Adventuring in Utah Gave Me Insight into Important Writing Truths: 6 Things I learned about Writing at Capitol Reef

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

Capitol Reef National Park is tucked between its more famous neighbors—Zion and Bryce to the West, Arches and Canyonlands to the East. It’s smaller, more niche, if you will, and often bypassed by travelers in a time crunch. 

But, y’all! This is a mistake! Capitol Reef is one of my all-time favorites!

We had two days at Capitol Reef, and as we planned the trip, I came across reviews for a backcountry 4x4 adventure to Cathedral Valley to see the Temples of the Sun and Moon. I was intrigued, but there were significant obstacles. They were located in a remote area and required the right vehicle to reach them. Not to mention that if we said yes to the tour, we’d be saying no to other things. After some discussion and further research, we decided to proceed. 

Adventuring in Utah Gave Me Insight into Important Writing Truths: Part 2 Take it Slow and Don’t Grab the Reins

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

This month, we’re continuing my 5-part series on Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks. Last week we were in Zion National Park. This month, we’re in Bryce Canyon. (Links to previous posts at the bottom)

Bryce Canyon National Park is home to the world’s largest collection of hoodoos—tall, thin spires of rock carved by water, ice, and gravity. The hoodoos are everywhere, and they create a landscape unlike anything I’ve ever seen!

When we arrived at Bryce Canyon, we took the Queen’s Garden trail to the Navajo Loop. The Queen’s Garden Trail takes you to the canyon floor, and while it is the less steep route down, it still requires some careful walking in order to maintain control. 

There were several areas where we had to lean back as we walked, take short steps, and keep our eyes focused on the trail. When we reached the bottom, we walked around a bit before joining the Navajo Loop trail for the hike back to the top. And that’s when the fun really began. Because the Navajo Loop is mostly steep switchbacks that keep going … and going … and going…