U.S. National Parks thread

hauntingfamiliar

West coast was a lot of fun. Spent several days in Santa Monica. Drove up the PCH one day and took an awesome hike on the cliffs in Pointe Dume, swam for hours afterwards... awesome beach spot.  Spent the night in Vegas on the way to Bryce Canyon NP. Took my daughter to M&M World and a couple other attractions. Hit Bryce Canyon today.... one word.. hoodoos.

brianlux

hauntingfamiliar said:

Only took 42 years but made it there today!!!

Grand! 

One of the most amazing places anywhere!

brianlux

hauntingfamiliar said:

West coast was a lot of fun. Spent several days in Santa Monica. Drove up the PCH one day and took an awesome hike on the cliffs in Pointe Dume, swam for hours afterwards... awesome beach spot.  Spent the night in Vegas on the way to Bryce Canyon NP. Took my daughter to M&M World and a couple other attractions. Hit Bryce Canyon today.... one word.. hoodoos.

Oooh, Bryce!  So cool!

darwinstheory

Whew!!! I thought we were going to need to call Search & Rescue for @hauntingfamiliar. 🤣

I refuse to go to Utah until I make can make the rounds to all their NP's. I really look forward to that one.

Were you able to visit any NP's while in California? I'm sure you are keenly aware, but a trip like this is something your daughter is going to remember forever. In fact, it very well could shape her entire future. You're doing a great thing in my uninvited opinion. 

darwinstheory

24 days until depart for Glacier!

hauntingfamiliar

Indeed it was GRAND, @brianlux ! So happy I was finally able to make a trip out west like this.

No need for the search and rescue @darwinstheory !!

West coast kind of pulled us in for a while. I had a free place to stay right near the Santa Monica Pier so well you know... had to live it up!! I did not make it to any California NP's. I had hoped to hit Sequoia on the way back but the campsites were fully reserved. I suppose I could have driven there and tried to find one but I chickened out! It will be a must do on my next trip to California. Next time I think I will fly though.   Phew it's been a long road but so much fun. Thanks for the kind words ^^. We both have seen and experienced so much in the past few weeks I just cannot put it into words. And I couldn't agree with you more on Utah. Wowwww! What an amazing state. So many incredible parks within hours of each other. We only picked one with all of our other traveling, but we easily could have spent another week in that area. 

hauntingfamiliar

Made it to Colorado... entered Rocky Mtn NP from the west at the Grand Lake entrance. We traveled on Trail Ridge Road (only open in the summer) and ended up in Estes Park on the eastern side. We stopped along the way to hike and we found SNOW! My daughter has only seen snow about five times in her life so seeing it in the summer blew her mind!! So much fun!

brianlux

hauntingfamiliar said:

Made it to Colorado... entered Rocky Mtn NP from the west at the Grand Lake entrance. We traveled on Trail Ridge Road (only open in the summer) and ended up in Estes Park on the eastern side. We stopped along the way to hike and we found SNOW! My daughter has only seen snow about five times in her life so seeing it in the summer blew her mind!! So much fun!

Very cool, looks like fun! 

There is still a bit of snow at the higher elevations in the Sierras but it won't last much longer- temps here at 2,000 foot elevation are going to be in the low hundred's this weekend.  I'd say you got out of California just in time to miss the heat wave coming. 

Have a great rest of the trip!

darwinstheory

9 year old girl hit by bison at YNP today. 

Yes, it is awful for that to happen to a 9 year old girl. However, the bison will most certainly be put down because of the incident. An incident in which the bison was surrounded by an estimated 50-60 people within a reported 10' of it. Also read there were even some dipshits petting the bison. An now, it will most surely be put down. YNP does not plan to issue any citations for the incident. 

For the love of god, people! It's not that fucking hard to comprehend. Give wildlife some space and stay on the boardwalks when the signs tell you to do so.

darwinstheory

hauntingfamiliar said:

Made it to Colorado... entered Rocky Mtn NP from the west at the Grand Lake entrance. We traveled on Trail Ridge Road (only open in the summer) and ended up in Estes Park on the eastern side. We stopped along the way to hike and we found SNOW! My daughter has only seen snow about five times in her life so seeing it in the summer blew her mind!! So much fun!

Pretty cool pictures from CO. I've never been out there. How many miles have you put on so far this trip? I thought it was a ton driving out to Yellowstone and back, but that's not shit compared to this trip!

tempo_n_groove

Anybody ever do Mammoth, CA?

My cousin is skiing right now up there.

Crazy right?  It has the longest ski season any where in the the US.

hauntingfamiliar

Thanks Brian! And DT I just added up the mileage so far.. roughly 4500!!! Coast to coast, side trips and now heading back east. I'm in Kansas now. Still have a few solid days of traveling to put in and one more camping trip in NC mtns before heading home. I'll give you the grand total once I return. 

darwinstheory

Woozas! Where to now? Don't forget to change your oil!

darwinstheory

tempo_n_groove said:

Anybody ever do Mammoth, CA?

My cousin is skiing right now up there.

Crazy right?  It has the longest ski season any where in the the US.

I have not, but I did visit Mammoth CAve once...if that's any consolation. I have never skied before.

brianlux

hauntingfamiliar said:

Thanks Brian! And DT I just added up the mileage so far.. roughly 4500!!! Coast to coast, side trips and now heading back east. I'm in Kansas now. Still have a few solid days of traveling to put in and one more camping trip in NC mtns before heading home. I'll give you the grand total once I return. 

When C. and I did our cross country round trip in 2006 we went through Kansas and at first I hated it.  Stock yards with what seemed like billions of stinking, crowded cattle.  A cattle truck that made a wide turn spilling cow urine and feces all over the highway which we couldn't dodge and it got all over our car and little travel trailer.  Yuk!

But then we stopped for the night on a dirt road in Hamilton County Wildlife Area and it was magical!  A clear night with a million stars and a silver moon.  And sometime in the night some Sandhill cranes stopped to rest on the roof of our little trailer and made these lovely sounds.  That was so cool!

Hope you also found something to like in Kansas!

darwinstheory

brianlux said:

hauntingfamiliar said:

Thanks Brian! And DT I just added up the mileage so far.. roughly 4500!!! Coast to coast, side trips and now heading back east. I'm in Kansas now. Still have a few solid days of traveling to put in and one more camping trip in NC mtns before heading home. I'll give you the grand total once I return. 

When C. and I did our cross country round trip in 2006 we went through Kansas and at first I hated it.  Stock yards with what seemed like billions of stinking, crowded cattle.  A cattle truck that made a wide turn spilling cow urine and feces all over the highway which we couldn't dodge and it got all over our car and little travel trailer.  Yuk!

But then we stopped for the night on a dirt road in Hamilton County Wildlife Area and it was magical!  A clear night with a million stars and a silver moon.  And sometime in the night some Sandhill cranes stopped to rest on the roof of our little trailer and made these lovely sounds.  That was so cool!

Hope you also found something to like in Kansas!

Probably the sign that reads "Leaving Kansas" 

Just kidding...I have only went to Kansas ince. For a wedding. In December. Plus I'm from Indiana, so I haven't got too much room to talk. 

brianlux

darwinstheory said:

brianlux said:

hauntingfamiliar said:

Thanks Brian! And DT I just added up the mileage so far.. roughly 4500!!! Coast to coast, side trips and now heading back east. I'm in Kansas now. Still have a few solid days of traveling to put in and one more camping trip in NC mtns before heading home. I'll give you the grand total once I return. 

When C. and I did our cross country round trip in 2006 we went through Kansas and at first I hated it.  Stock yards with what seemed like billions of stinking, crowded cattle.  A cattle truck that made a wide turn spilling cow urine and feces all over the highway which we couldn't dodge and it got all over our car and little travel trailer.  Yuk!

But then we stopped for the night on a dirt road in Hamilton County Wildlife Area and it was magical!  A clear night with a million stars and a silver moon.  And sometime in the night some Sandhill cranes stopped to rest on the roof of our little trailer and made these lovely sounds.  That was so cool!

Hope you also found something to like in Kansas!

Probably the sign that reads "Leaving Kansas" 

Just kidding...I have only went to Kansas ince. For a wedding. In December. Plus I'm from Indiana, so I haven't got too much room to talk. 

I've spent time on a couple of lakes in Indiana (including my first honeymoon), but it's been so long I can't remember which lakes- but it was great.  The first time was in 1975 and I don't know if it's still the same, but I remember the time kept changing from county to county as we drove through depending on which ones observed day light savings time.  That cracked me up!  Also went to Fort Wayne once but was not impressed.

darwinstheory

brianlux said:

darwinstheory said:brianlux said:

darwinstheory said:

brianlux said:

hauntingfamiliar said:

Thanks Brian! And DT I just added up the mileage so far.. roughly 4500!!! Coast to coast, side trips and now heading back east. I'm in Kansas now. Still have a few solid days of traveling to put in and one more camping trip in NC mtns before heading home. I'll give you the grand total once I return. 

When C. and I did our cross country round trip in 2006 we went through Kansas and at first I hated it.  Stock yards with what seemed like billions of stinking, crowded cattle.  A cattle truck that made a wide turn spilling cow urine and feces all over the highway which we couldn't dodge and it got all over our car and little travel trailer.  Yuk!

But then we stopped for the night on a dirt road in Hamilton County Wildlife Area and it was magical!  A clear night with a million stars and a silver moon.  And sometime in the night some Sandhill cranes stopped to rest on the roof of our little trailer and made these lovely sounds.  That was so cool!

Hope you also found something to like in Kansas!

Probably the sign that reads "Leaving Kansas" 

Just kidding...I have only went to Kansas ince. For a wedding. In December. Plus I'm from Indiana, so I haven't got too much room to talk. 

I've spent time on a couple of lakes in Indiana (including my first honeymoon), but it's been so long I can't remember which lakes- but it was great.  The first time was in 1975 and I don't know if it's still the same, but I remember the time kept changing from county to county as we drove through depending on which ones observed day light savings time.  That cracked me up!  Also went to Fort Wayne once but was not impressed.

brianlux said:

hauntingfamiliar said:

Thanks Brian! And DT I just added up the mileage so far.. roughly 4500!!! Coast to coast, side trips and now heading back east. I'm in Kansas now. Still have a few solid days of traveling to put in and one more camping trip in NC mtns before heading home. I'll give you the grand total once I return. 

When C. and I did our cross country round trip in 2006 we went through Kansas and at first I hated it.  Stock yards with what seemed like billions of stinking, crowded cattle.  A cattle truck that made a wide turn spilling cow urine and feces all over the highway which we couldn't dodge and it got all over our car and little travel trailer.  Yuk!

But then we stopped for the night on a dirt road in Hamilton County Wildlife Area and it was magical!  A clear night with a million stars and a silver moon.  And sometime in the night some Sandhill cranes stopped to rest on the roof of our little trailer and made these lovely sounds.  That was so cool!

Hope you also found something to like in Kansas!

Probably the sign that reads "Leaving Kansas" 

Just kidding...I have only went to Kansas ince. For a wedding. In December. Plus I'm from Indiana, so I haven't got too much room to talk. 

I've spent time on a couple of lakes in Indiana (including my first honeymoon), but it's been so long I can't remember which lakes- but it was great.  The first time was in 1975 and I don't know if it's still the same, but I remember the time kept changing from county to county as we drove through depending on which ones observed day light savings time.  That cracked me up!  Also went to Fort Wayne once but was not impressed.

@brianlux

^^^Nobody has ever been impressed by Fort Wayne. Lol

Funny you mention that about the daylight savings time. Where I went to jr. high & high school, they combined 4 elementary schools to make 1 bigger school. 2 elementary schools were on CST and the other 2 were on EST. However, back then, these time zones were on the same time from late spring through fall. Start the school year all on the same time. Then half of the people went an hour different in November. Then in Apri, back to everyone being on the same time. So bizarre. Nowadays, the same 2 schools that were previously on CST are 1 hour behind those in EST all year long. 

I'm guessing to notice those time zone changes, you were in either the NW or SW corner of Indiana. 

darwinstheory

hauntingfamiliar said:

Thanks Brian! And DT I just added up the mileage so far.. roughly 4500!!! Coast to coast, side trips and now heading back east. I'm in Kansas now. Still have a few solid days of traveling to put in and one more camping trip in NC mtns before heading home. I'll give you the grand total once I return. 

@hauntingfamiliar

Any good stops for you between Kansas and your hometown? 

Horos

US National Monuments?

Spent a couple of days at John Day Fossil Beds this week while staying at a fire lookout in the area.