"Find something fun"

Denise and I are off to Zion Canyon National Park next week to spend a few days in what is probably my favorite place. We haven't been there in a few years, and I've missed it.

The last time we went, Sloan (our daughter) was all set to go with us as she often does, but this time I asked Max (our middle son), if he might want to tag along. I fully expected him to say no, but his answer was "only if you can find something fun to do".

It wasn't enough that we would be at Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyons. Not enough just to be in what many consider the most scenic part of the west. He had to have "something fun" to keep him busy.

Sloan & Max

What did I do? I made a call to an adventure guide in the little town of Springdale next to Zion and set us up with a full day trip of canyoneering. I had no clue what "canyoneering" meant, but as soon as we got to the outfitter's store and were issued full body harnesses and helmets, I knew we were in for an adventure.

We drove up into the nearby mountains and canyons in an old beat up Suburban until it couldn't go any further, got out and hiked what seemed like what was straight up the mountain for a couple of hours more, and then started our adventure down.

 The guide threw a rope over the edge of the first of many canyon faces and we repelled over them. From 50 foot drops to some that were well over 125 foot, some even into ice cold water that you had to unhook from your ropes and swim out of, we slowly worked out way through some of the most scenic canyons I had ever seen.

Here I was, a fat-and-fifty pretend adventurer doing something I never would have thought I could have done. I'm not sure what scared me more. Me hanging from a rope dangling into space or seeing my kids do it. All I know is that without Max and his sense of wonderment and daring, I would have been totally happy driving in the car looking out the window, with the occasional short hike, trying to catch what I could of the park around me.

Now I try to get out into the park more. I try to get that feeling again. I try to do what he said instead of just being the tourist. I try to walk into the woods with the beavers and the bears. I try to climb up into the arch. I try to pretend I can do more than I can, and I'm often disappointed with the final reasoning of what I can't.

But there's one thing he taught me.

I try to "find something fun".

Me over the edge

It's a Sign

Boyle Lake

Denise is out of town this week and I'm all alone and bored. I'm also feeling kind of discouraged with my photography lately. I can't seem to get in the mood, but thought tonight I would force myself to see what's out there.

Instead of just sitting around, I went for a ride to a small lake nearby to see if the leaves had turned there yet.

This is an image from that trip. It's nothing special, been done countless times before, but the trip wasn't a waste.

On the way back, I saw a saying on a church sign. I'm not sure why, but it just struck me as being odd and made the evening out better.

"Autumn Leaves but Jesus is Forever"

Max's Bryce Point



Bryce Point Sunrise

     Often when we go West our daughter Sloan goes with us, but a couple of years ago our middle son Max decided maybe he would like to go with us too.

    When we were at Bryce Canyon Max and Sloan decided they wanted to ride four-wheelers into the wilderness. While setting this up for the next day the guide told Max that if he got up the next morning and brought him a picture of the sunrise at Bryce Point, he would give him a discount on his ride.

    To my suprise when I got out of bed the next morning about 4:30, both of them jumped up and came with me (leaving Denise to fight off the mice in our cabin alone, but that's a story she'll have to tell you). This is an image of that morning.

    When we got to Bryce Point it was still pitch black and as soon as the very first light came over the mesa, I took this shot. It was still too dark to see the details in the clouds or the landscape, and this is how it turned out.
    The colors are real. It doesn't look that way, but they are. I don't know if it's the time of the day, or if it's the elevation we were at, or what made them that way. But I don't care. I like it the way it is.

   Sometimes you get lucky.

   Oh, there's a little second story to Max and this picture........The day before we were having lunch and Max and Denise got into a little squabble about something (who knows what anymore), and before it was over he threw a pickle at her (again, who knows why anymore). She was so mad at him, we had to drive into the next town (and out West that's not just around the block) to try and find her a piece of pie to calm her down. If you look REALLY close, that town is WAY OFF in the distance in this picture.
   So you see, I have two memories about this picture. Getting the kids up at 4:30 to go with me and the famous pickle fight.


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