I wish I was hiking back to the Solstice Snake again this year, but unfortunately I just couldn’t make it out there this year. Since I can’t be there, here’s a photo from last year’s solstice.
Earlier this year I licensed a few of my photos to be used in this TV show. I finally got word that it will be airing this Sunday (June 17) on H2 (History 2) at 10:00pm ET. It looks like it will be on here in Grand Junction at 8pm (mountain time). Unfortunately I do not get the H2 channel, but they are supposed to be sending me a copy of the show on DVD.
Keep an eye out for these images if you watch it.
Vicious Snake by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Behold! The Comet by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Yellow Comet Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Sunday, February 12, 2012
This trip report is dedicated in loving memory of my mom, Kathryn J. Langstraat.
I’ve long been a believer of enjoying life and living it to the fullest. That’s why I’m out exploring the Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountains just about every chance I get (and creating all of these trip reports some of you enjoy reading). You never know just how much longer you actually have on this Earth, so I always try to make the most out of my free time! I was sadly reminded of that fact this very weekend.
Friday morning at work I received a call from my dad. My mom had arrived at work and suffered a heart attack. She was rushed to the hospital and was being kept alive on a ventilator. We were told that her brain was without oxygen for too long and that she was probably brain dead. They ran a few tests to check for brain activity throughout the weekend and early in the following week, but she never recovered. She was taken off of the ventilator on Tuesday afternoon and peacefully passed away on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 6:00am in the morning with my dad, sister and myself by her side.
On Saturday, as I was exploring Coyote Buttes South, my dad booked me a flight to Chicago from Flagstaff, since it was the closest airport to Page, for bright and early Monday morning. I was hoping for the best news from the test results, but feared the worst.
My mom’s sudden death was rough on me since I had not seen her in about three and a half years because I did not want to return to Illinois. She was supposed to come out here this year with my dad in their brand new RV, and I was looking forward to the visit. I really hope she knew how much I loved her, even though I never said it much.
After a good nights sleep at hotel in Page, Arizona we were back on the road to the Wire Pass trailhead. The weather forecast was calling for rain and possibly snow for much of the day, but that did not deter us. I’ve driven the House Rock Valley Road in my Jeep just after a storm when it was wet before, so I really wasn’t worried. It turned out that the road was still dry the whole way. We were the first ones to arrive at the trailhead for the day, but just as we were getting ready to start hiking a low four-door sedan pulled into the parking lot. I bet he was hoping that the road remianed dry all day…
When I was here last November with Amanda we mainly explored the area just around The Wave since it was our first time here. This trip I was looking forward to visiting more of the Coyote Buttes North area including photographing Melody Arch and exploring up on top of Top Rock.
Near the end of our initial hike to The Wave, Jackson climbs the sand hill as the sun peeks through an opening in the clouds.
Almost There by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
There were a lot of clouds in the sky throughout the day, but they were moving fast with plenty of openings for the sun to peek through, so the light was constantly changing. I seem to have trouble keeping my shadow out of the photos here, so I embraced it with this one.
Can’t Escape My Shadow by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I took an obligatory photo from within ‘The Passage’ even though it may not be my favorite photo from this spot.
Passage Lines by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Continue reading
I turned 32 on Saturday, February 11th and was planning on spending a long weekend in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument since I had permits to Coyote Buttes North and South. However, last Friday morning my mom had a heart attack when she arrived at work and was rushed to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital.
Since I was in Page, Arizona, I drove down to Flagstaff and got on a flight back to Chicago so that I could be with my mom and my family.
Unfortunately, her brain was without oxygen for too long and she never recovered from the heart attack. She was put on a ventilator until Tuesday afternoon at 3pm when she was taken off of it. The neurologist didn’t expect her to survive more than a few minutes off of the machine, but she was strong and lasted for another 14 hours on her own. Her breathing was very fast and heavy at first, but slowed down throughout the night until she peacefully passed away around 6am on Wednesday, February 15th, 2012. My dad, sister and I were by her side all night until the end. She loved Valentine’s Day so I think it’s fitting she held on until the next day.
I really hope she knew how much I loved her, even though I never said it much.
Here’s a photo of my mom and me dancing at my wedding in 2005.
I am currently still in Chicago for the wake and funeral this week. Then I will be driving back to Grand Junction with Amanda. When I get back I will definitely need to get back into the desert.
Part of my birthday present to myself this year arrived yesterday. I was originally going to wait a few more months to buy an inflatable kayak, but I came across a great deal on the boat I wanted that I couldn’t pass up.
Now I just need to wait for the temperatures and water levels to rise so I can get out on the rivers! It should be another great year of exploring!