Death by Southwest was coined by my supervisor/work buddy after I proposed the itinerary. We had traveled together before while away for a conference but those were much shorter trips and involved nights at a hotel interspersed with a night or two of camping. Our hikes had previously been limited to well known spots with lots of other vacationers and our trips always ended with a spa day. Fear not, this trip was no exception. It's not really a vacation unless spa day is included and celebrated. The morbid label was the result of some additional activities that were about to be undertaken - mainly backpacking 20+ miles, surfing in the Pacific, canyoneering at Zion, and spending many nights in a row in a tent. But YOLO right? Isn't that what the kids call it these days?
Because I love numbers and because I think this trip has gotten a wee bit confusing by this point, here is an overview of all things one may or may not want to know about #deathbysouthwest.
THE ITINERARY
Day 1: LAX to Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Day 2: Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Day 3: Joshua Tree National Park, CA to San Diego, CA
Day 4: San Diego, CA
Day 5: San Diego, CA
Day 6: San Diego, CA to Peach Springs, AZ
Day 7: Peach Springs, AZ to Havasu Falls, AZ
Day 8: Havasu Falls, AZ
Day 9: Havasu Falls, AZ to Las Vegas, NV
Day 10: Las Vegas, NV to Zion National Park, UT
Day 11: Zion National Park, UT
Day 12: Zion National Park, UT to Bryce Canyon National Park, UT to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, UT
Day 13: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, UT to Arches National Park, UT (via Capitol Reef National Park... we barely stopped for magnets)
Day 14: Arches National Park, UT to Mesa Verde National Park, CO to Pagosa Springs, CO
Day 15: Pagosa Springs, CO to Santa Fe, NM to Albuquerque, NM
THE ROUTE
THE STATS
Miles Driven: 2429
Nights Camped: 8 out of 14
Total Number of Not Named Traveling Companions: 8 (although only 1 made it through the whole trip)
National Parks Visited: 6 (7 if you count Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument; I made good use of my annual park pass)
Miles Hiked: 45+ (the plus is for hikes that weren't on trails per se -- maybe another mile or 2?)
Spas Visited: 2 (no trip is complete without at least 1 hot spring and 1 massage)
Inclement Weather Days: 1 (difficult to label this one as it rained, snowed, sleeted, and hailed all in one day and almost all in Colorado)
Fatalities: 10,000s of insects (may they rest in peace - they stood no chance against the windshield) + 1 toe nail (it fought the good fight) + 1 tent pole (someone learned that tent poles have boundaries too)
Times I Had to Apologize to One or More Traveling Companions: 1 (no casting bets on how many times I should have apologized...)
SUPERLATIVES
Best Campsite: Havasu Falls, AZ
We spent a good hour making shadow puppets on the canyon walls. Don't judge me. It was ridiculously fun. Shadow puppets. Who knew? It should also be said that depending on who you ask this could be the worst campsite as some rangers' horses were nearby. Apparently eau de horse is not for everyone.
Most Valuable Gear: My sleeping pad
This was originally a toss up between my sleeping bag and my camping stove but then I remembered the glory that is my sleeping pad. It's just so comfortable and has the added bonus of keeping me toasty. My camping experience is changed forever. Dramatic but true.
Most Delicious Meal: The Maui Burger at Oscar's in Springdale, UT
In my everyday life, I do not like ground meat (texture) and I certainly do not like bacon (so salty). This burger had both plus pineapple and it was divine. If you are in the neighborhood, eat one for me.
Scariest Hike: Devil's Garden Trail at Arches National Park, UT
Apparently, I don't like being on top of tall, narrow things when there's a whole lot of wind. For the record, there were wind gusts of up to 36 mph. Totally worth it though - I will definitely be visiting again.
Seemingly Longest Drive: Hole-in-the-Rock Road, Escalante, UT
Twenty-six miles one way doesn't seem long until you are bouncing about on a dirt road and trying to avoid popping your rental car's tires. It was fun for the first twenty minutes or so. After that I thought I was going to be shaken out of my body.
MVP: Mr. John Slevin at Mesa Verde National Park, CO
Not only did Mr. Slevin deliver an inspiring talk at Spruce Tree House (go on one of his guided tours - definitely a trip highlight), but he provided excellent advice for a hot spring complete with hotel recommendations. I love all the National Park Rangers but John Slevin deserves a special shout-out.
And that's it, folks.