News & Photos - April 2010


More Red Rocks
Current Location: Site 2, Red Ledge RV Park, Kanarraville, Utah
Dates: Apr 5-8, 2010
Services: E/W/S/WiFi; Cost: $24.79; Nights: 3

Kanarraville is a good location to see Kolob Canyon Road at the west side of Zion National Park, as well as Kolob Terrace Road at the south-west side. Both roads quickly rose in elevation, and had wonderful views of snow-capped mountain peaks. Sadly, the Kolob Terrace Road was closed half-way up, due to the large volume of snow still remaining in the area.






I briefly drove through “The Strip” in Las Vegas; it was a traffic nightmare with far too many people and vehicles. I did manage to see some of the major casinos, but without any convenient parking places, I had to resort to taking photos while stopped in traffic jams.






North-east of Las Vegas is the Valley of Fire State Park, which provides a campground, a few small hiking trails, and an interesting drive through red sandstone formations, eroded into strange shapes by the wind and rain.



















Snow And Rock
Current Location: Site 4, United Beaver Camperland, Beaver, Utah
Dates: Apr 8-10, 2010
Services: E/W/S/WiFi; Cost: $30.00; Nights: 2

Bryce National Park is the third of the “must-see” places in Arizona/Utah (along with the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park). Its thousands of rock pillar hoodoos are brightly coloured and bizarrely shaped by erosion. The main park road offers an opportunity to drive the length of the park, with numerous stops for stunning panoramas along the way. At this time of year, many of the hiking trails were closed due to the snow.


















East of Bryce Canyon is Kodachrome Basin State Park. It has 70 rock spires (up to 170 feet in height), a campground and several hiking trails.











Chimney Rock


Shakespeare Arch
16 km down a rough dirt road (including one creek to drive through) is Grosvenor Arch, a large double sandstone arch named after a former president of the National Geographic Society.




Quickly Heading North
Current Location: Site 12, High Country RV, Nephi, Utah
Dates: Apr 10-11, 2010
Services: E/W/S/WiFi; Cost: $20.00; Nights: 1
Current Location: Site 31, Mountain Shadows RV Park, Draper, Utah
Dates: Apr 11-12, 2010
Services: E/W/WiFi; Cost: $31.50; Nights: 1
Current Location: Site 22, Golden Spike RV Park, Brigham City, Utah
Dates: Apr 12-13, 2010
Services: E/W/S/WiFi; Cost: $30.51; Nights: 1

Now that I'm past the most scenic part of Utah, I'm heading back to Canada fairly quickly. Hopefully, the weather will be good enough to make a detour to see western Wyoming's big two parks: Grand Teton and Yellowstone.

A Small Scenic Detour
Current Location: Site 32, Cowboy RV Park, Pocatello, Idaho
Dates: Apr 13-14, 2010
Services: E/W/S/WiFi; Cost: $31.10; Nights: 1
Current Location: Site B4, Snake River RV Park, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Dates: Apr 14-17, 2010
Services: E/W/WiFi; Cost: $30.00; Nights: 3

Although my primary concern at this point is to return to Canada in time to prepare my income tax statements before the April 30 deadline, I couldn't miss seeing the last two big national parks on my way back. Leaving my trailer in Idaho, I drove a few hours east to Wyoming, where I visited Grand Teton National Park. As with many other parks in this part of the country, some of the roads and many of the trails were closed due to the volume of snow still remaining.
⇧ Teton Mountains







Pioneer cabin






North of the Grand Teton park is Yellowstone, although the road connecting the two parks is still closed. Here, herds of wild bison graze along the sides of the road, completely oblivious to passing motorists. In the southern portion of the park, numerous geysers, hot springs, stream vents and bubbling pools of mud.















Fountain


Steam vent






“Old Faithful” (inactive)


“Old Faithful” (active)
Making A Run For The Border
Current Location: Site A-2, Countryside RV Park, Dillon, Montana
Dates: Apr 17-19, 2010
Services: E/W/S/WiFi; Cost: $25.00; Nights: 2
Current Location: Site 37, Lincoln Road RV Park, Helena, Montana
Dates: Apr 19-20, 2010
Services: E/W/S/WiFi; Cost: $26.96; Nights: 1
Current Location: Site 37, Dick's RV Park, Great Falls, Montana
Dates: Apr 20-21, 2010
Services: E/S/WiFi; Cost: $23.11; Nights: 1
Current Location: Site 5, Glacier Motel & RV Park, Shelby, Montana
Dates: Apr 21-22, 2010
Services: E/S/WiFi; Cost: $10.70; Nights: 1

With the most scenic parts of the US behind me, it's time to quickly head back to Canada, so that I can finish my income taxes before the April 30 deadline.

Waiting For The Snails
Current Location: Site 8, Covered Wagon RV Park, Magrath, Alberta
Dates: Apr 22-May 5, 2010
Services: E/W/S/WiFi; Cost: $27.67; Nights: 13

In today's world of almost-instant email communications, postal mail is often referred to as “snail mail”. As my recent frustrations have shown, there is a good reason for this. I originally intended to stay here for a week, while I had my mail from Langley BC and Milton Ontario forwarded. By the time that I left, only the Langley mail had arrived, 12 days after it was mailed out! Hopefully the mail from Ontario will arrive shortly, and I will pick it up on my way back through the area.


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