Sunday, 29th of May 2011 at 04:10:12 AM

GSENM 2011 day 10: The Wave

Without words…

Me in the wave 2011

The Wave

The Wave

and for M.R.: I did the whole tour with Big Mac, Alcove, Melody Arch, 2ndW. etc….as you teached me. I did not get lost and used some easier routes to climb Top Rock. Thanks again!

Related Posts:

| GSNME 2011 | Comments are closed
Monday, 30th of May 2011 at 08:10:28 AM

GSENM 2011 day 11: Cottonwood Canyon Road

Horseshoe Bend
This Sunday morning I visited the Horseshoe Bend, which is only two miles south of Page. A short ten minute walk from the US 89 is rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Colorado river. Afterwards I went to the Antelope Canyon Tour office to ask for a tour for the upper antelope Canyon (the one with the beams).
Cottonwood Canyon Road south entrance
It has been a while since the last time I have been there. But I was surprised to see that the noon tour (beams) meanwhile costs 50 USD. Furthermore it was booked out for the next 4 weeks.The Antelope Canyon has obviously become quite popular.
Grossvenor Arch
I decided to drive back to the hotel and relax at the pool until afternoon, when the light was again suited for photos. At around 3.30pm I drove from Page to the Cottonwood Canyon Road (CWCR), a unpaved road often used as short cut to/from Bryce Canyon.
Cottonwood Canyon Road
I had a traumatic experience with this dirtroad. On my 2009 US vacation I had used the CWCR coming from north towards Page and did not realize it was declared impassable. I nearly got stuck in the mud and couldnt enjoy the CWCR’s scenic attraction. This time I wanted to catch up.
Cockscumb
I drove slowly from south to north looking for spots worth a stop and to be photographed. After 30 miles when arriving at the Grossvenor Arch I decided to return and hike the Yellow Rock, which is at mile 14 from US89. Yellow Rock is a extremly pitoresque colorful hill with yellow, red and white colored stone.
Yellow Rock
Climbing the Yellow Rock was quite strenous and I needed around 1h. Unfortunately I arrived little too late cause it was no longer illuminated by the sun. Nevertheless I took my photos using my tripod and after the descent drove back to Page’s Dam Bar&Grill for a nice “Southwest Burger” (Jalapenos, green chili and pepperjack cheese). Today was my last night in Page.

Related Posts:

| GSNME 2011 | Comments are closed
Tuesday, 31st of May 2011 at 07:43:36 AM

GSENM 2011 day 12: closing the loop

me at the Grand Canyon south rim
After the Wave hike and the Yellow Rock Hike I had noticed that I was tired from the trip and hikes. I decided to slow down and recover. I canceled the remaining planed hikes in Zion (Subway+ Angels Landing). I had them already done in 2009 and of course it would have been great to revisit those favourite locations, but I was too tired.
Route 66 sign in Williams, Az
I added another night to my Las Vegas package and decided to drive back to Vegas to relax before the flight home and my work restarts next week. I had so often driven back over Zion Park and wanted to have a change.
Historic 66 district Williams, Az
Therefore I spontaneously decided to drive the long loop back via Grand Canyon South Rim and also have some stops at Historic Route 66 in Williams, Seligman, Hackberry and Kingman. I started from Page at 4.30 am cause I wanted to be at Route 66 between 9-10 to have still good light for some fotos. At around 7.15 I was at the South Rim near the Lodges and stopped for fotos. The light was great only few remaining shadows and there was yet no haze.
Motel sign in Seligman, Az
My schedule required to continue right away for Williams, where I walked through the historic Route 66 loop district. Here I had best foto conditions. I then saw that nice “Pine Country restaurant” which seemed to have good breakfasts and cause I still did not have the chance to eat hotcakes with maple syrup I could not resist.
Real and fake people in Seligman, Az
The result was I arrived in Seligman when the sun was already to high and good fotos no longer possible. I regreted little bit having stopped so long in Williams. I was really tired and had to stop in Kingman for coffee and arrived at 3.30 pm in Las Vegas. I had driven 450 miles in around 8 hours. In Vegas I checked in the Flamingo Hotel. I like the center strip location and rooms there are very convenient (35 USD+tax), although the hotel itself has already come to age.The rest of the day I relaxed at the Flamingo pool. Finally in the evening I drove randomly around in Las Vegas sea of lights.

Related Posts:

| GSNME 2011 | Comments are closed
Friday, 3rd of June 2011 at 05:06:56 PM

GSENM 2011 day 13: total relax

Welcome to Las Vegas
I had three full days at Las Vegas before flying home to Munich. Therefore I started with a hang out day. Stood up late (which means 8.30 am), breakfast at the hotel (hot ham Bagel + coffee) and then checking out (on foot) the new
Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
Cosmolpolitan, Aria City Center complex next to Bellagio. In the afternoon 3 hours at the pool.
Bellagio water show
Hereafter a small shopping session in Las Vegas Premium Outlet North and in the evening driving again randomly around in the lights. At the end of the evening watching the Bellagio water plays and strolling around at the Strip near my Hotel.

Related Posts:

| GSNME 2011 | Comments are closed
Friday, 3rd of June 2011 at 05:22:29 PM

GSENM 2011 day 14: Ice Box Canyon

Red Rock's Ice Box Canyon
Hanging out quickly got boring so I decided to have another small hike in Las Vegas’ Red Rock Canyon. It’s fascinating to drive west on Charleston Boulevard and leaving within 10 minutes from the Las Vegas crowd into plain desert. The Red Rock Canyon is a less known and less visited S.P. 10 miles west of Las Vegas. The last time I had been there I had done the Pine Creek Canyon hike and this time I wanted to have a look at the Ice box Canyon. The Hikes in Red Rock are quite short, often 2-3 hours only. I started early in the morning cause in Las Vegas it was really hot already.
Ice Box Canyon pools
The hike itself was easy but funny cause one had to climb over boulders and the Canyon got narrower and narrower. Unfortunately the waterfall was no longer there now end of May. Only two pools which required some climbing to reach them. I returned noon at the Hotel and relaxed the afternoon at the Pool. In the evening I went to watch “Priest” in UA theatre at the strip and again strolled around the strip.

Related Posts:

| GSNME 2011 | Comments are closed
« Older Entries  
  Newer Entries »