Zion, Grand Canyon, and Mojave

A big moment in my life: This is the trip that got me hooked on the desert (and took me to the Mojave Preserve for the first time).

I wavered on going to the Grand Canyon, since I guess I thought it would be too touristy, and too long of a drive, but I’m so glad I stuck it through. What an amazing place. Being down at the bottom feels magical.

The hike back up to the Grand Canyon south rim wiped me more than any other hike I’ve ever done, even StairMaster-of-doom style Adirondack hikes. But some French Berkeley grad student trail-ran it twice — bottom to rim to bottom — in the time it took us to hike back up. Good for him.