Bryce the Magnificent!

From Page, AZ we drove around Hwy 89. We looked for any signs pointing to Grand Escalante Staircase because maps did not clearly show any entrances to the area. We went up past Kanab, Zion, Red Rock Canyon.....the scenery was beautiful. Have no fear, my RV had no problems with the tunnel.

Just before Bryce, we turned off on Tom Best Spring road because we planned to boondock, wild camp, dry camp (whatever you choose to call it) in the national forest. I had directions from my friend Donna Carmon. It was a dirt, gravel road. We drove both the truck and RV in and then Steve scouted in the truck for a good place.

Hmmmm…...this spot is taken.  (Actually took this the next morning on our way to Bryce.)

This will do nicely. We had shade and views, what more could you ask for. There were neighbors but everyone was well spread out. It was a great spot.

Harley thought it was a great spot too.

This guy wandered by but we had no cow plops in our area. They went around us.

Angus thought it was a great spot. He kept watch on all the "big dogs" in the distance.

I've dry camped in some different places like rest areas, or even overnighted at Walmart but this was my first national forest and it definitely won't be the last. Just for those solos wondering, I would have felt perfectly safe here all on my own.

After we set up and relaxed, we headed into Bryce just a couple of miles away. Our original intention was to ask about how to get to Grand Escalante Staircase. As we found out later, it is not set up like a regular national park and the roads in are treacherous if at all wet.

What can I say about Bryce? It is magnificent and unique and awe-inspiring! I also need to add that of the three national parks we visited, Bryce was absolutely head and shoulders above the others in being prepared to welcome visitors in a safe way while still showing off the great park. They had done a lot of planning to have their shuttles running complying with all safety directives. Seats were removed to promote the proper distancing, the driver was separated by plexiglass but still able to deliver a great narrative along the route and there was a second person there to hand out masks to anyone who didn't have one and wanted one as well as to make sure everyone boarded and debarked safely. The rangers had booths set up with tables in front to ensure safe distancing while still being able to answer questions and provide guidance about the park. The visitor's center was open with spacing set up. You were requested to not pick up merchandise until you were ready to buy. Of course, I saw two boys touching everything in sight but it was not surprising as I turned around and their parents were doing the same thing creating much extra cleaning work. Other than that, everyone acted pretty responsibly wearing masks in gathering areas and taking them off in open hiking areas where distancing was easy.  Since we have returned home, I understand that the rangers are back to giving talks at different locations asking visitors to watch spacing. The museum is also open although the movie area remains closed. 

My 16 year old grandson was amazed and excited by the views and hiking possibilities.

Almost anyone could get to some of the awe-inspiring views but there are some places where more agility is required. I was waiting in the truck at one viewing area when my grandson came running back to say I needed to come because the view was fabulous without climbing the hill shown. He was right!

The views were different and unique at different spots.

During the two days we were there, we drove out to the furthest point beyond where the shuttles go just to make sure we saw as much as we could.

Steve, Helen, Cameron, and Morgan hiked the most recommended trail which includes "Wall Street" and were truly impressed and thrilled.

Morgan is slightly less enthused about hiking than Cameron but she was also impressed and very glad she went.

Antelope Canyon was closed when we were in Page which was disappointing but understandable since it is on an Indian Reservation but some of the places on this hike made up for that. Steve and Helen took the pictures while they were hiking.

Lots of great memories and bonding moments.

So what were the rest of us doing while this serious hiking was going on......well, Angus and Harley were at home in the RV snoozing comfortably. I jumped on the shuttle and started out.

When we stopped at Bryce the first afternoon, I enquired about a blogging friend of mine who is a ranger at Bryce but she wasn't working. The next day, I asked another ranger if Gaelyn Olmsted was working but she was off and I figured she might have left the park as it is a drive to get to a large grocery store. The ranger asked if she could take a picture and send it to Gaelyn. That was right before I hopped on the shuttle and the kids went off for their big hike. Well, a little while later I got a message from Gaelyn asking where I was because she had headed down to the visitor's center. She told me to get off the shuttle and she would catch up with me. I thought the driver said we were just pulling up to the Lodge so that is where Gaelyn went but I was actually near the small grocery and eating place so she hiked over to meet me. 

Gaelyn and I had never met in person before but we have followed each other's blogs for years so I was very excited to have the chance to meet her in person. She has been a ranger every summer for many, many years. This is her second year at Bryce. Before that she was at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for many years. She takes absolutely stunning pictures that have been published in many different magazines. If you have any interest in blogs, traveling, being a nomad, etc., you really need to follow the Geogypsy's blog  and while you are there browsing posts, be sure to click on the film poster of the Gypsy to see the film about being a nomad. A Florida college student tracked her down and made this film for a college project. He did a great job and Gaelyn has some really interesting insights into the nomadic life.

So I was really thrilled when we caught up to each other and spent a couple of hours together. She is a very interesting person and we talked like we met on a regular basis. 

Gaelyn is the one who explained about the Grand Escalante Staircase. There are a couple of entrances down by Kanab and one up by Escalante but they are not marked on the road as entrances. You really have to know where you want to go in advance and be sure the weather is going to be okay. If you read one of her more recent blog posts, she and another ranger went there on a job assignment so she of course took some great pictures.

The next morning, we packed up and headed back around to Zion National Park.