Greenelvis - dave p

A nice balance of intellect and carelessness, Dave is a college teacher in Chicago, Illinois.
During the "teaching summer break" of 2009, beginning on July 25th and ending August 31, 2009, Dave P. left Chicago, Illinois in a 1997 Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck, accompanied by his dog, Sophie, in a cross-country "loop" trek from Illinois to Utah, taking the "southern northern" route across the country.
Highlights/thoughts/photos include: Chicago, Il., Corn Palace, South Dakota, Pierre National Grasslands, Wall Drug, Canyonland National Park, Black Hills National Forest (northern and southern units), Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial Sculpture, Devils Tower, Deadwood, Sturgis, Bighorn National Forest, Medicine Wheel, Sturgis S. D. (3 days before start of rally), Yellowstone National Park (9 days), Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Uintas National Forest, Flaming Gorge, Utah, Antelope Island State Park, Dixie National Forest, Fishlake National Forest, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capital Reef National Park (Cathedral Valley), National Bridges National Monument, Canyonlands National Park (Hwy 211 Needles/Elephant Rock), Moab, Arches National Park, Denver Art Museum, and Moline, Illinois (Quad cities).
He welcomes comments and grammar corrections regarding his writings.

Round Trip Driving Loop: Chicago, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah (National Park/Forest camping)
July 25th 2009 -» August 31st 2009

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Joined on: July 25th 2009
Last Login: November 29th 2009

Blog Entries: 27
Photos: 1003

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Blogs & Travel Journals

by Greenelvis, order by Date newest first.

By Greenelvis
September 21st 2009

Uinta High Wilderness: Henrys Fork Trail: In Which the Author Hikes to Dollar Lake North America » United States » Utah

High Uinta Sky

Monday, August 23, 2009: Henry’s Fork (King’s Peak) Ashley National Forest, Utah Author note: This hike in Utah took place about a month ago. I’m currently about a week away from starting back teaching college, and am currently sitting with Jennifer and Sophie, the dog, in a rain-soaked tent at Kettle Moraine State Park in southern Wisconsin) Even with the cold, I slept great at the National Forest (free) campsite, having been warmed by the previous night’s fire. We awoke early, around 8-9 a.m., and proceeded to lay out all the materials nee [View Full Entry]

By Greenelvis
September 9th 2009

Flaming Gorge, Utah: In Which the Author Gets Weak-Kneed North America » United States » Utah » Manila

Flaming Gorge, Utah

Jennifer Visits Utah Section: Our realized itinerary: Friday night, August, 21, 2009: Northeast of Ogden, Utah in Willows (Wasatch-Cache National Forest) Saturday, August 22, 2009: Wasatch-Cache National Forest to Flaming Gorge (Uinta High Wilderness) Sunday, August 22, 2009: Flaming Gorge to Ashley National Forest (Henry’s Fork/King’s Peak Trail) Monday, August 23, 2009: Henry’s Fork Trailhead to Dollar Lake (approx. 8 miles) Tuesday, August 24, 2009: Dollar Lake Day Hike: To Gunsight Pass and back (approx. 7 miles) Wednesday, Augus [View Full Entry]

By Greenelvis
September 8th 2009

Arches National Park: In Which the Author Crosses Abbey Road North America » United States » Utah » Arches National Park

Arches National Park
3 Gossips

Thursday, August 27, 2009 Arches National Park: In Which the Author Considers Edward Abbey Note: This blog entry was composed in Chicago 2 weeks after visiting Arches. After a good Moab breakfast, I drove the 6 miles north to the Arches National Park entrance. There was an excellent backdrop, with Hwy 191 continuing on in a series of switchbacks cut into 1000-foot red, stone walls (think: Albert Brook’s movie Lost in America. I blew past the entrance gate, and since it was only about 10:45 a.m., inquired about the camping situation, more specifically, [View Full Entry]

By Greenelvis
September 8th 2009

Canyonlands National Park: In Which the Author Wakes At Dawn North America » United States » Utah » Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands Self Portrait

Thursday, August 26, 2009 In Which the Author Drives to Canyonlands National Park Continuing my long desert drive, having explored Capitol Reef’s northern section, and passing through the Glen Recreation Area and National Bridges National Monument, I headed north through Blanding and Monticello, careful, as always, to follow the 35-mile an hour speed limit through these 2500-person towns, I head west down a nice, paved scenic drive, 211, which leads me into the southeaster [View Full Entry]

By Greenelvis
September 7th 2009

Capitol Reef: In Which the Author has Dinner and Desert... North America » United States » Utah » Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef Valley Drive

Wednesday, August 25, 2009 In Which the Author hits the Cathedral Valley, Utah Camping alone at a pull-off off of a ridge road in the Fishlake National Forest, Utah, I’m clicking away on the keyboard in the dark tent. I keep hearing strange noises, animal-like noises, at the truck, which is only parked 5 feet away from the tent, but Sophie sleeps on, exhausted, and I’m too tired to be too alarmed. The noises stem from the truck, which is odd, as the engine has been sh [View Full Entry]

By Greenelvis
September 4th 2009

Denver to Illinois: In Which the Author Leaps from Rest Stop to Hotel to Condo North America » United States » Illinois » Moline

Denver Art Museum

Saturday, August 29th, 2009 In Which the Author Leaps from Rest Stop to Hotel When traveling on a road trip, I’ve often found it useful to get out of one’s town of origin as quickly as possible, making the initial push to cover as many miles as possible to ward off the possibility of being bogged down/stuck in areas that may not be where you want to be. Even excessive stops, i.e. eating in restaurants, shopping for snacks, etc. take time away from the forward progress. So, I “put on my astronaut pants” and plow forward as fast as possible. My [View Full Entry]

By Greenelvis
August 29th 2009

Arches to Denver: In Which the Author Leaves Utah for the Rocky Mountains North America » United States » Colorado » Rocky Mountains

DSC07203
Drive from Arches to Rocky Mountains

In Which the Author and his Dog Bag a 14-footer Friday, August 28, 2009 I could see the summit; no turning back now. All the preparations had been made, but I was a little concerned, as I had just run out of water a very light snow was “spittin.’” I was over 14 thousand feet, and my breath was short…my feet were a bit sore, but I was poised to “bag” one of Colorado’s 54 14,000-ft peaks. I felt a tired sense of satisfaction, as my Timberlands make the final steps, as if on auto-pilot…finally…I was on the summit, w [View Full Entry]

By Greenelvis
August 28th 2009

Capital Reef, Utah: In Which the Author Heads to Capital Reef National Park North America » United States » Utah » Capitol Reef

Bryce National Park Sophie

Tuesday August 25, 2009 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. In Which the Author Heads to Capital Reef National Park After reorganizing the bins yet again, Sophie and I packed our tent; I was a little bittersweet about leaving Bryce, as I found the place very satisfying. It’s probably good that I wasn’t able to do many serious hikes/backcountry camping, as it left me wanting to return with Jennifer at some time in the future. I left a bin and some plastic containers at the cool “Leave Something, Take Something” spot on the campground host’s table. The New Yorkers [View Full Entry]

By Greenelvis
August 25th 2009

Bryce Canyon: In Which the Author Hikes Bryce Canyon National Park North America » United States » Utah » Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

Monday, August 24, 2009 Bryce Canyon Utah After blogging last night (and getting the last pictures uploaded just before time ran out) and getting a great night’s sleep, Sophie nuzzled me at the break of dawn to go out. I realized that Sunrise Point was calling, but I was still at the Pillow View Point…I roused myself out of the sleeping bag a couple of hours later, and spent a few minutes with my morning routing, stolen from my friend, J.T., which consists of reading for a while in the tent (I’m almost through with my “Mountain Climbing Disaster” b [View Full Entry]

By Greenelvis
August 24th 2009

Salt Lake City to Bryce: In Which the Author Travels from Salt Lake City to Bryce Canyon National Park North America » United States » Utah » Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park

In Which the Author Leaves Salt Lake City to Travel to Bryce Canyon National Park via Dixie National Forest Saturday, August 22, 2009 After dropping off Jennifer at the Salt Lake City International Airport, I hit I-15 outta’ town, realizing that I was missing the city and its heavy Mormon-influenced culture and architecture, but I just couldn’t bring myself to dip into a place where religion has such an influence. I got enough trouble not believing anything at all. A stop 25 miles south in a suburb (will the mountains bordering the east, all the valleys contain [View Full Entry]

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