tell me about utah . . .

We’re on a countdown, and like most of my life lately, it has snuck up on me.

In less than a month (what? for real?) we will be heading out for our fourth (seriously?) Beyond Wildwood adventure to the happiest place on earth.  (Nope – it’s not Disneyland.)

To say I cannot wait is an understatement.

The fact that we have the privilege to go back for a fourth year, to feel like regulars, to ride horses in the Pike National Forest, to let someone else cook for us and make our beds …. oh dear goodness, it’s amazing.

This year – we have the joy of having my dad with us again.  He’s meeting us out there and that is such a gift.

After we leave the ranch this year, we are going to go where no Keigley has gone before.

I think it’s called Utah.

I’m going to drive across the Rockies and I’m only a little anxious about that.

I actually hadn’t given the dangers and the heights might thought, but this weekend I sat down with a guide book and googled lots of trails and details about the national parks in Utah and the Grand Canyon and – just via the photographs – I was reminded of my visceral fear of edges.  Edges of tall things.  And sharp cliffs.  And drop offs.  Edges.

Why am I going to a land that is celebrated for its dangerous cliffs and edges?

No way am I approaching the famed Angel’s Landing.  I don’t need to walk on the RIM of the Grand Canyon.  Are you crazy?

Maybe I should see most of it from the car.  I don’t know.

But what I do now is this – there is SO much information out there.  An overload.

And I love planning.  It’s a huge part of the fun.  But – since we’re at countdown stage – and I’ve got deadlines and extra work to get done and a school year to wrap up, I think I’ll get by with a little help from my friends.

Talk to me.

Here’s the places I’m working to fit in:

Arches National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park 
Zion National Park
Grand Canyon

I’m nothing if not ambitious and hopelessly optimistic.

Think of this as a survey trip.  We have one day – or some days only half a day – at each location so I want the highlights reel.

And – I am hiking/sight seeing with me and five kids.  You know.  So it needs to be accomplishable. (Again, I repeat. No Angels’s Landing for us.)

And for the Grand Canyon – I’d love to hear your thoughts there.  Time wise, going to the North Rim is much more efficient on our route.  I’ve read that the views are more spectacular, the tourism is much less, but then you don’t have that iconic Grand Canyon experience or that glass walkway thing.  Which, I’m not certain that I care, but – should I?

I’d love to know your favorite hikes.  Spots I should definitely not miss. Items you found worthwhile that I should make a priority.

Any advice or thoughts – I want them all.

What did you eat?  Where did you sleep?  Deals. Discounts. Genius ideas.

And thank you – thank you!

This is the last year that I will have a fourth grader so I want to take advantage of that weirdly magical Every Kid in a Park program. (You know the one where if you have a fourth grader, everyone in his family gets into every national park for a year for free?)

I’ve already booked one hotel room for free with credit card points – in Moab, our starting point.

Hooray for adventures – Beyond Wildwood!

___________________________________