DAY 9… Beginning our trip home at 8am, we headed east around the Grand Canyon and back to Texas. We cruised by the Vermillion Cliffs and over the Marble Bridge where the car was topped off. Stopping to eat in Tuba City AZ and again in Albuquerque NM, we spend the night in Santa Rosa NM Travelodge.

DAY10 … Woke up early and after a simple breakfast at the Travelodge, we hit the road. Making good time, we filled up at the Childress DQ. The car was filled up before hitting the road again. A few quick pit stops and we were home by about 5:30 pm.

We had a great whirlwind of a trip, visiting five national parks: Arches, Capital Reef, Bryce, Zion and the Grand Canyon. Did not get to do a whole lot in any one of them, but that was not the point of this trip. It was Matthew’s first time in Utah and he had a fantastic intro leaving us both with a yearning to return.

The Kaibab Lodge is certainly rustic.  No TV,  no Wi-Fi  and no cell service.  During the night, the room heater would make load, popping sounds for several minutes before firing up.  We ate breakfast there, the only restaurant in town.

Just a short drive and we drive through the gate into the Grand Canyon NP – North Rim.  We stopped at the Kaibab trailhead but the lot was full. Then drove to the Campground to show Matthew where I had camped six years ago.  The rickety bench at the point has been removed.

We drove to the Visitors’ Center and walked to the Lodge, and hiked some rim trails including Bright Angel Point.

Finding parking at the Kaibab trailhead, we booted up, packed some trail snacks and grabbed our Trekking polls for a little hike down to Coconino Overlook.

Just before we started, a tour group on mules took to the trail.  Several hikers followed the mules closely but we hung back from the cloud of dust.  Before long, the mules had stopped to allow the handlers to adjust equipment and we hiked past them.

Breaking out the tortillas, nut butter and pretzels at the Overlook, the mules soon passed by.  But soon after, as we enjoyed the snack and the view, the sound of hoofs pounding the trail and a yell startled us and others at the Overlook. A runaway mule came around the turn.  A meal and a show. Soon a Ranger came riding after.  The runaway had been stopped at the group of mules and the ranger soon was taking him back to the corral at the trailhead.

I made better than expected time going back to the rim. Both of us were a little hungry so we stopped at a bench at the rim and cooked a backpacking meal to share and enjoy the view and breeze.

The temperature was dropping and on the way back we had some rain and stopped when a buffalo was by the road, rolling on his back, kicking up a cloud of dust. He then charged across the road and meadow and into the forest.

As we arrived back at the Kaibab Lodge we saw that a hailstorm had been through minutes before our arrival.

What a great way to end our hiking adventures, punctuated with a little rain and hail, but only after we were back off the trails!

Waking in a cold Bryce Canyon NP, we had a warm camp breakfast, packed up our campsite quickly and head out to Zion NP. After the spectacular drive into Zion, the Subaru circled and circled and circled the lot at the Visitors Center until a parking spot opened up right in front of us.

A quick visit to the shop for stickers and such and onto the bus so that we could walk out to the Narrows. With Cyanobacteria still in the Virgin River we were opting to keep dry. It is beautiful non the less.

A visit to the Lodge at Zion for lunch preceded a drive to the Kaibab Lodge just outside of the Grand Canyon NP – North Rim. There we had a light diner.

The rest of the evening was taking inventory of our supplies, organizing, charging up our batteries and cleaning up after a warm day in Zion.

Surprisingly, there is neither cell service nor Wi-Fi at the Kaibab Lodge. It’s totally off grid.

Getting an early start we were able to secure a great campsite at Bryce Canyon NP. The morning was cold but was warming up quickly. Tents went up with some difficultly getting our stakes into the hard ground as our jackets came off.

By noon we were at Inspiration Point to begin our hike to Sunrise Point on the Rim Trail, then descend on the Navaho Trail, and hike through the Queen’s Garden. Ascending back to the rim is always difficult for me, but slow and steady is my style.

Back in the car, we were both tired and a little dehydrated even though we were well supplied with water and electrolytes on the hike.

Now at our campsite we had a couple of dehydrated dinners, jackets came back on, and continued to hydrate while keeping warm at the fire ring.