionals" was filmed in the 1966 (93 on the Tomato Meter.) Part of an old building is still standing.
Fabulous colors...looks like bacon.
Orange and blue. Wow!
Of course we stopped to see the famous Elephant Rock that you kids should remember. The Fam stayed in Mesquite and hiked around this area just after Christmas 2002.
One of the beehives on the western side of the Park.
Back side of a Beehive.
Back in St. George, climbing on the rocks above Skyline Drive.
Dad on the slick rocks with St. George (D for Dixie) in the background.
3 comments:
Nice photos! Looks like you guys had fun. We explored Snow Canyon a few years ago...it's great! :)
It's looks so beautiful, and great weather. Glad you took advantage! Makes me want to visit So. Utah again... the variety and color of the rocks...
God's creations are sure beautiful...from glaciers in alaska, to rock formations in utah. i'm thankful he spread them out for all of us to enjoy! thanks for sharing the pictures...they were amazing!
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