Blogs from Tropic, Utah, United States, North America

Whose idea was it to stay in a ‘traditional hoghan’...oh, sounds very romantic. Oh, let’s be ‘one with nature’, let’s get spiritual and learn about Navajo culture, let’s take a wee in the port-a-loo outside when the ground is encrusted with snow and it’s in the minus! Ha, romance?!? I’ll take fire thanks! More on that later... The day began with a tour of Monument Valley with Navajo Spirit. The conditions were icy to begin with, and the whipping wind did nothing to improve the climate...lucky the car was heated!! We headed into the valley with our guide to learn about the valley’s inhabitants and its surrounds. And honestly, we were fascinated. You come to Monument Valley for the iconic vistas and the red rocks, but hearing about the inhabitants and their origins, as well as ... read more

Another 7am breakfast in the cabins at Tropic, before an early start to do the Queens Garden/Navajo loop trail, which drops from the rim of the Canyon into the Bryce Amphitheater, whilst it was reasonably cool. This trail was listed as the worlds best 3 mile loop trail, which sounded a bit ambitious. But, Wow! Wow! Wow! it has got to be true .It is the most stunning trail we have ever walked. The trail goes down a series of switchbacks into the main Bryce Ampitheater and at every turn and twist of the trail you are blown away at the views and the colours. Vern and Annette set off at a cracking pace (they had done it before) and we did not see them again until the finish. Dinah could hardly take a few steps ... read more