We’re switching into vacation mode this week. But of course, saving everything for the last couple of days before we leave! We are wheels up Friday around 5:30 a.m., so we’re staying the night in San Antonio before we go. We land around 9 a.m. Salt Lake time, then grab groceries and make a mad dash for Zion National Park to squeeze as much as possible before dark.
I’ve been working a regular schedule for the last couple of weeks, so that’s been nice. I’m on a work train setting out ties in West Texas. It’s an everyday job at 7:30 in the morning, but works long hours, most 12 plus each day. A nice change of pace; I enjoy work trains hopping on them whenever possible. With the long hours, I haven’t had much time to plan for our trip. I still need to do a little research for each spot, trying to find short trails to suit Amanda’s ability with her new knee. She is slightly more confident in her off-road ability than I am! I wished she had practiced some off-pavement walking at home to prepare. She has been slacking and hasn’t, but she really has been busy at work, though.
This trip will be a little different for us since we’re flying. Amanda is already stressing about what she’s going to take. She likes to take all the things! It doesn’t help with the weather; it will be cold in the mornings, warming up to the 70s. During our Salt Lake portion next week, it will be even colder in the mornings, only warming up to the low 50s. We took way too much we didn’t wear to Pagosa last trip with similar weather. We’re a little more limited with flying though.
I wanted to pack to carry on only, but Amanda balked pretty hard. I told her this is the practice run, next time we carry on only! We need the practice for next year’s overseas trip with no checked luggage. She needs a luggage upgrade before she can do that anyway. I just picked up a new maximum-sized carry-on backpack for that very reason, breaking it in this trip. I like to be hands-free when traversing planes, trains, buses, etc. Amanda still wants wheeled luggage, but we’re looking at a wheeled backpack hybrid that will fit the bill in case we need to pack in somewhere rough.
This trip will be on the move with six different hotels in 10 days. The most prolonged stay will be in Salt Lake while I’m attending training. We will primarily be sightseeing in late afternoons and evenings in the city. We’ll have a good portion of the last day to see a few spots we couldn’t reach. We’re still in the “see all the things” mode. I don’t think four days for Utah’s Mighty 5 will scratch the surface. With Amanda’s knee still on the mend, we won’t be able to do enough hiking to do these parks justice. Although I don’t think she’ll ever join me for the Narrows hike I want to do, a 6-mile round trip, all of it tromping in a river flanked by hundred foot rock cliffs on both sides.
We are finding many places where we’d like to return and spend more time. We’re already planning a Pagosa Springs trip in February with another couple. It will be nice to see it all covered in a thick blanket of snow. We also are planning an elopement style vow renewal for our 25th anniversary in the Tetons. I see benefits in both focusing on one location and fast-paced trips. Though the faster paced we are at home, which is our usual, the slower I want to go while traveling!