Arizona 2016
Yes, it's time for another trip. Although this one is a bit different as I'm wondering already why it is I'm going. I know the answer, of course, but what is new and what is causing concern is the fact that I now have a child. I had one last time I went, but he was still firmly inside his mor, so in a way, there was nothing for me to miss. Now there's a lot.
I'm going because I took a chance and entered the lottery for a spot to hike to Coyote Buttes North, also known as The Wave. As a protected wilderness area, permits to hike there are hard to come by, and in fact, only 20 people a day get to hike there and back. To get a permit, you must enter a lottery three months before you hope to go. It's literally the luck of the draw, and surprisingly, I got lucky. My hike is September 9th.
I'll be in Arizona (and Utah), for just under a week. I'll make my way to Flagstaff for a night, before heading up to Page which will be my base for The Wave. From there, I'll head to Kanab in Utah for a couple of nights, and hike Bryce Canyon and Zion Canyon. I've poured over the hikes available in Bryce and Zion, and have narrowed them down to:
Bryce
Zion
I've no idea if I'll do them all, but it's good to have a starting point or five.
On the Monday after, I'll make the trip back to Phoenix from Kanab, about a five hour drive through central Arizona. If I have the time, I'll take the scenic route.
Then it's back home to my incredible wife and beautiful child. I can't wait.
The route