Hello. From Northern Arizona I traveled first to Cortez in SW Colorado to spend time hiking in the Canyon of the Ancients and on the Mesa Verde top. After a week I moved on, driving through the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area for some photo ops along the Colorado River just below where it joins the Green River. From there I spent a number of days in Capitol Reef National Park for some new hiking destinations. Because the elevation of Torrey, the small Morman town at the park entrance, sits at almost 7,000 feet I found the early mornings still generally at freezing, but the mid-days were pleasant.

My hip replacement has functioned flawlessly for a year now, and I am back to finding my hiking limits (relatively short distances but including climbs) based partially on sore legs, but more than ever on soreness in the pads of my feet. I wear good hiking boots with inserts and medium heavy wool hiking socks, but I think I will need to find thicker cushioned inserts and socks for rocky terrain. On my slow progress toward Yellowstone, I currently am staying in Moab to do some short hikes in and around Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Below are a number of Colorado Plateau scenic and colorful panoramic photos from BLM’s Canyon of the Ancients (Puebloan Culture), Glen Canyon National Recreational Area and the Capitol Reef & Arches National Parks in the Four Corners area. Until later. Dave