HIKING IN SOUTHERN UTAH WITH SOME KAYAKING IN NORTHERN ARIZONA

We left Arizona and headed up into the southern Utah area to visit friends and do some great hiking.  But we did make a stop at Lee's Ferry to do some kayaking with Bill and Marney on the Colorado River above the area where rafters put in for their trip down the Grand Canyon.  It was a great paddle up river and we only had to pull the kayaks around one fast water spot.  We also hiked hiked a slot canyon in that area that goes down to the Colorado River.  Then it was to the Kanab area in Utah where we met Pam and did some hiking around there in canyons Connie and I had not hiked before.  And found more canyons and areas that we would like to explore.  Then we spent a few days hiking around the area Pam lives near Apple Valley.  Gary and Georgine joined us for a dinner party and one hike so it was great having the Pro Leisure Circuit founders all together again.

The pictures below are not really in order.

Hiking near Lee's Ferry.

Hiking near Leeds, UT.

Here we are just north of Pam's place out on the Gooseberry Mesa.

Getting ready to put in our kayaks at Lee's Ferry. 

The commercial rafters are getting their gear ready before their clients arrive.

Paddling up the Colorado.  The sand dune over Bill and Marney's kayak is very large.

This is a sand dune that is formed from sand blowing up from the Navajo Reservation.

Click to enlarge and you will see a horse grazing along.

Lots of reflections on the almost still water.

Some really nice beaches along the river.

Prickle pair cactus finds just enough dirt to survive.

The water cascading down the canyons turns the rock different colors.

Taking a break in the shade.

This big pondarosa pine fell over recently.

In the canyons of southern Utah there are a lot of colors.

Bill and Zeph are always playing.

Here are three senior ladies having fun running down a sandy slope.

One hike was down to the Virgin River near Leeds.

Di's outside shower.  She is a very talented artist who can make the cutest things out of just about anything.

This is the front of Gary and Pam's place in Apple Valley as we are getting ready to go for a hike.

Georgine and Connie taking a little break.

Zeph has a big crush on Gary and Georgine's dog Baylee.

The view towards Zion National Park from Gooseberry Mesa.

Pam, Georgine, Connie, Frank, and Bill - Marney took the picture.

The Colorado River where the Cathedral Wash intersects it.

Looking downstream from the same spot.

B & M with long shadows of the evening.

A group shot on an old root coming out of the rocks.  Quite an amazing thing.

Pam and Connie in on of the slot canyons that had water in it.

Neat hiking down in these canyons.

We even found some ice in one of the canyons that does not get any sunshine.  And it was in the 80's for high temperatures!

Lots of color in some of these canyons also.

You just never know what is around the next bend.  In some slots, there are big drop offs that you can get around.  

Some pretty neat waterfalls.

Campsite near Kanab.

An arch on one of our hikes.

Hiking up in the loose sand from the Virgin River.  Hard going sometimes.

Pam, Marney, and CJ.

SALOME WITH BILL AND MARNEY

We took Bill and Marney into the Salome Wilderness area to the canyon that is one of our favorite hikes while we are down here near Roosevelt Lake.  Had some good laughs and got to see quite a few people going down the canyon from pool to pool.  In all the years we have been coming down here, we saw more people on this hike than all previous combined!  Glad people are getting out and enjoying the outdoors. 

We will be headed further north this weekend for some hiking in Southern Utah - then it is time to head home and do spring chores around our place. 

Billy and I hiked up to the ruins by our camp.

We also went to the Tonto National Monument.  Hadn't been there in many years.

Some of the folks headed down the canyon.

This is why we call it the Pro Leisure Circuit!!!