“You become what you
think about all day long.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson ~
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| Robert Griego |
Jury duty can be pretty intimating especially when you have
been summoned by the Federal District Court for Eastern California. The official summons said that I was I was on
call for the entire month of July. I
would serve if asked.
So, on July 1, I began calling for instructions. The recording told me that I was not to
appear but that I must call back on July 7th. Again, the recording instructed me that I was
not to appear but that I must call back on July 14th. July is one of my favorite months for my
motorcycle trips so this impacted me dearly.
I told myself, “Plan a trip for five days, and if called to serve, you race
home quickly.”
So with my own biker logic, I set off for Zion National Park
in Utah. I had been there many times
before but this trip was special. I
wanted to get a very particular picture at Zion National Park. By the google map, Zion National Park is 542
miles from Three Rivers, California; a long distance for sure to get a single
picture.
It is early when I leave my home. I’m not a morning person but I love the early
hours once awake and on the open the road.
There is less traffic and the air just smells new. The people that are out at 6 am are off for work.
My bike hums along and the morning sun begins to warm me as
I shiver a bit. Denise is still sleeping
when I approach Bakersfield, some 90 miles into my journey. My plan is to stop quickly in Barstow to see
my brother Leo and sister, Paula. Both
are home and each offers to provide lunch.
Dilemma. OK, lunch with Leo first
at Plata’s Restaurant and then off to see Paula at her house for some delicious
New Mexico red chili, tortillas, and beans.
I love it but I am really full.
Any biker knows that riding on a full stomach is not the
best idea when crossing the Mojave Desert, especially in the middle of hot July. I’m sleepy just after 30 miles but I push on
towards Beacon Station along Highway 15 and the Veterans Memorial Highway. This is in the middle of nowhere. It is hot.
My guess is that it is easily 100 degrees. When I reach Baker, California, the
temperature is actually 112 degrees. The
proof is in front of me on the world’s tallest thermometer. I try to stay hydrated and I always carry
four or five Gatorades and water. Near
Las Vegas, the temperature cools down with some rain clouds that never
produce rain. I always try to get gas at
most eastern part of Las Vegas where it is a bit less hectic. This is the last gas station and I feel like
I am still in the middle of a busy city.
Time to get out of Dodge.
Crossing into Utah, the pace is slower and the scenery
agrees with me after some stressful miles near Las Vegas. I hope to make St. George before dark but
that will not happen. Thank goodness I
reserved a room at Motel 6 while getting gas in Las Vegas. Arriving at 9 pm and having the clerk say,
“Your room number is 144” is comforting, especially as the rain begins to fall. My plan for tomorrow is to get to the South Campground in Zion National
Park by 6:30 am. That is a good hour
drive from St. George so I set my alarm clock for 4 am, whether I want to or
not.
It does its job precisely at 4 am and I am not very happy. My breakfast at the nearby Denny’s
Restaurant is easy, fast, and good.
“Where are you going? the waitress asks as she pours my second cup of
coffee. “Zion National Park,” is all
that came out from me. I think she undertook. She pours more coffee and the few extra
moments allows me to shake the cobwebs from my head.
My bike was packed earlier and with food in my belly and caffeine
to keep me awake, I point my bike towards Virgin, Rockville, and Zion Nation
Park.
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| Zion National Park as seen from the Angels Landing Trail |
It is good to have goals in life. On this trip, my goal is to find, hike, and
take pictures of Walters Wiggles
along the Angels Landing Trail in Zion National Park.
I arrive at the South Campground in Zion National Park at
6:30 am. I am the 6th
vehicle in line and I feel my chances are very good to get a campsite. There is a young man behind me from
the Netherlands. We begin to make small talk. Now, he has an adventurist spirit to travel
abroad and have the sense to be here early for a campsite. I like him right off the bat. Living life to its fullest at the ripe age of
25 years old is my guess. We swap stories while we wait and
I learn that his parents lived and worked in Africa. Since we were in Botswana, Africa, the
conversation flows easily. Later, I
would meet this young man hiking on the Angels Landing. He barely broke a stride up the steep trail
towards Walters Wiggles while I was
dripping in sweat.
My campsite is number 63 and close to the Virgin River. The rain forecast is for 30% chance of rain
by 8 pm. By 9 pm, the skies are clear so
I set up my hammock between two cottonwood trees expecting a good night’s
sleep. There are three guys camping
nearby and they appear to be having a good time at Zion National Park. Just before dark, we meet and talk
briefly. They are on a tour of Utah’s
national parks. “My name is Bob and I’m
camped over there,” I say. “I’m Matt,
Jeff, and Harlan,” as we shake hands.
These guys are from Connecticut and so enjoying Zion National Park and
soon Bryce National Park. When they see
my motorcycle, we begin talking about travels into nature. It turns out that Harlan is a professional
photographer and I say, “I sure wish I could afford you to take pictures on my
motorcycles travels.” He laughs,
thinking I’m joking, but I’m serious. We
exchange information and I hope to hear from these guys again. Later, Harlan sends me some of his amazing
pictures while at Zion National Park. The Zion shots are
beautiful. His web site is called Catching the Mist. He has some amazing photographs. Love them all -- check it out.
After we depart, sleep comes easy in my comfortable hammock. That is until about 2 am when the first rain
drops begin to fall. A few at first at,
then thousands. My tent is packed securely
in my saddle bag and by the time I find it, I would be soaking wet. Decisions are often best made by the
circumstances before you. The picnic
table was there and it could provide a dry piece of dirt for the night. I quickly lay down my ground cover and I
squeeze between the legs of the table and fall asleep. It rains hard all night but I am dry, though I
was a bit cramped.
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| Up towards Walters Wiggles |
In the morning, I hope to be hiking the Angels Landing
Trail and to see Walters Wiggles for my
first time. The immense landscape slows
me down considerably. The higher
elevations, with each step, create panoramic views of the Zion canyon
below. It is not easy walking, but I
continue. Finally, I stop at Walters Wiggles. There are twenty-one short switchbacks leading
from Refrigerator Canyon to Scout Lookout.
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| The amazing Walters Wiggles |
I think about how this man conceived, designed, and
constructed this trail up this sheer rock face.
Then, I begin to see a pattern.
At each important turn along the zig-zags, there is a natural rock from
which he built his trail. The pattern
was distinct though the steps forward seemed impossible. I am breathing heavily. I am much higher. The view down into the canyon is a bit alarming. I think about the workers who spent months
building this trail for me to enjoy. "Thanks Walter," I whisper.
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| This trail is not for the faint at heart |
This portion of the infamous Angels Landing Trail was
designed and built by Walter Ruesch. He
was the first Superintendent of Zion National Park and grandfather to one, Scott
Ruesch. Scott and I worked together at
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and while I knew that his mom and dad
were National Park Service professionals, I had never heard about his
grandfather until I took the Zion National Park free shuttle and the ranger
announced, “Walters Wiggles was built
by the first Superintendent of Zion National Park.” Those simple words were my inspiration to
travel some 600 miles from Three Rivers to see this landmark for myself. I had never met the man, but I was determined
to see the marvel that he created with my own eyes.
Pictures do not really capture the switch backs or the steep grade. You must walk this trail, breathe the thin
air, and see the breathtaking views to really appreciate the rock work along
this iconic walk way, called Walters
Wiggles. An amazing engineering
feat! I love rocks so this seemed like a perfect fit.
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| Beautiful Zion National Park |
In the morning, I plan to ride towards Great Basin National Park in Nevada. I once worked here and it has been years since I have been back.
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| Great Basin National Park before a rain storm |
In Minersville, I stop for gas not knowing how far the next gas station is along this lonely road. I’m sleepy too, so I buy a cup of coffee from the lady at the gas station. “I’m heading for Great Basin National Park; can you tell me how many more miles.” She replies quickly, “I don’t know.” “There is nothing out that way anyway,” she adds. For me, when someone tells me about “nothing,” it is usually a place of immense beauty. What she described as “nothing” was low-level desert that touched the mountains. I didn’t see many cars on this road, but I felt so connected to nature in this place called “nowhere.”
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| Rain is coming as I head towards Great Basin National Park |
The sign ahead is comforting – Great Basin National Park is
6 miles ahead. I buy some groceries at
Baker, including one ear of white corn and a frozen rib-eye steak. Tonight, I’ll camp at the Lower Leman
Campground, campsite #9. It is quiet
here and I quickly build a fire to cook my dinner. It is perhaps the best steak I’ve ever had
and the corn is cooked perfectly. I am
content. The night sky is dark and
alive. Laying in my sleeping bag, I look
up at the brilliant stars. In less than
ten minutes, I am fast asleep -- the Big Dipper sees to that.
In the morning, my Pocket Rocket heats water for my coffee,
Spam, and oatmeal. Today, I'll explore this national park.
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| Great Basin National Park - Mather Overlook |
The ride in Great Basin National Park is awesome. I once worked here on an Operations Evaluation
Team and found that this park was well run.
Today, I feel that the Park is doing well. The park is clean, signs are appropriate, and
the roads are in good shape. The views
are, well, some of the most beautiful that I have seen. The rain clouds are forming and I can hear
the thunder even with my helmet securely strapped to my head. A flash of lightning persuades me to
keep moving. It is impossible to outrun
the rain so I brace for the worst. The smell of rain is heavy.
Then, just like that, the storm turns south and is behind
me. I continue due west along Highway 50. The scenery makes me feel like I am the only
person on these vast roads. My pictures
try to capture the moment.
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| The rain suddenly turns south |
By the time I reach Ely, Nevada, I’m a bit sleepy. It is best to stop, drink water, and have a
snack. In the past, this has
helped. I feel better, and I continue on
towards Bishop, California.
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| A lonely road leading to "nowhere" |
My camp is just below Mount Whitney and I have been here
many times before. The mountains welcome me and the night sky is brilliant. The Big Dipper, sitting just above Mount Whitney, is there almost for me to touch. I am tired, but just before I fall asleep near my campfire, I
think that about my goal at the start of my journey. It has been about 1,200 miles and the tired makes me sleepy.
My thoughts go back to Mr. Walter Ruesch who might
have said, “Thanks, I’m glad you took the time to walk my trail” – And my response, “The views are amazing.
I love your rock work.”
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| My camp in the Alabama Hills below Mount Whitney |
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