It has taken me over a decade to finally make a trip to Southern Utah to see the Mighty Five - Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion.  Living so close to Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Glacier National Parks has instilled a love of the National Park ideal in me for ages. Protecting beautiful, unique places for all to enjoy - well, I can't think of anything better.  I've dreamed of making a trip to Utah's parks for a while now and until this fall I always had some excuse not to go.  Either it wasn't safe (for a girl traveling alone), my vehicle wasn't ideal, it was too far, the weather wasn't great...you name it, I probably made the excuse.  This year just ended up being THE year.  I was planning on making a joint trek south and at the last minute it was cancelled.  I was faced with the prospect of either cancelling my vacation entirely or changing my plans a wee bit and taking a trip I've always wanted to take.  Thankfully I chose to soldier on and go exploring solo.

As my life has progressed I've learned that when things are meant to be the details just sort of fall in place.  Only when there's any resistance to the ebb and flow of my life do I question my decisions.  That is just the case when it comes to my Utah trip.  Once I had set my mind to making a solo trip to the parks there was no stopping me.  I started by making camping reservations at various locations - mostly Utah State Parks - and laid out a rough route of which I was to travel.  Before I knew it - in a matter of hours, really - my trip was set.  Ten days, five national parks, four state parks, and one national monument on the itinerary with many hours of driving and many miles of hiking in between.  It was finally happening.  A trip that I have planned and longed for was finally coming to fruition.

At the start it was a bit of a rough go.  And as I said earlier I don't question decisions until there's resistance.  About an hour away from home I was having second thoughts.  It had stormed the night before I left - snow - and the roads were horrible.  I stopped to help a stranded traveler and was wondering if I was making the right choice to continue on.  I decided that it wasn't me in distress at the moment so I needed to keep going - it could only be better from this point on.  A few miles later an yet another delay.  This time it was a jack-knifed semi truck on a mountain pass.  I was considering again to turn back but I choose to keep going.  I soon found myself on dry, not icy, roads and decided I had made the right decision.  I survived big city traffic in Salt Lake City - I think this may have been more stressful than the icy roads I'm somewhat used to - and, while I was behind schedule, I felt that the worst was behind me.  I arrived at my first destination - Green River State Park - well after dark.  I had hoped to arrive in time to have a relaxing dinner and stretch my legs after making the 600 mile drive but it was nearly bedtime so I set up camp and called it a day.  Wherever I was, whatever sights were to be seen would have to wait until morning.

Panorama Point, Kodachrome State Park Utah