A winter desert drive

I was feeling a little stir-crazy at the end of 2009 and decided it was high time for a trip. Not wanting to plan anything elaborate, I decided to go on an old-fashioned road trip into the Great American West. I loaded up my car with all the essentials: snow chains (not that I know how to use them), flares, a headlamp, and of course - peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, the ultimate survival food!

I followed highway 5 down the state, then crossed the Mojave desert into Arizona on route 40. I love the Mojave. The last time I was there was in 2003, when I went with friends to explore a Cambrian outcropping and collect trilobite fossils. I finally crossed into Arizona after about 700 miles of driving and stopped in the little town of Seligman for the night. The historic Route 66 motel looked inviting, and it had a cute little diner across the street. The diner's owner was a lifelong Seligman resident, and seemed very intent on chatting with all of his customers to make them feel at home. After dinner I walked around in the snow outside, and then retired to my spartan but very warm little motel room.

The next morning I drove another two hours to Le Grand Canyon, my first stop. The southern rim is where the action is, and also where the tourist trappings are situated. The Canyon is most impressive, but I have to say it's one of those things you gawk at for a few minutes and think "that's great, what next?". I'd love to take the hike down to the river bed and see the canyon from below, but since it was winter that wasn't an option. Instead I spent the better part of the day walking the snowy trails along the rim.

There are so many cool things to see east and north of the canyon. I decided on Monument Valley for my next stop. Once you pass through the town of Kayenta the terrain gets very exciting. There is an endless expanse of desert, punctuated by gargantuan rocks like El Capitan (yes, there's also one in Yosemite by that name), which looks like the secret hiding place of an alien rocket ship. I was so excited to see Monument Valley off in the distance, which changed dramatically in scale the closer I drove. It's an indescribably beautiful place with a spiritual quality. The rocks make you feel safe somehow. I'd love to return there one day.

For the final leg of the trip I considered Bryce and Zion, but that would have required a large detour. Instead, Arches Nat'l Park seemed conveniently close. While Monument Valley was austere, Arches was funky. Lots of phallic rock pillars and giant arches of toffee-colored sandstone. The rocks were very climb-able; the entire park was a natural jungle gym. An arch called the "Turret" is in one of the pictures below. The iconic arch seen on Utah license plates is also located in this area.

2000 miles later, my car smelling like the cheap taquitos I bought at a gas station, I arrived home. It was a trip well worth taking. Perhaps I'll venture out there again someday.