We finally made it to the Grand Canyon! (If you’re friends with me, it’s quite possible you already know this because I sent approximately a million post cards.)

I love taking the train. I relaxed and read for two days to Arizona and two days back east.

Once we got to the park, we saw there were lots of people there, even though it was mid February; I can’t imagine what it’s like there at the height of tourist season. I imagine I would have not enjoyed myself anywhere near as much.

Something I’ve noticed before is that I really don’t love the mountains in the west. I finally figured out why: a lot of the landscape there looks to me like areas of West Virginia after strip mining and mountain top removal–bare rock with maybe a single species of trees. I eventually recognized what was bothering me, and it helped a bit to acknowledge this was natural and not human destruction, but I do prefer my worn-down, lived-in Appalachians.

In Grand Canyon National Park, we hiked about a mile and a half down the Hermit’s Trail, but never went further in/down. I think I’d like to take a mule down and up, but maybe not hike the whole way. Coming out felt like the hardest mile and a half we’ve ever done, and we weren’t pushing ourselves.

But it was an amazing hike and view.

But I think my favorite things in the park were Hermit’s Rest …

… and the Desert View Watchtower …

… which were designed by Mary Colter in 1914 and 1932.

In the tower I loved how the small windows forced you to focus on one part of the landscape, instead of trying to take in everything.

Since we had a week, we took some time and visited Walnut Canyon National Monument …

… Glen Allen Dam, Horseshoe Bend, Lee Canyon, Wupatki National Monument …

… and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Sunset Crater Volcano was fascinating, and I kept wondering how much of what we were seeing was “normal” and how much was from the 2022 Tunnel fire.

Regardless, it was all fascinating.

A year ago we inherited two cats. The older of the two, Shadow, is cranky had has no qualms about letting you know it.

After one particularly amusing picture, I started taking pictures of Disapproving Shadow Kitty.

There are many; here are some of the “best”.

And the picture that started it all:

I wanted to start posting more regular content here, I really did. But that apparently remains a goal rather than an accomplishment.

And that’s ok.

So please enjoy some flower pr0n, taken this year at the Arboreturm, Canaan Valley SP, and Blackwater Falls SP

Star Chickweed (Stellaria pubera)

Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

Twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla

Toadshade (Trillium sessile)

Canadian Wild Ginger Asarum canadense

Large White Trillium Trillium grandiflorum

Yellow Trout Lily Erythronium americanum

Carolina Springbeauty Claytonia caroliniana

Wood Anemone Anemonoides quinquefolia

Flowering Bluets Genus Houstonia

Violets Genus Viola

Lowbush Blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium

FUTURE SNACKS!

It’s been a rough couple of years, and I’ve been crap at posting anything besides book roundups, but I’m going to try for a little more variety–no promises, because I’m still struggling, but I’m going to try.

We spent a long weekend at Canaan Valley (the first time we’d been hiking since November, which is a really long time for me) and although the weather was meh for part of the weekend, it was wonderful to be back in the woods.

By meh, I mean Saturday was either rain or this:

(Guess what Michael did.)

But we did hike, and of course we our first walk was along the Blackwater River Trail. It’s my favorite.

The beaver dam is starting to fall apart; not sure if the beavers have moved or it was just the ice melting. We’ll see in the coming months.

Since the ground was frozen Sunday morning, we decided to try to Abe Run and Mill Run trails.

Why that caveat?

Those trails are wet.

There are several boardwalks throughout that system.

Luckily the water was mostly frozen (or avoidable) so we get to enjoy this view.

And of course I sat by a creek for a bit.