Winter Desert Wonderland - Hoover Dam

So, our winter-wonderland-journey ended with a trip to Hoover Dam. K was already crazy excited about the visit since he saw a documentary about the dam in school before the holidays. This way we had our own special guide with many insights on the dam.
After the drive from Kanab we checked in our hotel and walked along the route of the old railroad tracks from the Hotel to the dam. Along the way we had nice views onto Lake Mead. Here and there information boards give details on the construction of the dam, flora and fauna of the area and so on, very interesting. Since it started to get dark already, we just took a glimpse onto the dam and headed back for the night. Next morning we drove down to the dam and walked the site. After that we had a few more hours before our flight out of Las Vegas. We decided to spent some time in Boulder City and found a nice little museum in the historic Boulder Dam Hotel. Giving some more insight on the life of the builders and their families during the construction and brains behind the project.

Hoover Dam still is an impressive monument and we are happy we went to see it. Here are some impressions of our visit.

Along the old railroad tracks.

Lake Mead.

Trail.

Information on the turbines.

Glimpse onto the dam.

View from the dam onto Colorado River.

Dam wall.

Intake towers - Lake Mead view..

Intake towers and dam.

P and K on the Arizona side - hopping between time zones :).

Art deco on Hoover dam.

More Art Deco.

Memorial.

Good bye Nevada, Utah and Arizona - be aware, we will be back!

Winter Desert Wonderland - Peek-a-boo Canyon

The last trip from Kanab was a recommendation from a local. The hike to peek-a-boo canyon, or sometimes it is also called red canyon. I cannot imagine doing this hike in the summer, to get to the canyon, we hiked through a cattle farm and a wash - 3.4 miles one way to reach the canyon, no shade of course. The missing shade was no issue for us that day, though. The hike was all worth it, we reached the narrow and had it all to ourselves. Next to it a lone hoodoo, very picturesque.

Yuccas, the power plants,along the way.

Along the ATV path to the canyon.

Along the way.

View.

Reaching the canyon.

Stone formation.

Stone and plant formation.

Close-up.

Another close-up.

Hoodoo and the boys.

Stone formation.

Entrance to the Canyon.

In the Canyon.

Canyon walls.

Path through the Canyon.

Path through the Canyon.

View up the walls.

Path.

K in the Canyon.

Broader part of the Canyon. 

P in the Canyon.

Outside the Canyon.

Stone formation.

Winter Desert Wonderland - Zion National Park

Next on our list was Zion National Park. And it is entirely what you expect - AMAZING. These sandstone walls are stunning and the colors and the forms and the plants trying to catch a halt on the walls - did I mention it is amazing!?!

Most of the trails were impassible for us since we were ill equipped, because they were really icy. Walking below these huge cliffs made us feel small and humble. We feel the urge to explore the valley more at some other time with better trail conditions and equipment.

Right after the east side entrance.

Views along the road.

View from the Visitor Center.

Along the Virin River.

Funny cloud formation.

:)

Huge sandstone walls.

Along the scenic route.

View into the valley.

More sandstone walls.

Sandstone close-up.

Tree on top.

Stone, tree, snow.