THE ROAD TRIP WITH NATALIE - 2004

 

Initially prior to starting our Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) hike, we drove our van to Natalie’s (our daughter that lives in Ft. Collins, CO) and left it there and flew out from Denver to San Diego to start the hike.  Natalie picked us up with the van at Hikertown, CA on Sunday, June 20, 2004 as pre-arranged. 

 

Natalie had put together a “road trip” that we embarked on after she picked us up from the end of our Pacific Crest Trail hike.  The following is a brief summary of the places we visited in the two weeks from the time that she picked us up and when we returned to Fort Collins, CO.  Follow the links to see pictures and commentary about each item.  Use your browser’s back button to navigate through the thumbnails and pictures to return to this page.  Pat kept a Diary of the Road Trip and it can be found by clicking here.

 

 Sunday, June 20, 2004

Nat picked us up from Hikertown, CA

Mojave National Preserve Desert

Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve

 

Mon   June 21:

            Toured the Hoover Dam

Belagio, Las Vegas - viewed the evening water show

Las Vegas Old Town- visited the casinos and watched the laser show

 

Tues  June 22:

            Belagio-Las Vegas - visited the casino and Botanical Gardens

            Flamingo-Las Vegas – visited casino and saw the flamingos, penguins and pools

            Caesar's Palace-Las Vegas – visited the casino and the Caesar Forum Shops

            Kingman AZ, took old Route 66, to Oatman, AZ

Oatman, AZ - visited a haunted hotel where famous people (and everybody else) wrote their names and dated dollar bills and then pasted them on the bar, ceiling, walls, counters.    Wild burrows wander the streets.  

Lake Havasu, AZ - viewed a real London Bridge that was purchased by Lake Havasu from London and is now in place on the Colorado River.

 

Wed   June 23:

Quartzite, AZ - stopped and looked for rocks out in some washes. 

            Prescott, AZ - We camped very near Prescott and then came back in

                       the evening to watch a Clogger's Show (International Dancers)

 

Thurs June 24:

Jerome, AZ - Toured a mining museum in Jerome State Park

Sedona, AZ - observed the beautiful rock formations

 

Fri   June 25:

            Visited Grand Canyon - South Rim. Got to see California Condors close up.

           Visited Glen Canyon National  Recreation Center

            Visited Glen Canyon Dam Visitor Center

 

Sat   June 26:

            Visited Zion National Park, Utah

           Visited Cedar City, Utah

            Visited Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah

           Visited Red Canyon, Utah

            Visited Bryce Canyon, Utah

           Visited Escalante National Park, Utah

            Camped at Escalante Petrified Wood State Park, Utah

 

Sunday, June 27:

            Calf Creek Falls, Utah - 6 mile round trip hike to a 126 foot waterfall.

            Visited Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

            Observed that Lake Powell is dried up at the Hite Marina – low water

            Visited Canyonlands National Park, Utah

 

Monday, June 28:

            Visited Arches National Park, Utah

            Visited Mesa Verde National Park, CO

 

Tuesday, June 29:

Train Ride Durango, CO to Silverton, CO via the narrow gauge railway (round trip)

 

Wednesday June 30:

            Leadville, CO – Visited the International Mining Museum

            Set up a base camp at the Gray’s Peak Trailhead

 

Thursday July 1:

            Climbed Grays Peak and Torrey's Peak, both 14,000 feet.

           Returned to Fort Collins, CO