Arches-Utah

Father and son trips are always something special but I really had no idea just how much. Kurt and I had always taken summer trips to places like Glacier, Yellowstone and Teton National Parks but we wanted something a bit more than our usual haunts for his last summer before moving off to University of Idaho. The result was 12 days in southern Utah hiking the big parks; Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Capital Reef and Arches. The sights were amazing and for once I felt that even my camera could not truly capture the views accurately. What really made this trip stand out for me however, were the little unplanned and spontaneous things that we let guide our days. A washed out road blocking one hiking destination turned into finding a new hidden spot that ended up even better. Picking a local eatery off the beaten path turned into my son playing trumpet on an open mic. I will always enjoy travel, treks and adventures but whether I needed this break more that I knew or it hit at some mid life mind shift, it still plays in my head nearly every day. This may be that lightning in a bottle event and I am thankful It was shared with one hell of a young man.