High Sierra Topix

It was a lot of fun reading and looking at this marvelous journey through so much of the west. While I’ve been to some of those places (Yellowstone, Tetons, Arches, Grand Canyon) there was also so much more to vicariously see and learn about. And even the places I’ve been, you offered a different and new perspective as well as confirming my impressions. The Yellowstone Geyser Basin really is the one overcrowded place that actually lives up to the hype. I’ve only been to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon ( back in 1980) since my wife and I were trying to avoid the South Rim crowds. It doesn’t seem the South Rim was that crowded that time of year. Is that true? Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for putting this together for us, Ian; it's a beautiful adventure! I enjoyed the Fisher Towers photos; that place has a unique, almost spiritual feel.

LMBSGV WROTE:

It was a lot of fun reading and looking at this marvelous journey through so much of the west. While I’ve been to some of those places (Yellowstone, Tetons, Arches, Grand Canyon) there was also so much more to vicariously see and learn about. And even the places I’ve been, you offered a different and new perspective as well as confirming my impressions. The Yellowstone Geyser Basin really is the one overcrowded place that actually lives up to the hype. I’ve only been to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon ( back in 1980) since my wife and I were trying to avoid the South Rim crowds. It doesn’t seem the South Rim was that crowded that time of year. Is that true? Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, we're really glad you enjoyed it. Regarding the crowded aspects of the Grand Canyon, we felt the same, and it had taken us forever to finally get there. Never having been there before, it is hard for any of us to compare, but it did seem very lightly traveled when we were there in mid October. Don't you think it's the same as how you spoke of Yellowstone's Geyser Basin-- that it is one of those overcrowded places that is still well worth it.

Those two places, and so many other like them-- Yosemite Valley, Whitney Portal, Zion NP, Badwater in Death Valley.... they are "Wonders of the World" feeling places that you still want to experience. It was Grand!

Ian - thanks for the grand report.
Here's what I tell people about the Grand Canyon if they haven't been there: If you had to drive for a couple solid days to get there, and you only had an hour to stand there and look at it before driving a couple hours back home, it would still be worth the trip, regardless of how many other people are standing there next to you looking at it.

Great trip! Dave and I have been to the SW many times because his sister lives in Albuquerque and my daughter lives in Durango. Many of your photos looked very familiar!

Was the North Rim closed? We have never managed to go there. Since we do late fall trips, every time we tried, the road to the North Rim was closed. Evidently there are less crowds there.

Another not to miss feature of the Grand Canyon is to do a hike down to the river. We lucked out once when we arrived at the South Rim and it was below freezing and snow. Many people with permits bailed out. There was a 6AM lottery the day after we arrived, and we got a permit!

Like Daisy, we've traevled extensively in the Southwest, but it is lovely to see it again through a fresh pair of eyes. Great report. Thanks for both the photos and the text!