links to maps

Okay folks,
As requested, here are the links to google maps for the trip. The first covers our travels from home to Bryce and the second, from Bryce back home. There were too many twists & turns to get it all into a single map.

Enjoy,
Jerry & Sara

map 1

map 2

and a link to the gallery of photos

Days 6 -15 ... sort of.

Well, we haven't had as much time to blog as we'd thought, which is fine, because it means we've been lucky to have great weather. After Yellowstone we spent a couple nights in the Tetons, with a most amazing campsite at Jenny Lake. We also stopped in Jackson to visit with my old friend from Nashville, Scott McGee, before heading south into Utah. We stopped at Bear Lake for a night on the drive, and then to Bryce Canyon via the Uinta Mountains, spectacular!
After 3 nights at Bryce (including a night in the backcountry) we headed to Moab, only to pause in Boulder, UT for 2 nights, for a spa-like break from camping at the Boulder Mountain Lodge. We did a great hike into the Lower Falls on Calf Creek near Boulder.
Now on to Moab!

J

We'll get more photos posted when we get home.
Here you see:
Sara in our backyard at Jenny Lake
A moose we passed in Paintbrush Canyon
Our pet Marmot at Jenny Lake
and Tower Bridge at Bryce

Days 4 and 5, into Yellowstone (more photos)

Just a few more photos

Days 4 and 5, into Yellowstone (jer)

When we left the Bighorns, we hoped to get through to the Northeast entrance to Yellowstone and find a campsite near the park, for an early entrance on Thursday. We ended up staying in a cabin at Silver Gate, MT, and had a nice evening getting organized for Yellowstone. Thursday morning, we headed in and found a great site at Tower Falls Campgrounds, our first choice, centrally located for the northern section of the Park. Once we got set up, we headed out for an afternoon hike to the summit of Mt Washburn (via Dunnraven Pass) on the north end of the Yellowstone Caldera.
A good night's sleep followed, and Friday morning we headed to Mammoth Hot Springs and a great 5 mile hike on the Beaver Pond Trail. We got back to the car just as a big storm rolled in (it chased us the last couple miles of the hike). After a snack in the car, we headed to the Visitor Center (hoping the rain would subside) and then on to Boiling Creek for a swim in the hotspring-warmed Gardiner River. Now the sun is out and we're in Gardiner, checking email and sipping coffee. The sun is out again! J

Westward Days 2 & 3

After a good night's sleep in the Badlands (and a brief thunderstorm) we dried off and got rolling Tuesday, heading through the thick of Sturgis bikers to Devil's Tower and then on into the foothills of the Bighorns. J

The bikers were no trouble, but I daresay they added an unfortunate carnival atmosphere and drag strip sound to the otherwise awesome, meditative feel of Devil's Tower. LOVED the Bighorns, really loved the stunning Chief Joseph Highway 296. I'm very impressed by Wyoming's beauty and towns and close proximity to MN . I will be back. S

After a busy couple weeks of broken water heaters, refrigerators, cars... etc. we hit the road under cloudy skies at 10:15 on Monday morning. Sara took the first leg driving and got us into South Dakota. The sun broke through the clouds and we made good time to the Badlands for our first night, arriving well before sunset.
Here are just a few photos from the day.