Winter in the Zion National Park Region--2023

Kolob Canyon after Winter Snowfall January 2023

Zion National Park Utah: 

This year--2023--has been the wettest year in many years around Zion National Park Utah.  It has really helped mitigate the extreme drought we have been in for 7-10 years.  What's particularly good is that a lot of the snow has come as snowpack in the mountains of Southwest Utah ie Kolob Canyons, Brian Head, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and the Pine Valley Mountains.  This means that our irrigation season this year will be wonderful.  Following are some pictures from the "snowy winter" we've had around our home and in the local mountains.

Red Rocks and Snow near Checkerboard Mesa Zion National Park

Entrance to Zion Canyon, Springdale Utah

Near the Zion Park Headquarters with Bridge Mountain Background

Swirling Sandstone Rocks on the Eastern Plateau of Zion

Kolob Canyons after heavy Snowfall January 2023

Pine Valley Mountains seen from Silver Reef Utah and the Red Cliffs NRA

Our Place in Rockville Utah after Snowfall on South Mesa

Wish you all the very best winter and upcoming spring!!

Robert Ford

geobobford.com

Rockville Utah

Tel.  909-363-6332

Email: geobobford@gmail.com

April 5-9 - Travel from Rockville Utah to Leysin Switzerland

On April 5 we drove from home in Rockville Utah to my sister Pat's place in Loma Linda California, then on the 6th we took the MetroLink rail from San Bernardino to Los Angeles Union Station and on to LAX airport via the FlyAway bus.  From the LAX airport on April 6 we took a direct flight on TahitiNui Airlines to Paris France arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport the morning of April 7.  We spent the night at the nice little Tim Hotel across the street from the Gare du Nord railway and metro station.  

On the morning of the 8th we took FlixBus from Paris for a seven hour rainy trip direct to Lausanne Switzerland where we met Brian, our eldest son and wife and his two boys Mtheo and Leo for dinner.  Then we continued by train to Aigle where we transferred to a CogRailroad up the mountain to the Leysin ski resort where Brian has a nice little apartment.  Below are some pics from our trip.

Our place in Rockville Utah in early spring 2022 a couple days before leaving to France

(left) Spring flowers near Pat's in Loma Linda CA (right) LAX International Terminal

Our Airline to Paris (Tahiti Nui)

Waiting at the Tom Bradley International Air Terminal in Los Angeles (LAX)

(Above) View of the Gare du Nord Railway Station from our Tim Hotel Window in Paris France

The Metro Station across from our TIM Hotel at the Gare du Nord

(Above) Views from the FlixBus traveling from Paris France to Lausanne Switzerland

(Above) Rainy day in Lausanne as we arrive and rainbow over the Riponne Plaza near the Cathedral and Vaudois Restaurant where we met Brian Ford and partner Carla Mendes and the boys

(Below) Our first morning in Leysin, Vaud, Switzerland - April 9 waking up to snow

My best,

Robert Ford

Leysin, Vaud, Switzerland

April 9, 2022

Trip Home via the California Poppy Preserve near Lancaster

Last Part of our 2022 Winter Road Trip - March 20-23, 2022:

Trip Summary: 

Early morning on Monday 20 we left Loma Linda via Cajon Pass on Old Highway 91 (Old Route 66) with a brief stop at Mormon Rocks near Wrightwood then continued on CA-138 toward the California Poppy Preserve located near Lancaster California on the Mojave High Desert.  On our way we stopped at a place we had not seen before--the Charlie Brown Farms--in Littlerock California (see photos below).

We continued on Tuesday March 21 toward Mojave California on US-14 to catch US-58 toward Boron California.  We spent overnight at the Boron Rest Stop then toured around the 20-Mule Team / Borax Mine in Boron California.  Then we continued on via Interstate-15 with stops in Barstow California and nearby Peggy Sue's Diner  in Yermo, California with an overnight stop at the Valley Wells Rest Stop near Nipton California.

On Wednesday March 22 we continued on toward home in Rockville Utah.  We had short stops in Mesquite Nevada then St George Utah and Hurricane Utah.  We arrived home to a beautiful spring day around Rockville Utah on March 23.

Select Trip Photos:

Mormon Rocks near Wrightwood California on CA-138

Charlie Brown Farms near Littlerock California

Some of the "goodies" available at Charlie Brown Farms (Above)

California Poppy Preserve (Below)

The California Poppy Reserve State Park

Overnight Stop near Boron California

Day Tour around Boron California at the Borax / 20-Mule Team Museum and Visitor Center

Local Museum in the "Company Town" of Boron California (below)

Cute Cafe in Boron California (above)

Aerospace Museum in Boron California (below)

Select Photos from Traveling through Barstow California toward Valley Wells Rest Stop

(Above) One of the Street Murals in Barstow along Main Street (Old Route 66)

Strange Mural / Liquor Store in Barstow with Mural about "Wilderness" in the Region (above)

(Below) Return Home to Rockville Utah where Spring has Sprung!

(Above) Our Place in Rockville Utah with Ukraine colors - courtesy of Diane McBride 

END OF WINTER ROAD TRIP - MARCH 23, 2022

Robert Ford (See many more photos on my Facebook and Instagram accounts)