http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA Travels and Journeys... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:57:18 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 2006-2010 heather@heatherdugan.com (Heather Dugan) heather@heatherdugan.com (Heather Dugan) 1440 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA 144 144 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?feed=podcast Footsteps Travels and Journeys... Travel, outdoors, adventure, Heather, Dugan, stories Heather Dugan Heather Dugan heather@heatherdugan.com no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/01/31/dirt-for-your-health/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/01/31/dirt-for-your-health/#comments Sun, 01 Feb 2009 03:10:26 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blog/heart-to-heart/dirt-for-your-health/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2009/01/31/dirt-for-your-health/feed/ 15 0:01:59 Occasionally, if I can willfully ignore the doomsday articles on the economy and avoid the stark accounts of human atrocities, I find myself paragraph deep in a news article that breathes hope and inspiration.  One that provides a virtual pat on t[...] Occasionally, if I can willfully ignore the doomsday articles on the economy and avoid the stark accounts of human atrocities, I find myself paragraph deep in a news article that breathes hope and inspiration.  One that provides a virtual pat on the back, either in print or on-line… Three kids, one dog and an overflowing schedule are not the elements of choice for a perfect home interior.  I’m OK with that.  I gave up that obsession back when I slid from being a “Type A” personality to more of what I term a “Type A-” mode.  Basically, it was my decision to focus “Type A” tendencies on specific and select areas, and to let things like the exterior Christmas lights lolling on my front bushes linger another holiday if necessary without leaving a guilt residue.  Reasonable; right? When I recently bumped into a NY Times review of “Why Dirt is Good” by Mary Ruebush, I smiled.  Her premise is that ultra-clean environments can be detrimental in that they don’t allow a child’s immune system to “explore his environment.”  Hope for the harried… Years ago I ran across a study that reached similar conclusions, and my immediate response was to mail the clipping to the only friend with a life more chaotic than my own.  We had curious toddlers and needy babies.  “Free time” was theoretical at best and an illusory hope on most days.  I knew she’d be grateful.  We agreed by phone that on the days our homes were closer to “disaster” than “designer”, we would at least hold on to the hope that we were “immunizing our children.” True or not, this is a theory I can buy into.  It’s a handy notion for messy, dirt-dusted vacations like last summer’s Utah trip, too.  I’d rather believe that I’m absorbing helpful minerals than simply getting dirty.  And while notions such as these are not going to get my kids out of any cleaning chores, it’s a helpful thought on the days I catch myself caring a little too much about the kitchen floor. Springdale Vacations   Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/08/07/hanging-gardens-zion-national-park-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/08/07/hanging-gardens-zion-national-park-utah/#comments Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:18:48 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/hanging-gardens-zion-national-park-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/08/07/hanging-gardens-zion-national-park-utah/feed/ 16 0:01:19 Zion National Park Visitor Information and Map A “hanging garden” in Ohio would require a shepherd’s pole or sturdy tree limb, but in Zion National Park, we found such gardens trailing from the edges of sheer cliffs. The Weeping[...] Zion National Park Visitor Information and Map A “hanging garden” in Ohio would require a shepherd’s pole or sturdy tree limb, but in Zion National Park, we found such gardens trailing from the edges of sheer cliffs. The Weeping Rock Trail was an easy stroll that provided identifications for some of the intriguing plant life we had admired during our park stay and ended beneath a dripping cliff resplendent with blooming greenery. We wondered “why…” And “how…?” Zion’s majestic peaks are comprised predominately of porous sandstone, a tangible reminder of their sand dune origin. This sandstone absorbs rainfall with the thirst of a giant sponge. The moisture then trickles down through the rock layers until it reaches impenetrable slate. With its downward path now cut off, the water flows out horizontally, eventually reaching daylight at cliff’s edge, a process that can take hundreds of years! According to our shuttle bus driver that afternoon, one sample of water was determined to have had a journey of 4000 years from absorption to its reappearance as drips down a rock wall! The rather elegant result of the sandstone’s perch upon slate is the hanging gardens, whimsical oases that dangle from a desert wall of solidified sand. Zion National Park Visitor Information and Map Zion National Park (Utah) Park Website Canyons and cliffs in vibrant “rainbow” colors! Hike and climb your way through rivers, slot canyons and up radical cliffs for a “view” in every direction… Springdale, UT 84767-1099 435-772-3256 Park Hours: Daily (except December 25); call for seasonal hours Entrance Fee (valid for 7 days): $25.00/private vehicle; $12.00/bicycle, motorcycle, pedestrian($25.00 family cap) Annual Pass available View Larger Map More on UTAH… Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/08/03/court-of-the-patriarchs-and-the-emerald-pools-of-zion-national-park-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/08/03/court-of-the-patriarchs-and-the-emerald-pools-of-zion-national-park-utah/#comments Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:35:31 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/court-of-the-patriarchs-and-the-emerald-pools-of-zion-national-park-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/08/03/court-of-the-patriarchs-and-the-emerald-pools-of-zion-national-park-utah/feed/ 13 0:01:51 Zion National Park Visitor Information and Map Hannah and I began our third day in Zion National Park with a run up the Watchman Trail. The steady ascent around Bridge Mountain afforded some spectacular views, but hopping on and over the rocks req[...] Zion National Park Visitor Information and Map Hannah and I began our third day in Zion National Park with a run up the Watchman Trail. The steady ascent around Bridge Mountain afforded some spectacular views, but hopping on and over the rocks required that we maintain a decent focus on our footing as well.I’ll never forget running just ahead of the morning sun’s illumination, its rays sliding steady at our heels as we ran out a side canyon to join “the guys” for our day’s hiking… Day Three of our Utah adventure officially began at the Visitor Center. We had a rough idea of what looked “interesting” and had already hit our must-do “strenuous” trails on Days One and Two. The trio Emerald Pools (with water!) gained unanimous approval. Decision made; we dashed outside, hopped a shuttle bus and rode toward our next trailhead. We made a photo stop at Court of the Patriarchs, named for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob of the Old Testament. After a short uphill stroll, we easily attained the promised photographic vantage point. This “trail” is touted as the “you do this and you can say you hiked Zion” trail by the shuttle bus drivers (of which our favorite was the smooth-toned and knowledgeable Daniel). The trail to the Emerald Pools began further up the road and across the river from Zion Lodge. It was hot. Current drought conditions rendered waterfalls a mere trickle of their normal flow. But we were somewhat acclimated now and knew that keeping hydrated was the key to a good hike… We favored the Lower and Upper pools over the Middle “puddle” and enjoyed endless views, dainty foliage and a deer or two as we hiked to our favorite Upper Emerald Pool. Preservation efforts eliminated our normal splashing, but we found a picnic spot downstream where we could cool ourselves before the hike back down. And at trail’s end? Ice cream on the patio at the venerable Zion Lodge… Zion National Park Visitor Information and Map Zion National Park (Utah) Canyons and cliffs in vibrant “rainbow” colors! Hike and climb your way through rivers, slot canyons and up radical cliffs for a “view” in every direction… Springdale, UT 84767-1099 435-772-3256 Park Website Park Hours: Daily (except December 25); call for seasonal hours. Entrance Fee (valid for 7 days): $25.00/private vehicle; $12.00/bicycle, motorcycle, pedestrian($25.00 family cap) Annual Pass available View Zion National Park, Utah in a larger map Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/29/the-subway-zion-national-park-utah-part-two/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/29/the-subway-zion-national-park-utah-part-two/#comments Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:44:36 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/the-subway-zion-national-park-utah-part-two/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/29/the-subway-zion-national-park-utah-part-two/feed/ 13 0:03:33 One splash led to another. Which might explain why it took us five or six hours to hike to “The Subway” in Zion National Park… The Subway (Zion National Park, Utah); Part One The actual trail kind of meandered alongside the creek, but after our st[...] One splash led to another. Which might explain why it took us five or six hours to hike to “The Subway” in Zion National Park… The Subway (Zion National Park, Utah); Part One The actual trail kind of meandered alongside the creek, but after our steep descent in surging heat, swimming and wading through the water seemed the preferable option. We had so much fun climbing the waterfalls and falling into the pools that we didn’t realize how slowly we were progressing until Zach wondered aloud why we weren’t anywhere near anything that resembled an enclosed canyon yet. We decided to get a little more serious and regretfully returned to the sandy trail. After a mile or two, I quietly feared we had somehow taken a wrong turn. Completely illogical; we knew the trail followed the creek. But still… We’d encountered no other hikers and our brushy path reminded me a little of deer trails I’ve mistakenly followed in Ohio. Settling onto a large boulder we took a water break, opened our rations and discussed our options. No one wanted to turn back, but there was the suggestion to follow a side stream instead of the creek we’d been trekking alongside. Good teaching moment, I decided. I explained that it was far too easy to get completely lost (as opposed to momentarily confused) by veering off on potential shortcuts. Our choices would be limited to continuing forward or going back the way we’d come. And, we would need to start rationing our drinking water… At that critical moment, the Boy Scouts arrived! The group of teens had rappelled and hiked down from the top of the route and their leader assured us we were only “a couple of miles” from the dead-end Subway. This would prove to be an ironic and oft-repeated statement. As we began meeting occasional hikers along the increasingly difficult trail, Hannah was told “one more mile” at least three times at quite distant intervals. The final person she queried regressed to the “couple of miles” response at which point she quit asking altogether. Our trail that day began on red sand, dropped down steep crumbling cliffs and then flowed on through a sandy creek bed. Rocks expanded into massive boulders as we edged up the creek/trail. We climbed and pulled ourselves up waterfalls and followed Zach’s lead around and over all kinds of obstacles. Eventually we picked our way up algae-coated slate waterfalls into the carved tunnel known as The Subway. At last… The streaming water at our feet was even colder now, untouched by sunlight as it coursed across the canyon floor. Erosion had carved random pools for us to slip in and out of as we determinedly made our way to the “Waterfall Room” that would mark the end of our trail. The merest slivers of light slid in, giving life to algae and attracting the occasional bird or dragonfly. It was unlike anywhere we’d been before. An eerie sculpted passage that nudged all our senses into lively perceptions. But our time was short… Our pact was to hike out as fast as safely possible, knowing that a canyon sunset is something best viewed from the rim. I gained even more respect for my kids that day as we worked our way back. Zach was a selfless leader, and I played sheep dog at the rear. It was the hardest, best time we’ve had in a while. And, at the end of it all… After that brutal climb back up that 400 feet of heat-radiating red rock… We did it in two hours and fifteen minutes, with an hour to spare. Canyons, Extremes, Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/26/the-subway-zion-national-park-utah-part-one/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/26/the-subway-zion-national-park-utah-part-one/#comments Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:40:48 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/the-subway-zion-national-park-utah-part-one/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/26/the-subway-zion-national-park-utah-part-one/feed/ 23 0:02:10 “The Subway” (Zion National Park, UTAH); Part One Hannah and I probably violated some “code of conduct” for vacationers by crawling out of bed at 6:15 our first morning at Zion National Park.  But “The Subway” was a permit-only hike, and we [...] “The Subway” (Zion National Park, UTAH); Part One Hannah and I probably violated some “code of conduct” for vacationers by crawling out of bed at 6:15 our first morning at Zion National Park.  But “The Subway” was a permit-only hike, and we had to be among the first in line at the back country permit window that morning to gain passage to our favored adventure.  We figured we’d snag a permit, eat some breakfast and get in a morning run before the boys even noted signs of daylight. Zach and Matt grabbed their own breakfast next door at Cafe Soleil (which became our favored morning nutrition stop) while Hannah and I ran the Pa’ rus Trail (“Rushing Water). That trail was a simple paved affair with some marvelous views of our stunning surroundings. There would be nothing simple about “The Subway.” After a false and somewhat comical start on what we later dubbed the “pseudo-Subway” trail, we found the real trail head for our day’s endeavor off of Kolob Terrace Road. We reapplied sunscreen, strapped on our packs and set off on a red sand trail through a juniper woods. It was hot. Well into the 100’s… But we had water, food and enthusiasm… When the sparse woods ended at the sheer edge of a cliff, and the trail ahead appeared better suited to small goats, however, I had a moment of doubt. Were my kids up to this? Was I? I have a mental “wobble” with heights which is why I have regularly pushed myself to confront them. While this has worked well for me, I still house a slightly unreasonable fear for my children at heights above, say, the low dive at the swimming pool. Could I really allow my kids to creep along edges that gave me chills in stifling heat? It became a team thing, and that made all the difference. No one stepped down without reaching back to help the next. We called out the “loose rocks” and “slippery” sand spots. It took almost forever in the intense heavy heat, but eventually we reached the Left Fork of North Creek some 400 feet below and soaked ourselves in the cooling waters. We were in another world now and knew we were walking into “wonderful.” The Subway (Zion National Park); Part Two Canyons, Extremes, Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/23/into-the-narrows-zion-np-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/23/into-the-narrows-zion-np-utah/#comments Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:04:23 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/into-the-narrows-zion-np-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/23/into-the-narrows-zion-np-utah/feed/ 17 0:02:38 “The Narrows” was the perfect plunge into vacation mode. After dropping off luggage, we hopped onto the seasonally mandatory shuttle bus and rode toward its uppermost stop, the Temple of Sinewava. Each curve of the road took us deeper into the[...] “The Narrows” was the perfect plunge into vacation mode. After dropping off luggage, we hopped onto the seasonally mandatory shuttle bus and rode toward its uppermost stop, the Temple of Sinewava. Each curve of the road took us deeper into the intriguing walls of Zion. We craned to see rocks that stretched up like skyscrapers, sipped water from our Camelbaks and constantly nudged one another to “look at that!” Navajo sandstone fills the biggest space amongst Zion’s nine layers of vibrant rock. A shifting of the earth’s crust some 200 million years ago sloshed ocean water over giant sand dunes that rose far above our modern day dunes. The sea minerals cemented the sand grains, transforming those ancient wind-swept dunes into permanent fixtures. Subsequent motions in the crust lifted and tilted the newly-formed rock, draining the sea but leaving rivers behind to further embellish the landscape by carving dramatic canyons and eroding honeycombed crevices and caves.  Hiking “The Narrows” would give us a first-hand glance at erosion in action.  And be a LOT of fun… To access “The Narrows,”  we first walked the one-mile “Riverside Trail” to its finish at the chilly Virgin River. After slipping my camera into our dry bag, we began our hike by simply walking into the clear waters of the river. Absolute exhilaration. There’s not much better than a river hike on a hot day. You expect to get wet and maybe a little dirty. There’s no need to step over puddles; instead, you aim for them. It’s the perfect kid hike (for the kid in all of us). Debra, a part-time employee at the Cliffrose Lodge had thoughtfully provided us with the necessary hiking sticks (her own) to remain upright in the swift current and over the slippery rocks. As we made our way upriver, the canyon walls enclosed us, blocking all direct sunlight and sheltering us from the sweltering heat. Water trickled and occasionally gushed down the sheer walls sustaining hanging gardens of green that clung to the sandstone. The occasional stretches of deeper sandy-bottomed river prompted challenges between Hannah and Matt to achieve full submersion in the chilly water (I made it up to my ear lobes and counted that a success). We didn’t make it the whole sixteen miles. Next time…? We met a couple of guys from Georgia at Zion’s backcountry permit window the next morning who planned to do the hike with an overnight.  Sounded like something fun to aim for… By 8:30 hunger and darkness sent us back to dry land.  Invigorated, covered in wet sand and fully “on vacation…” Canyons, Extremes, Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/21/road-to-zion-national-park-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/21/road-to-zion-national-park-utah/#comments Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:34:11 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/road-to-zion-national-park-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/21/road-to-zion-national-park-utah/feed/ 19 0:02:01 The road to Zion extended from an Enterprise rental lot outside Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, past the Strip and well beyond tenacious Mesquite, Nevada. A “Welcome to Arizona” sign came as a complete surprise as we traveled northeast o[...] The road to Zion extended from an Enterprise rental lot outside Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, past the Strip and well beyond tenacious Mesquite, Nevada. A “Welcome to Arizona” sign came as a complete surprise as we traveled northeast on I-15, but a quick (frantic) check of our Google directions confirmed a “passing through Arizona” before Utah. Whew. That one scared me a little! The landscape did a rapid transformation from man-made glitz into stubbled desert southwest. This soon segued into ever-growing cliffs that edged toward our roadway and up towards a sky that bloomed blue. It was a windows down kind of drive even with triple digit temperatures. Once in Utah, we enjoyed the novelty of long stretches of nothingness dotted by municipal blips with names such as Hurricane, La Verkin and Rockville. The latter’s street lights consisted of a series of single light bulbs dangled from the wires periodically strung across Route 9.  A hand-lettered sign in La Verkin outlined a former business owner’s vehement discontent with city politics; I bet they have some interesting community parades there…  One of the town’s more easy-going residents had appended a cautionary “Watch Children” sign with “act like monkeys.” Zion National Park gave us tantalizing glimpses of its glory as we rounded bend after bend after bend. Our goal was Springdale on park’s edge, and more specifically, the Cliffrose Lodge which would be our base for the next few days. We passed a doggy day camp with little white tents and an organic orchard before finally rolling into the strip of civilization that has grown out of Zion’s popularity. The Cliffrose had luxurious views that made up for its average accommodations and was within easy walking distance of the park entrance. With the VirginRiver in its backyard and balcony views of Zion’s peaks fronted by the lodge’s lush gardens, we were happy to dump our bags and head out for our first hike! Matt’s choice sounded great to our hot and dusty group, a river walk through a gorgeous canyon suitably dubbed “The Narrows”. Hiking, Lodging Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/17/adventures-in-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/17/adventures-in-utah/#comments Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:32:43 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/adventures-in-utah/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/07/17/adventures-in-utah/feed/ 22 0:01:36 Where did all the mountains go?! Yeah, yeah… I know. Glaciated Ohio has never contained the ear-popping elevations of our western states. And “straighten (ing) your shoulders” just won’t pull you from under 1000 feet to an elevation that will supp[...] Where did all the mountains go?! Yeah, yeah… I know. Glaciated Ohio has never contained the ear-popping elevations of our western states. And “straighten (ing) your shoulders” just won’t pull you from under 1000 feet to an elevation that will support ponderosa pines and aspens. No geologic changes here. It’s just me, making some mental adjustments to my internal panoramic viewfinder. This past week, I basically braked for trailheads, wildlife, scenic views and the (very) occasional gas station (with bonus points for decent restroom facilities). I kind of liked flying across ranchland, over mountains and through canyons in our rental car as we navigated from park to park. Every mile traveled revealed yet another surprise and spectacular scenery. Utah was quite the adventure for the kids and me. We climbed enormous boulders, swam through rivers, inched up waterfalls, explored slot canyons and fended off menacing road cows (don’t ask)… We encountered a park fire, two hail storms and temperatures ranging from 50 -111 degrees Fahrenheit. We scanned cliffs for petroglyphs and pictographs, wandered through hoo doos and, technically, made a couple of wrong turns (although I maintain that if you have a map, it’s just an alignment issue) during our 1500 mile adventure through southern Utah. And yes, I took a few pictures… I’ll be sharing photos, hikes and stories from Zion, Bryce and Capitol Reef National Parks, Grand Staircase- Escalante National Memorial, and Boulder Mountain, Brian Head and Cedar Breaks, Utah in the next few weeks. Canyons, Extremes, Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/06/19/flying-to-not-vegas/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/06/19/flying-to-not-vegas/#comments Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:47:14 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/taking-the-kids/flying-to-not-vegas/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/06/19/flying-to-not-vegas/feed/ 19 0:02:20 A friend was horrified to learn our summer vacation plans. You’d think I had confessed we’d be spending the week cleaning out the basement (which we need to do) or identifying and polishing our hodgepodge of tools and hardware items! She’s headed t[...] A friend was horrified to learn our summer vacation plans. You’d think I had confessed we’d be spending the week cleaning out the basement (which we need to do) or identifying and polishing our hodgepodge of tools and hardware items! She’s headed to total indulgence on the Pacific coast. Which sounds lovely. Shore vacations slow the pace to where family members can recalibrate connections, within and amongst themselves. I love the beach and the soothing sounds of the surf… It’s just that my oldest will be a junior this fall, and I feel the need to extend his experience beyond the sand this year. So… We’re headed to Utah. SIDENOTE: A week after I finalized flight plans, I found out that Matt had informed his class that Mom was taking him to “Vegas” for his summer vacation. Funny one, Matt. I fine-tuned it a little, “We’re FLYING into Las Vegas, Matt. Then we’re DRIVING to Utah.” I don’t even bother to explain things to Matt’s teachers anymore. I gave that up after he announced in second grade that I took “drugs” (antibiotics!). I figure I’m in the classroom and on enough field trips that the other parents have plenty of opportunities to observe me for odd tics and nervous behavior. And Matt is still getting invited to plenty of birthday parties, so we must check out OK… Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef… We have the basics in place so that we can explore the twisting canyons and cliffs as curiosity leads. It will be hot, so we’ll do a lot of stream hiking, splashing our way to cooling waterfalls. We seem to hike better when there are boulders and barriers to climb over and water to fall into. The kids get tired on the easy trails but beg for more when the trail stretches ahead like an obstacle course. There should be plenty of the right kinds of challenges for us on this trip. A camping trip through Bryce and Zion National Parks some thirty years ago with my own family etched permanent pictures into an impressionable mind. It’s time to return there with my own children. Southern Utah is a vast and inspiring blend of playground and vista. My biggest challenge so far is to not load the itinerary with every park in the area. But the goal of this trip is to introduce, not to conquer… Because you can’t carry every book out of the library with one visit. Instead, you leave with an armload, knowing you’ll be back again to discover more. UTAH! Extremes, Hiking, Nevada Heather Dugan no no