The summer flew by and is essentially at an end. So I’ve had the last week or so to gather some photos I’ve taken over the last few months I’ve spent hiking and camping in my backyard, the mountains of Utah. In this post, I’ll highlight the wildflowers and wildlife I’ve encountered.
After driving over 700 miles through the Alps the previous ten days, I was ready to return the rental car and rely on walking and public transportation. In Switzerland, we made the drive to Zurich from Lucerne to catch a flight to one of my favorite cities, London.
The views of the Alps from Lake Como in northern Italy at sunset left me exited for the days ahead. The next morning, we boarded a short ferry ride across the lake we drove across the border into Switzerland. Soon the Italian speaking part of southern Switzerland including the city of Lugano was in the rear view mirror. Our destination was the Bernese Alps in the canton of Bern.
While it was difficult leaving Amsterdam behind after a short visit, I was really looking forward to continuing the journey through Europe and our next destination, northern Italy.
For one reason or another, while managing to visit all the countries that surround the Netherlands, I never have crossed into Holland itself. As I was planning a trip around Europe, I found a way to start it off in Amsterdam. And what better time to visit than Spring.
Depending where you are in the state, or I guess what elevation you are at, spring starts in varying stages. For example, it won’t be until late May when spring shows its face in the upper Cottonwood Canyons. Snow shoeing or skiing can still be enjoyed well past the time the ski resorts close down for the winter season. l But just down the road at the base of the canyon, flowers are blooming and people are hiking around in shorts.
Well as the snow in our mountains begins to melt off, the valleys begin transitioning to Spring and Summer right behind.
When you live within four hours of five national parks in southern Utah, its hard not to take any opportunity you can to visit, even if it is a quick one. Recently I woke up super early to drive down to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks near Moab to spend the day.