We held a tour of the Grand Canyon on Wednesday, April 21st.
Due to the spring break, the park was very crowded for about a month from mid-March to mid-April, and there was a long line of traffic at the entrance. I was back in the crowd.
The next peak will be on Memorial Day weekend, a national holiday in late May. Summer vacations in the United States often start around that time, and even the end of May to the first weekend of September (Labor Day holidays) is a busy summer season.
The customer on that day was a couple of teddy bears, not people.
A gift from the family to grandpa and grandma to celebrate the 50th wedding ceremony.
We had the opportunity to present such a wonderful celebration, and we were even more enthusiastic than usual when we released the shutter.
The observatory in the Grand Canyon was quite strong, and I was very careful not to blow the stuffed animals to the bottom of the valley.
After enjoying a one-night camp at Zion on April 13, we hiked to OBSERVATION POINT.
OBSERVATION POINT is a scenic point about 600 meters up a 6.5km one-way trail to the WEEPING ROCK stop, which is usually a shuttle bus that runs inside the Zion Valley.
If you stand in this place even once, you will definitely be fascinated by Zion!
As I wrote in the article before, in Corona Sorrow, the shuttle bus in Zion National Park is restricted, so you can not get on unless you make a reservation in advance.
Moreover, because the purpose of many tourists visiting Zion is hiking, most cars once parked do not move all day long, and most of the limited parking lots disappear early in the morning.
Like the Grand Canyon and other national parks around, Zion National Park is visited by a large number of people every day, and the entrance to the park is congested with long lines of cars every day.
That's because many tourists think that Zion can only enter from the entrance of the park and see from inside the valley.
However, in fact, you can drive to the top of the mountain of Zion and hike the trails from both the east and west sides of the canyon to reach the scenic points and the interior of the canyon.
This time we camp at the east exit of Zion National Park, drive off-road to the east side of Zion to EAST MESA TRAILHEAD, then hike to OBSERVATION POINT.
It takes about 20 minutes by car from the east exit of Zion National Park to TRAIL HEAD.
It took about an hour and a half to walk slowly from the parking lot to the OBSERVATION POINT. The distance is about 5.5 kilometers one way with almost no height difference.
You don't need to book a shuttle bus, avoid traffic jams at the park entrance, and get to this spectacular view without hiking on steep climbs.
Also, there is no entrance fee to the national park!
Please come and see this magnificent view.
I will post a photo from OBSERVATION POINT.
We had a one night camp at Zion on April 12th.
Camping is a trend in the United States as well as in Japan.
However, in the United States, there are countless places where you can camp, not just campsites, and with the exception of some popular campsites, there is almost no congestion, and you can enjoy nature in an environment where there are no people around.
Especially in the area of the Grand Circle, where we provide tourist information on a daily basis, there are countless camping spots, making it a paradise for camping enthusiasts.
This time, I stayed overnight with the company staff at a campsite just outside the east exit of Zion National Park, and on the second day I hiked to the observation point.
The area around the campsite is close to 2000 meters above sea level, and although it is cheerful with short sleeves during the day, the temperature drops suddenly at sunset, and at night it drops to about 3 ° C, so I was warmed up by a bonfire until just before going to bed.
The large campsite was quiet with only a few tents visible.
The distance from Las Vegas to Zion National Park is less than 3 hours by car, so even if you leave in the afternoon, you can fully enjoy camping there.
We arrived in the evening and set up a tent leisurely while drinking beer to prepare for the bonfire and dinner.
The main meal is ribeye steak grilled on a bonfire!
It was one of the best 5 steaks I've ever had.
When the area gets dark, the sky is full of stars overhead. It was a new moon and it was sunny, so I was impressed.
I will post a photo of the camp.
* Ribeye steak baked on a bonfire * Meal around the bonfire * Starry sky (I couldn't take a good picture ...)
On Saturday, April 10th, the second day of the tour will begin at Page near Lake Powell.
Since Antelope Canyon is still closed, sightseeing in the Grand Canyon will be the main focus on this day.
Enter from the east exit of the newly opened Grand Canyon National Park and go sightseeing from the Desert View Point.
I'm really grateful for the reopening of the east exit because I've been bypassing the same move for the past year via Flagstaff.
I will post a photo of yesterday's dessert view from my guide.
On Friday, April 9th, we held a one-night, two-day Grand Circle tour today.
Today on the first day, I visited Bryce Canyon National Park and Horseshoe Bend, and the last was watching the sunset at Lake Powell.
Today's temperature in Bryce Canyon, 2400 meters above sea level, is 15 degrees Celsius and sunny. It was the best weather without any cold weather. The temperature around Lake Powell, where Horseshoe Bend is located, is 24 ° C, which is also sunny. In the evening, enjoy the cool and comfortable air and watch the slowly falling sun.
The customer was a family of five who came from San Diego for sightseeing during the spring break.
I have received a photo of today's sightseeing spot from my guide, so I will post it.
* Bryce Canyon Inspiration Point * Bryce Canyon Sunset Point * Lake Powell from War Weep Overlook
The East Exit (Desert View Gate) of the Grand Canyon National Park will open tomorrow (April 8th)! !!
This is the first reopening in a year since it closed on April 1st last year.
All I have to do is wait for Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon to reopen. .. ..
https://www.nps.gov/grc…
Today I took a tour of the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Although completed last year, the city of Las Vegas has restrictions on admission to indoor facilities due to Corona, so it is this stadium that has never been able to hold an event with spectators.
Professional American football team RAIDERS has moved to Las Vegas, and since last year more than 60,000 fans have been scheduled to watch the game at one time at the stadium.
In the United States, vaccination has recently progressed, and people are going out at once.
Even in Las Vegas, the restrictions on behavior that had been used up until now have been gradually relaxed, and this time we are finally allowed to visit the stadium.
Fans who still have annual seats are now given priority to tour, but soon anyone interested will be able to take a tour.
The tour costs about $ 60 per person and takes about 2 hours with a guide. There are not only spectator seats, but also team owner suites and broadcast seats, VIP lounges, player locker rooms, and cheerleader locker rooms.
At the end, I got down to the field and took a picture.
It's natural, but everything is beautiful.
If vaccination progresses smoothly and the number of newly infected people decreases sharply, we will be able to watch the game with 100% admission in the American football season starting this summer.
The photo to be posted is
* Field seen from the owner's suite * Taken down the field * View of the hotel on the strip from the bar in the stadium
Today, the US CDC has announced good news.
https://www.cdc.gov/cor…
Vaccinations have increased in the United States, and most areas are now vaccinated by all but children.
As a result, the infection situation in the United States has improved considerably, and more people are enjoying traveling from this spring break.
As you can see from the link above, it states that "Vaccinated people are safe to travel across states in the United States," and there is no need for corona tests or quarantine required before and after the trip. There is when it becomes.
However, for the time being, we recommend wearing a mask in public places, social distance as much as possible, and diligent hand washing.
Regarding overseas travel, I think it will take some time because of the problems of the partner country, but probably this summer vacation, the tourist destinations in the United States will be rebounded so far, so explosive congestion is expected.
Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon are some of the favorite tourist destinations for Americans, so early arrangements are recommended for those living in the United States who plan their summer vacation trips.
The Grand Canyon National Park has contacted us today, and we are preparing to open the East Exit (Desert View Gate) of the South Rim National Park, which has been closed since March last year, on April 8.
The east exit, which faces the indigenous Navajo settlement, was inaccessible due to poor infection in the Navajo settlement, but it is expected to open as the situation improves. Has arrived.
Our tour was also forced to make a detour as the east exit was not available for the past year, but this will restore the journey from the Grand Canyon to Horseshoe Bend and Monument Valley.
Unfortunately, the reopening date for Antelope Canyon has not yet been announced, but it seems that the day for sightseeing is approaching.
On March 27th, we held a one-night, two-day Grand Circle tour. The customer is a family of four from Pennsylvania. (Reserved from VELTRA)
Also, on the 28th today, we held a day trip to the Grand Canyon. The customer is also a family of four from Michigan. (Reserved from VELTRA)
As I mentioned in my last post, many tourists from all over the United States are coming to play in the middle of the spring break in the United States.
Yesterday and today, there was a traffic jam of more than 5 km at the entrance of the Grand Canyon, and it took more than an hour to pass through the entrance.
Las Vegas was also very crowded this weekend, and I feel like I've seen many of the hotel's rooms lit for the first time in a while.
The opening of the new Virgin Hotel on March 25th may also be a boost to attracting people to Las Vegas.
Today (Sunday), the daytime temperature in Las Vegas rose to 28 degrees Celsius, and it felt like early summer.
"Las Vegas!"
I want you to make a comeback as it is.
The photo I will post is today's (28th) Grand Canyon.
* Mather Point overflowing with tourists * Scenery from near Mather Point
On March 24th, we held a day tour of the Grand Canyon.
In the United States, there are many areas where schools are closed due to spring break, and the Grand Canyon and the tourist destinations around it are more crowded than ever.
The long-standing restrictions on behavior by Corona have been gradually lifted, and I feel that many people have begun to travel as a result of this spring break.
Many bus tours have not yet resumed, as there is currently a limit of 10 people per group in the Grand Canyon. Instead, the number of tourists visiting by car is increasing, and the traffic congestion at the entrance to the national park is becoming more difficult every day.
Yesterday, when we arrived at the site around 11:30, the traffic jam waiting for entry led to the Grand Canyon Airport, which was about 5 km away, and it took an hour and a half to enter.
According to the ranger, this situation will continue until Easter Sunday (April 4th).
The photo to be posted is
* Mather Point crowded with people * Scenery from Bright Angel Lodge where the snow that fell the day before remains * Traffic jam of cars waiting for admission
A two-day, one-night Grand Circle tour was held on March 22nd and 23rd.
The customers were a couple who are studying abroad at a university in Chicago for work from Japan. (Apply with VELTRA)
I received a photo from the guide in charge, so I will post it.
The weather was fine on the first day (yesterday) and it was sunny in spring, but today the weather suddenly returned to midwinter.
Immediately after sightseeing in the Asahi at the Grand Canyon in the early morning, it began to snow heavily, and the morning trip to Horseshoe Bend took extra time due to the snowstorm.
The photo to be posted is
* This morning's Grand Canyon (Mather Point) where snow clouds hang down
* Today's Horseshoe Bend, also with clouds * The Grand Canyon on the evening of yesterday (22nd), which was blessed with good weather
