Collection of Short Outdoor Adventures: Summer 2014

Upon arriving back from a wonderful trip across the Western USA, I have decided to share some half-day, short outdoor adventures with this blog: 

1. Rock Climbing- Sinks Canyon State Park, Lander, WY 
2. Pikes Peak (Highway, Summit, Garden of the Gods), Colorado Springs, CO
3. Petrified Forest National Park and The Painted Desert, AZ
4. The Grand Canyon (Mather Point and Desert View), AZ

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1. Rock Climbing at Sinks Canyon State Park


Miles to Rock Climbing from Trailhead: 2 RT
Elevation Gain: 350'
Climbing Class: Class 5.5 (Yosemite Decimal System)
Closest Town: Lander, WY
Directions: http://goo.gl/maps/LX4Jc

Personally, I wasn't a big fan of rock climbing for the first time on Class 5 rock, but it was a good experience nonetheless.  I'll just share a couple pictures from this small hike to the base of the rock, and then my climb about 35' up the cliff.  

Popo Agie River

 

 

Bruce's Suspension Bridge

2. Pikes Peak (14,115'), Colorado Springs, CO

Ok, so I drove to the summit of America's Mountain, but that doesn't mean it doesn't count.... It was an amazing drive up there and the Garden of the Gods wasn't bad at all either.....

Pikes Peak from Colorado Springs

Garden of the Gods

Summit of Pikes Peak 

Cog Railway

Original Summit House

3. Painted Desert National Park

This is a fun place just of I-40 and it only takes about 2 hours to see most of the park.... enjoy...  if you have time hike from Tawa Point along the Painted Desert Rim over to the Classic Hotel.  It only about 1 mile.  

4. Grand Canyon National Park (Mather Point, and Desert View)

What can be said about the Grand Canyon? Perhaps God's most single inspiring place on earth...