Finishing the Mighty 5: Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point, and Moab

If you’ve ever seen a Jeep commercial or a western film, you already know what the region around Moab looks like. The red rock mesas with sheer vertical sides are some of the most familiar images of the American west. But while the sandstone formations were undoubtedly impressive, what really made it special for us … Read more

Mighty 5 Begins: Zion, Bryce, Kodachrome Basin, and Grand Staircase-Escalante

After being wowed by the geology of Valley of Fire in Nevada, we headed into Utah — a state that is completely new to both of us, and which is home to some of the most dramatic rock formations in the US. Our plans take us through all of Utah’s “Mighty 5” national parks, as … Read more

East Coast Visits, Hoover Dam, and Mysterious Las Vegas

After our encounters with snow and freezing temperatures in Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, it was with great rejoicing that we arrived in Las Vegas to sunny days with temperatures climbing into the 70s. My own enjoyment of Las Vegas was short-lived, however, since we were in town primarily for my airport access. East Coast … Read more