![Click to see P4280349.jpg](P4280349Thumb.jpg) 46.8 KB Lake Mead from Las Vegas
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![Click to see P4280352.jpg](P4280352Thumb.jpg) 84.5 KB Hoover Dam
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![Click to see P4280353.jpg](P4280353Thumb.jpg) 65.6 KB Precariously-tilted power lines at Hoover Dam
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![Click to see P4280358.jpg](P4280358Thumb.jpg) 44.5 KB Humphreys Peak, AZ
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![Click to see P4280360.jpg](P4280360Thumb.jpg) 71.5 KB Bedrock City, AZ
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![Click to see P4280361.jpg](P4280361Thumb.jpg) 43.8 KB Entrance to Bedrock City
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![Click to see P4280364.jpg](P4280364Thumb.jpg) 78.5 KB Brad on the Flintstones-mobile
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![Click to see P4280369.jpg](P4280369Thumb.jpg) 55.8 KB Our first view at the Grand Canyon
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![Click to see P4280371MatherPointPanorama.jpg](P4280371MatherPointPanoramaThumb.jpg) 254.0 KB Panorama of the Grand Canyon from Mather Point
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![Click to see P4280377.jpg](P4280377Thumb.jpg) 72.8 KB Visitors at Mather Point give a perspective of the size
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![Click to see P4280380.jpg](P4280380Thumb.jpg) 31.4 KB Brad and Stephanie at Grand Canyon National Park
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![Click to see P4280383.jpg](P4280383Thumb.jpg) 67.0 KB Stephanie on the Bright Angel Trail
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![Click to see P4280389.jpg](P4280389Thumb.jpg) 50.2 KB View from inside the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail
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![Click to see P4280395.jpg](P4280395Thumb.jpg) 43.7 KB Sunset from Hopi Point
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![Click to see P4280399.jpg](P4280399Thumb.jpg) 126.4 KB Another sunset shot from Hopi Point
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![Click to see P4280400.jpg](P4280400Thumb.jpg) 43.2 KB The colors in the rocks really shine at sunset
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![Click to see P4280401.jpg](P4280401Thumb.jpg) 47.7 KB The Colorado River deep in the canyon
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![Click to see P4280405HopiPanorama.jpg](P4280405HopiPanoramaThumb.jpg) 210.3 KB Panorama at sunset
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![Click to see P4290425.jpg](P4290425Thumb.jpg) 77.4 KB Mule train in the canyon along the South Kaibab Trail
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![Click to see P4290428.jpg](P4290428Thumb.jpg) 52.2 KB Stephanie poses on an airy ledge at Ooh-Aah Point along the South Kaibab Trail
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![Click to see P4290429.jpg](P4290429Thumb.jpg) 57.0 KB Brad's not quite as brave with the edge
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![Click to see P4290432.jpg](P4290432Thumb.jpg) 34.3 KB Stephanie and Brad pose at Ooh-Aah Point after hiking into the canyon on the South Kaibab Trail
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![Click to see P4290434.jpg](P4290434Thumb.jpg) 111.2 KB A mule train passes us on the way back up
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![Click to see P4290436.jpg](P4290436Thumb.jpg) 102.6 KB This gives some idea of the steepness of the hike
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![Click to see P4290438.jpg](P4290438Thumb.jpg) 122.0 KB Mule deer on the south rim
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![Click to see P4290441.jpg](P4290441Thumb.jpg) 102.7 KB An unknown bird species
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![Click to see P4290443.jpg](P4290443Thumb.jpg) 64.7 KB The Colorado River just after entering the canyon from the East rim
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![Click to see P4290444.jpg](P4290444Thumb.jpg) 65.2 KB Looking beyond the start of the canyon to the Painted Desert
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![Click to see P4290446.jpg](P4290446Thumb.jpg) 78.5 KB The Painted Desert fills the horizon
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![Click to see P4290447.jpg](P4290447Thumb.jpg) 23.8 KB Humphreys Peak again - it's the highest mountain in Arizona at 12,633 feet
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![Click to see P4290450.jpg](P4290450Thumb.jpg) 27.0 KB Colorful cliffs in the Painted Desert
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![Click to see P4290452.jpg](P4290452Thumb.jpg) 47.0 KB The Vermillion Cliffs loom ahead
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![Click to see P4290453.jpg](P4290453Thumb.jpg) 32.8 KB An interesting rock formation
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![Click to see P4290454.jpg](P4290454Thumb.jpg) 41.2 KB We're driving into the Glen Canyon Recreation Area at Marble Canyon
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![Click to see P4290455.jpg](P4290455Thumb.jpg) 76.3 KB The Colorado River just before entering the Grand Canyon
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![Click to see P4290457.jpg](P4290457Thumb.jpg) 65.5 KB This was one of our favorite spots
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![Click to see P4290459.jpg](P4290459Thumb.jpg) 36.5 KB The flowers in the desert really surprised us.
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![Click to see P4290460.jpg](P4290460Thumb.jpg) 79.4 KB We love purple!
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![Click to see P4290461.jpg](P4290461Thumb.jpg) 60.4 KB Blooming cactus
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![Click to see P4290462.jpg](P4290462Thumb.jpg) 65.8 KB Big beautiful yellow flowers on a cactus plant
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![Click to see P4290463.jpg](P4290463Thumb.jpg) 78.4 KB This is where the rafting trips through Grand Canyon begin
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![Click to see P4290465.jpg](P4290465Thumb.jpg) 43.4 KB Beautiful scenery at Glen Canyon
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![Click to see P4290466.jpg](P4290466Thumb.jpg) 47.2 KB Balanced rock
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![Click to see P4300469.jpg](P4300469Thumb.jpg) 49.5 KB Now we're at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Utah
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![Click to see P4300470.jpg](P4300470Thumb.jpg) 13.5 KB What a tremendous place in the middle of nowhere
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![Click to see P4300473.jpg](P4300473Thumb.jpg) 24.0 KB You really have to see these dunes to believe them
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![Click to see P4300477.jpg](P4300477Thumb.jpg) 72.1 KB We just arrived at Zion National Park. This is Checkerboard Mesa.
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![Click to see P4300478.jpg](P4300478Thumb.jpg) 124.7 KB Deep blue skies, sandstone cliffs, and spring vegetation allowed Zion to earn its name.
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![Click to see P4300480.jpg](P4300480Thumb.jpg) 66.5 KB Closeup view of the rock in Zion
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![Click to see P4300482.jpg](P4300482Thumb.jpg) 69.5 KB You could stand there all day looking at the rock formations
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![Click to see P4300489.jpg](P4300489Thumb.jpg) 86.1 KB Our first glimpse into the main Virgin River valley of Zion from the Canyon Overlook trail
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![Click to see P4300496.jpg](P4300496Thumb.jpg) 101.1 KB Wild Phlox on the Canyon Overlook trail
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![Click to see P4300499.jpg](P4300499Thumb.jpg) 84.8 KB The Watchman
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![Click to see P4300501.jpg](P4300501Thumb.jpg) 64.8 KB Moon over the cliffs
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![Click to see P4300509.jpg](P4300509Thumb.jpg) 57.2 KB A peaceful view into Zion valley from Weeping Rock
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![Click to see P4300512.jpg](P4300512Thumb.jpg) 91.8 KB Flowers growing on the sides of the cliffs
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![Click to see P4300513.jpg](P4300513Thumb.jpg) 91.6 KB Side view of the Great White Throne
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![Click to see P4300517.jpg](P4300517Thumb.jpg) 73.1 KB Rock climbers make "camp" for the night - 1000 feet above the valley floor!
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![Click to see P4300524.jpg](P4300524Thumb.jpg) 24.9 KB A dramatic view late in the day
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![Click to see P4300527.jpg](P4300527Thumb.jpg) 63.1 KB Another unknown bird
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![Click to see P4300528.jpg](P4300528Thumb.jpg) 46.9 KB The Virgin River as it makes it way through Zion National Park
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![Click to see P4300530.jpg](P4300530Thumb.jpg) 145.7 KB We followed the Riverside trail up the canyon toward the Narrows
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![Click to see P5010538.jpg](P5010538Thumb.jpg) 77.6 KB An early dawn hike to the Emerald Pools shows the serenity of the park
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![Click to see P5010542.jpg](P5010542Thumb.jpg) 81.4 KB Reflection in the middle pool
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![Click to see P5010549.jpg](P5010549Thumb.jpg) 70.4 KB The cliffs and deep blue sky surrounding us at the upper pool
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![Click to see P5010551.jpg](P5010551Thumb.jpg) 74.9 KB Shaded reflection
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![Click to see P5010555.jpg](P5010555Thumb.jpg) 71.9 KB The Great White Throne in stark contrast to the deep blue sky
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![Click to see P5010557.jpg](P5010557Thumb.jpg) 136.8 KB Looking back at the path of the Emerald Pools trail
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![Click to see P5010559.jpg](P5010559Thumb.jpg) 147.7 KB Now it's time for some air. Steph on the Hidden Canyon trail.
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![Click to see P5010561.jpg](P5010561Thumb.jpg) 75.9 KB Brad poses just before going off trail inside Hidden Canyon deep in the park.
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![Click to see P5010562.jpg](P5010562Thumb.jpg) 128.1 KB Looking out Hidden Canyon
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![Click to see P5010566.jpg](P5010566Thumb.jpg) 59.6 KB Beautiful rock formations in Hidden Canyon
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![Click to see P5010567.jpg](P5010567Thumb.jpg) 155.1 KB Zion National Park, and Utah in general, had the bluest skies we've ever seen.
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![Click to see P5010568.jpg](P5010568Thumb.jpg) 46.4 KB We couldn't stop photographing these interesting rock formations.
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![Click to see P5010570.jpg](P5010570Thumb.jpg) 73.0 KB Brad high up on the Hidden Canyon trail - not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights
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![Click to see P5010571.jpg](P5010571Thumb.jpg) 59.6 KB Brad carefully makes his way down the Hidden Canyon trail
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![Click to see P5010572.jpg](P5010572Thumb.jpg) 74.1 KB Looking up the route of the trail
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![Click to see P5010574.jpg](P5010574Thumb.jpg) 118.4 KB Looking down the side of the trail
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![Click to see P5010576.jpg](P5010576Thumb.jpg) 109.3 KB Looking across the valley from the trail at the Organ
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![Click to see P5010577.jpg](P5010577Thumb.jpg) 113.1 KB The Grotto walk shows the plush greenery at Zion
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![Click to see P5020588.jpg](P5020588Thumb.jpg) 71.8 KB Now we enter Death Valley National Park in California
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![Click to see P5020592.jpg](P5020592Thumb.jpg) 58.6 KB The Badlands at Zabriskie Point
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![Click to see P5020594.jpg](P5020594Thumb.jpg) 50.5 KB Brad stands in the wind at Zabriskie Point
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![Click to see P5020598.jpg](P5020598Thumb.jpg) 36.4 KB Badwater on the valley floor is the lowest point in the hemisphere
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![Click to see P5020599.jpg](P5020599Thumb.jpg) 45.3 KB We couldn't believe how accurate the GPS read below sea level.
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![Click to see P5020601.jpg](P5020601Thumb.jpg) 40.8 KB Stephanie walks out onto the salt flats.
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![Click to see P5020602.jpg](P5020602Thumb.jpg) 35.6 KB A closeup view of the salt crystals
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![Click to see P5020603.jpg](P5020603Thumb.jpg) 89.7 KB This is the valley floor on which we were walking
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![Click to see P5020605.jpg](P5020605Thumb.jpg) 87.4 KB A sea level marker up on the cliffs
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![Click to see P5020606.jpg](P5020606Thumb.jpg) 119.9 KB The same marker zoomed out for perspective of where we were in relation to the surface of the ocean
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![Click to see P5020609.jpg](P5020609Thumb.jpg) 77.1 KB Brad stands next to the weather station at Badwater, the hottest point on Earth
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![Click to see P5020611.jpg](P5020611Thumb.jpg) 76.8 KB Death Valley is immense - 200 miles long and 16 miles wide.
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![Click to see P5020621.jpg](P5020621Thumb.jpg) 59.1 KB Artist Palette
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![Click to see P5020622.jpg](P5020622Thumb.jpg) 68.7 KB Can you believe the colors of the rocks in this park?
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![Click to see P5020623.jpg](P5020623Thumb.jpg) 18.3 KB Sunset over the park
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![Click to see P5020627.jpg](P5020627Thumb.jpg) 76.6 KB Brad goes exploring to touch the green rock. It looked like powder but was hard.
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![Click to see P5020630.jpg](P5020630Thumb.jpg) 36.6 KB Artists Palette is an incredible place made even more beautiful by sunset.
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![Click to see P5030631.jpg](P5030631Thumb.jpg) 41.1 KB The view from our room at the Furnace Creek Ranch
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![Click to see P5030632.jpg](P5030632Thumb.jpg) 52.4 KB The Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells
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![Click to see P5030633.jpg](P5030633Thumb.jpg) 30.0 KB The wind makes for some neat designs in the sand
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![Click to see P5030635.jpg](P5030635Thumb.jpg) 26.9 KB Stephanie bundled up to go hiking in the hot dry air and ferocious wind
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![Click to see P5030636.jpg](P5030636Thumb.jpg) 100.9 KB Several places in the dunes are hard and crusty from rain storms that create pools which end up evaporating in the sun
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![Click to see P5030641.jpg](P5030641Thumb.jpg) 9.0 KB The ridge on which we were hiking - note the wind blowing the sand
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![Click to see P5030642.jpg](P5030642Thumb.jpg) 28.1 KB Death Valley is one of our favorite National Parks now.
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![Click to see P5030645.jpg](P5030645Thumb.jpg) 20.8 KB The tall peak was our goal. Due to the dry air and flat terrain along the Salt Flats, distances are telescoped. It looked as though we could touch the peak from the car. We never made it after hiking several miles.
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![Click to see P5030646.jpg](P5030646Thumb.jpg) 46.6 KB A wide angle view back at the car of the dunes
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![Click to see P5030648.jpg](P5030648Thumb.jpg) 171.2 KB Now we're hiking back into Mosaic Canyon
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![Click to see P5030650.jpg](P5030650Thumb.jpg) 171.1 KB This was a hauntingly beautiful place. We're walking on the river bed which is usually dry unless a storm causes a flash flood.
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![Click to see P5030653.jpg](P5030653Thumb.jpg) 92.8 KB Mosaic Canyon
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![Click to see P5030654.jpg](P5030654Thumb.jpg) 94.6 KB Brad is hiking along a knife-edge ridge
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![Click to see P5030655.jpg](P5030655Thumb.jpg) 81.1 KB The view of the ridge and the trail - this was quite exposed as it dropped about 100 feet on either side of the 18-inch wide trail.
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![Click to see P5030656.jpg](P5030656Thumb.jpg) 66.5 KB Brad at the top of a point. Just after this picture was taken, we were nearly blown off the ridge by the strongest winds either of us has ever experienced. An exciting saga that reminded us that, however much fun this was, we are NOT in control out there.
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![Click to see P5030660.jpg](P5030660Thumb.jpg) 96.8 KB The sides of the canyon walls were granite-like gravel cemented naturally
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![Click to see P5030661.jpg](P5030661Thumb.jpg) 63.6 KB The floor of the canyon was polished marble, smooth as glass from the work of water
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![Click to see P5030667.jpg](P5030667Thumb.jpg) 54.9 KB The scenery along the park road in Death Valley
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![Click to see P5030668.jpg](P5030668Thumb.jpg) 76.7 KB Pup fish in Salt Creek
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![Click to see P5030669.jpg](P5030669Thumb.jpg) 60.2 KB Salt Creek is the only moving water we saw in the park, and as its name suggest, it is salt water.
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![Click to see P5030676.jpg](P5030676Thumb.jpg) 48.3 KB One of hundreds of dust devils we saw
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![Click to see P5040681.jpg](P5040681Thumb.jpg) 61.8 KB The village entrance in the park
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![Click to see P5040683.jpg](P5040683Thumb.jpg) 52.2 KB Looking across the salt flats at the Panamint Mountains
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![Click to see P5040685.jpg](P5040685Thumb.jpg) 81.4 KB The Devil's Golf Course
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![Click to see P5040687.jpg](P5040687Thumb.jpg) 77.2 KB Stephanie tries walking on Devils Golf Course - a large area of crystallized salt blocks with sharp edges
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![Click to see P5040689.jpg](P5040689Thumb.jpg) 79.8 KB To show the vastness of this place
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![Click to see P5040690.jpg](P5040690Thumb.jpg) 99.4 KB A closeup view of the salt block formations
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![Click to see P5040693.jpg](P5040693Thumb.jpg) 39.0 KB The park road between Badwater and the Visitor's Center. You need to always keep water in the trunk and a full tank of gas.
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![Click to see P5040696.jpg](P5040696Thumb.jpg) 87.9 KB Hiking into Golden Canyon
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![Click to see P5040701.jpg](P5040701Thumb.jpg) 79.6 KB Looking at Telescope Peak from Golden Canyon
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![Click to see P5040704DantesViewPanorama1.jpg](P5040704DantesViewPanorama1Thumb.jpg) 160.0 KB Panorama from Dante's View shows the lowest point in the park, Badwater Salt Flats at -282 feet, and the highest point in the park, Telescope Peak at just over 11000 feet.
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![Click to see P5040710.jpg](P5040710Thumb.jpg) 43.4 KB The white salt in the valley and the white snow on the mountains stand out against the brown mountainsides and blue sky
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![Click to see P5040715.jpg](P5040715Thumb.jpg) 28.6 KB The Sierra Nevada mountains are just visible on the horizon from Dante's View
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![Click to see P5040721.jpg](P5040721Thumb.jpg) 124.2 KB Gorgeous wildflowers at 5500 feet in Death Valley National Park
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![Click to see P5040723.jpg](P5040723Thumb.jpg) 47.8 KB Overlooking the valley floor from up high in the park
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![Click to see P5040725DantesViewPanorama2.jpg](P5040725DantesViewPanorama2Thumb.jpg) 193.4 KB Another panorama from Dante's View
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![Click to see P5040732.jpg](P5040732Thumb.jpg) 102.4 KB Flowers along the trail at Dante's View
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![Click to see P5040734.jpg](P5040734Thumb.jpg) 92.3 KB Flowers along the road to Dante's View
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![Click to see P5040735.jpg](P5040735Thumb.jpg) 60.2 KB Our reliable little Dodge Neon rental on the road to Dante's View. We put 1300 miles on that poor car.
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![Click to see P5040739.jpg](P5040739Thumb.jpg) 66.9 KB Unbelievable colored ridges within the park
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![Click to see P5040742.jpg](P5040742Thumb.jpg) 24.8 KB Charleston Peak, at over 11000 feet, just outside of Las Vegas
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![Click to see P5040745.jpg](P5040745Thumb.jpg) 44.9 KB A distant view of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California from the drive back to Vegas on Hwy 95.
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![Click to see P5040746.jpg](P5040746Thumb.jpg) 126.0 KB A lone Joshua tree frames the Mount Charleston range
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![Click to see P5040748.jpg](P5040748Thumb.jpg) 50.6 KB Snow Mountain outside of Vegas
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![Click to see P5050751.jpg](P5050751Thumb.jpg) 60.1 KB We drove down the Strip to say we had.
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![Click to see P5050752.jpg](P5050752Thumb.jpg) 33.6 KB The Venetian is where you can ride Gondolas down the canals of Venice
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![Click to see P5050754.jpg](P5050754Thumb.jpg) 47.3 KB The infamous Caesar's Palace
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![Click to see P5050756.jpg](P5050756Thumb.jpg) 67.8 KB The Eiffel Tower, in miniature
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![Click to see P5050757.jpg](P5050757Thumb.jpg) 48.7 KB The Aladdin
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![Click to see P5050758.jpg](P5050758Thumb.jpg) 54.7 KB A view down the Strip
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![Click to see P5050760.jpg](P5050760Thumb.jpg) 44.9 KB Paris
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![Click to see P5050761.jpg](P5050761Thumb.jpg) 60.6 KB Harley Davidson Cafe (this one's for you, Amy)
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![Click to see P5050762.jpg](P5050762Thumb.jpg) 114.6 KB The New York skyline at the New York, New York hotel and casino
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![Click to see P5050763.jpg](P5050763Thumb.jpg) 78.1 KB Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty
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![Click to see P5050764.jpg](P5050764Thumb.jpg) 66.1 KB The Statue of Liberty - coming to Las Vegas can save you a lot of trips to other places.
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![Click to see P5050765.jpg](P5050765Thumb.jpg) 59.7 KB An Egyptian pyramid and the Sphynx
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![Click to see P5050768.jpg](P5050768Thumb.jpg) 54.5 KB A view of the Strip on our way to the airport
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![Click to see P5050769.jpg](P5050769Thumb.jpg) 62.3 KB Yes, they have slot machines in the airport terminal.
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![Click to see P5050778.jpg](P5050778Thumb.jpg) 20.9 KB The Grand Canyon south rim village from the airplane
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