End of trip

 Traveled back from Texas via 40, 44, 70. Day 1 was OK but long. Day 2 had problems on 70. Twice, in Indianapolis and Colombus, they had 70 closed for what I assume is construction. They funneled the traffic down to one lane and then everyone got off at the same exit. Then other routes in a congested city to detour around until you could get back onto 70. Stopped traffic, lots of accidents, a highway worth of cars, trucks going onto roads already over crowded. Have never seen an entire major highway get detoured. A very bad idea!

Leaving Amarillo TX:

Random trip summary notes:

Lake Tahoe was probably best skiing. Also had back country skiing which was a lot of fun. Also inexpensive hotels within walking distance of Heavenly gondola. Snowbasin was a nice surprise. Great mountain!

I think I covered the hiking areas that I went to fairly well. I don't think there are significant things left undone at these parks.

Take care of feet! Band aids on big toes whenever skiing more than 5 days in a row.

Used very little in camping bin. Good to bring stove but most things in that bin could be left behind. Small electric heater and extension cord are worth it. Did not use them often but pretty nice when I could use them. Needed all the ski clothes but had too many other clothes for hiking. Some additional jackets, pants not needed. Should be able to travel with 2 bins.

Blackjack inn in Tahoe was good and great location. Swiss alps utah good. Homestead resort interesting but they have some maintenance issues that will likely get worse over time. Rodeway inn Bryce was OK. Moab rim camp ground clean but too close quarters and mostly motor heads. Much better possibilities just outside of Moab. Luxery Inn Silverthorne OK. All other camp grounds good. Mountain View RV in Monticello very good.

Snow tires? There were a few times they would have been good but snow rated all seasons, like I had, were probably best choice. 

Stay at least 3 days in an area. Not worth it to jump around more than that. 10 weeks is a long trip if you are in vacation mode all the time (constant activity). 6 weeks better for this kind of trip. For a 10+ week trip should spend a month somewhere in air b&b or something so you have some down time and significant time not traveling or travel planning.

Miles: 11,200, average gas mileage: 27.6, gas prices 3.00 - 5.50 average 4.00?

River walk in Zelienople PA:

Spring. Green. Humidity!

Palo Duro state park - Texas

 I have driven on route 40 a number of times in Texas. It is a flat area with many wind mills and dry ranch land. Palo Duro state park is maybe 30 miles south of Amarillo and it is a different world. A large canyon with colored rock and a fair amount of wildlife. Coyotes, turkeys, deer, and the usual desert lizards. There are even some long horned cattle near the entrance. The coyotes were making lots of strange sounds the first two nights. The third night was too windy to hear anything beyond the wind.

There are a number of hiking trails. Plenty to keep me busy for the two days I was there. The first day was nice with temps between 60 and 80. I went on the Givens, Spicer, Lowry trail to the Lighthouse trail. Very interesting area. I saw a Texas Horned Lizard on the GSL trail which was very cool. Kind of a flatter body and little horns on its head. There were bugs for the first time in the trip. Just house flies but they were around. This is likely one of the better hikes in the park. In the afternoon I focused on flatter river walks that do have some shade. The second day was CCC trail and Rock Garden. I was done at 1:00 and that was it for the day as the temps climbed into the 90's. Luckily the campground had shaded areas you could sit. For the first time in the trip I sat for about 5 hours. Read some New Yorkers and all the park data I had picked up in the last few weeks.

The last night it was windy. Maybe 40 mph gusts. Enough to lean the tent over and make lots of noise. Taking the tent down in the dark and wind so I could get an early start driving was interesting. Starting the long, likely not fun, trip back East.

No wifi or cell service at the park. 

Arrival at the park 4/26:

Campground:

4/27. Hot but not too hot.

Texas Horned Lizard. Very interesting and very different from other lizards I have seen on the trip.

4/28. OK in the am but too hot to move in pm. 95.