It seems like every time I visit a a new part of our national parks system I find myself in awe of the beauty within this country.

This past month I traveled the “grand staircase” of the Southwest. The top step being Bryce Canyon National Park (9000 feet); the middle step being Zion National Park (7000 feet), and the lower step being the Grand Canyon National Park (7000-3000 feet-ish).

Aside from nearly freezing to death on my very first night in my pup-tent at Bryce (it was eleven degrees according to the ranger who can to see if I was still alive in my mummy-bag), all went pretty well. I made some nice images and coated my new camera sensor with a thick layer of powdery dust during my month in the wilderness. (Mental note: Bring a squeeze-blower to clean sensor when in the desert.)

This was my fourth year in a row to explore deep into the Grand Canyon with a very trusted group of canyon experts. There were 9 of us this year who dared to hike the “Tapeats/Cranberry Creek/Deer Creek/Kanab Creek/Indian Hollow” circle route as mapped by the famous canyoneer George Steck. If I hadn’t been with the experienced climbers I was with, I would have turned around after the first day and gone back to the car. We had to rope-in several times on sheer ledges. I was thinking, after each time my heavy pack was lifted or lowered by rope, “good thing my Gitzo Tripod has a lifetime warranty” because it was completely beat up, along with the rest of my pack.

For those who have gone deep into the Grand Canyon wilderness, it is somewhat impossible to try and explain the exhilaration to those whom have just stood on the rim above.

It will be several more days before I have a chance to really look at my latest images, but I wanted to post these before moving on to other projects.