Bullfrog Bonanza!

Tucked away on the northeastern arm of Lake Powell there is a small marina by the name of Bullfrog. Not much lies between the dam city of Page and Bullfrog Marina, but getting there can be difficult, whether its the 51 miles by air, 244 miles by car (which includes a ferry ride) or a multiple hour boat ride, it is well worth the trip. The marina is surrounded by sandstone and slickrock, but the best part about the flight over there is the landscape. Lake Powell is fed by four rivers, the Colorado, the Dirty Devil, the San Juan and the Escalante. The Escalante river flows through some of the most intricate and twisted canyons, creating a fantastic scene from the air. I was fortunate enough to get some insider knowledge on where to find a spectacular arch that few people get to see because it is so far upriver! So without further ado, pictures of my trip to Bullfrog Marina!

Runway 1 at Bullfrog

Not much to look at

Some cliffs near Bullfrog, apparently these turn in to Capital Reef further north

Some of the twists and turns of the canyons, can you find the arch?

Can you find the arch now?

Steven's Arch!

All in all, we had a pretty good time.

Same Ditch, Different Views

After living and flying over this hole in the ground for over a year, I have become more than familiar with it's many twists and turns, curves and crevices all from the air. But sometimes it's good to gain a new perspective and see it in an entirely new light. This week I was able to go the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Something I've seen hundreds of times from the air but never from the ground. If I had to choose between the North and South Rim, the North Rim is where it's at. Nestled into an alcove facing south, towards the wide expanse of Grand Canyon, the North Rim Lodge sits at almost 9,000 feet above sea level! I was one of about 20 people wandering around, much less crowded than the bustling South Rim Village. Even though I have flown over this Canyon hundreds of times, it still inspires awe and wonder from it's new perspectives.

Bright Angel Point

Geo Rally on the Snowy North Rim Roads

Jacob's Lake Fire Watchtower

Don't mind if I do...

After seeing the North Rim it was a lovely mountain drive down to the Marble Canyon area. I have landed in Marble Canyon, flown over it and around it a bunch of times. But once again, getting down on the ground, walking around and getting to see the magnitude of what I have seen from the air was a completely different experience.

The Colorado River from Navajo Bridge

The Other bridge

Every once in a while you get to see something new that you weren't expecting. The other day a handful of the pilots I work with wanted to go see the Old Hangar because they had never been there before. Trying to be the good host that I am, I drove them out there and we got a little more than we bargained for!

The Horse Whisperer

Am I in the frame?

You never know what you will find at the Grand Canyon!

When You're Flying...

The Grand Canyon and surrounding area proffers some of the most majestic views in the American West, perhaps the world. I'm lucky enough to see it on an almost daily basis. This summer I flew a ridiculous amount and was able to see thunderstorms, rainbows, blue skies, smokey skies, river rafters, friends, abandoned spaces, sunrises and sunsets (often on the same day) and a bunch of neat cloud formations. 

When you're flying, sometimes it looks like you're under the sea... 

Other times it makes big things look little... 

It you can lead you to new places...

Where you'll find old things...

With newly remodeled wood interior!

When you're flying it can make a familiar scene look new...

Or give you a front row seat to the cloud theater...

Or better yet, a birds eye view of the clouds below! 

Sometimes, when you're not flying, your friends come to visit...

And you get to go explore places you'd never seen...

And practice hip poppin'... 

And lava rockin'...

And shadow puppetin'...

And.... whatever this is...

Until you get to fly again!

When you're flying, the rainclouds don't seem so dreary... 

And the rain isn't always menacing...

And you can always find a rainbow...

Even if you can't always find your way...

 

Because eventually...

The way will be illuminated. 

When you're flying you get to see a Bob Ross painting from the sky...

Because the sun always comes back out eventually...

Or in some cases the moon... 

But it always comes back...

To bring out those silver linings.

Sometimes it's the other people who do the flying...

Or in this case, the rafting...

And you get to experience a different kind of adventure!

When you're flying, you can sometimes stop to appreciate a good photo opp...

To appreciate what mother nature can do...

To take a moment to watch something new...

Or to just enjoy the view!

When you're flying at sunrise...

Or sunset...

As long as you know where you've been...

You'll always be able to find your way home.