The Jessi James Gang: Southern Utah

Southern Utah - April 15-17, 2009

(Whooo Hoooo! I got my pictures developed! - Go blogger go!)

We're SO LUCKY that Kathleen chooses to fly into SLC on her way to Rexburg for school. This year, Brian came along too and we took a long weekend and really made a road trip out of it! We were triply blessed because they brought along some gas money from Dad & Mom McCalvy - THANK YOU!

April 15, 2009 - We planned to camp, brought the tent, sleeping bags, etc. But even southern Utah in April is cold. We stopped at the Beaver KOA for a campsite and the lady talked us into a little cabin because the forcast was for below freezing temperatures and snow. The cabin had an electic heater, a full size bed & bunk beds. It had a picnic table and porch swing just outside and it wasn't too far a walk to the bathrooms - heated with showers!

Jessi and James - cabin camping!

Brian & Kathleen - bunk beds!

April 16, 2009 - NO SNOW! Even though it was cold, Beaver didn't get any precipitation.

We decided to tour Scenic Byway 12 in southern Utah - beginning near Panguitch, UT - there was no possible way to do everything we wanted to do, but we had a great trip.

Check out the icicles!

First stop - Red Canyon - "Vermilion-colored rock formations and stands of ponderosa pine greet you as you enter Red Canyon. While many visitors think they are already in Bryce Canyon National Park, Red Canyon is actually a part of the Dixie National Forest, which stretches from the Nevada border to Capitol Reef National Park."

I really enjoyed the contrast of the red rock, trees and snow against the gray sky. Beautiful.

Next stop - Bryce Canyon National Park - "Bryce Canyon National Park is the jewel of Scenic Byway 12. The park rises to an elevation of 9,100 feet at its southern end and is open year-round. Magnificent salmon pink and red colored pinnacles and spires can be seen from viewpoints along the pine-covered rim of Bryce’s natural amphitheaters. There are more than 50 miles of hiking trails."

James at the Visitor Center

One of the view overlooks

James and Kathleen pointing to another overlook - James, Brian and Kathleen walked around the canyon rim - and I drove The Outlaw. (photo credit: Kathleen's)

Brian and Kathleen - We all hiked down into the canyon from one overlook - the clay gets VERY slippery when wet! (photo credit: Kathleen's)

Jessi & James at the base of a HUGE tree that is dwarfed by the surrounding red rock spires. (photo credit: Kathleen's)

Bryce Canyon National Park - this picture shows some of the snow squalls that went through while we were there. It never stuck to the ground, but it definitely snowed on us!

Geological Marker

Jessi & James

Kathleen & Brian (photo credit: Kathleen's)

Next Stop - Kodachrome Basin State Park - "a vividly colored geological area made up of numerous spectacular sand pipes or “petrified” geysers. Named by the National Geographic Society, Kodachrome Basin is also a photographer’s dream."

Set up camp. It didn't snow on us - but it was very cold. We had this 4-man tent and a 2-man tent with us in the car. We only set up the 4-man and it was roomy enough, even with all of us and sleeping bags and gear, that Kathleen still got cold.

Eat dinner. Hamburgers, potato salad, and tater tots. (I don't recommend cooking tater tots in the grill - they get cooked, but they taste like smoke.)

Go Exploring. One of the trails in Kodachrome Basin State Park is to the arch. It doesn't have a name except for The Arch. We got lucky and it only snow-flaked on us for a little while during our exploration. The Arch:

Exploring the area around The Arch.

As high as James could climb near The Arch

Kathleen, Brian, Jessi & James

Chimney Rock

April 17, 2009 - Next Stop - Hell's Backbone Scenic Backway -

"Hell’s Backbone Road is one of the most dramatic stretches of road in Utah as it travels along a ridge with a sheer drop on both sides. Hell’s Backbone Bridge spans a crevasse on a narrow ridge no wider than the bridge itself. Hell’s Backbone Road starts at Posey Lake Scenic Backway and circles around the rugged Box-Death Hollow Wilderness Area, ending three miles west of Boulder."

Our "off road" experience turned out to be a graded dirt road with a little snow left.