Out with the Old Year...

Happy 2012! Hope all of you have had an enjoyable holiday season.  As I was sitting down to post today, I was thinking about all the wonderful people I met last season and the amazing hikes we did.

The photos below reflect some of those hikes.  Enjoy!

In February, we led hikes in Hawaii.  We did a 6-day tour of Maui and another 8-day tour split between Kauai & the Big Island.  Both were incredible.  From the lush, Garden Island of Kauai to the almost yin/yang, wet/dry climate of the Big Island, it is hard to believe the variety and diversity that exists on each island, let alone from one end of the state to the other.  

Posing for a Kodak moment at the Kilauea Iki trailhead, Hawaii Volcanoes NP

 

Kilauea Iki, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island

An orchid along Pu'u O'o trail, Hawaii Volcanoes NP

 Enjoying the Hawaiian wildflowers, Volcanoes NP

Lushness at Kipahulu, Haleakala NP, Maui

In early summer, we visited Bryce/Zion, Yosemite, and Glacier National Parks.  A late-arriving spring left impressive amounts of snow in the mountains of the Western U.S., which changed or modified some of the hikes we were able to do.  Although the Bryce/Zion shots here look pretty "normal", the Virgin River was too high to wade into the Narrows the week we were there.    

View of Zion Canyon from Observation Point, Zion NP, Utah

View from the rim of Bryce Ampitheater, Fairyland Loop, Bryce Canyon NP, Utah

A very unusual amount of snow for July at Iceberg Lake, Glacier NP, Montana

Looking for wildlife on the Iceberg Lake trail, Glacier NP

Wading through unusual amounts of snowmelt on the bridge over the Tuolumne River, Glen Aulin trail, Yosemite NP, California 

 

There was more runoff in those areas than I have ever seen.  The late melt in Yosemite made for some incredible waterfalls!  We also couldn't get to the higher hikes, so did North Dome instead.  I love that hike.  Puts you right across the valley from the face of Half Dome.

Above is the face of Half Dome from the North Dome trail, Yosemite NP, CA

(the photo does not do this view justice, IMHO)



Later in mid-August, Iceberg Lake had thawed.  Glacier NP, MT

Hiking in the Many Glacier region of Glacier NP

In late August, we had a chance to do the hike to Cathedral Lake in Yosemite on our own.  The hike continues above the lake for a great view of Cathedral Peak (photo below).  One day, I would really like to climb that peak!  Another cool area we explored was the 20 Lakes Basin, close to Tioga Pass/Saddlebag Lake.

Cathedral Peak, Yosemite NP

20 Lake Basin, CA, near Yosemite NP

September took us to Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California.  After Labor Day, we felt like we had the place to ourselves.  The weather was fantastic!

View from Brokeoff Mtn, Lassen Volcanic NP, CA

Taking a break on top of Brokeoff Mtn, Lassen Volcanic NP

Cinder cone hike with Mt. Lassen in background

After Lassen we went back to Yosemite.  The snow had melted and we were able to access more of the high country, yay!  Everyone was able to enjoy some spectacular views that week.     

Hiking the Panorama trail near Glacier Point, Yosemite NP, CA

Top of Cloud's Rest, Yosemite NP

Looking back towards Tuolumne Meadows from Glen Aulin trail, Yosemite NP

  Mother & daughter at Mariposa Grove of Sequoias, Yosemite NP

Our last hiking tour of the season led us back to Bryce & Zion. 

Steve & Nola below Tower Bridge, Fairyland Loop, Bryce Canyon NP, UT

Hiking Fairyland Loop, Bryce Canyon NP

Hiking on the Observation Point trail, Zion NP, UT

Returning from the top of Angel's Landing, Zion NP, UT

I have far too many pics to post them all right here.  We met so many really great people last year, many of which will I'm sure will become good friends over the years. 

Thank you for visiting and thanks, 2011!!