u/PjWulfman

This is where Snake Gulch and Kanab Creek Canyon meet. The creek is on the right side, evidenced by the green ribbon running south. It starts NE of Kanab, flows right by the town, and continues on its way to the Colorado. There's the Virgin coming out of Zion many miles to the west, Lake Powell 2 hours to the east, and Kanab Creek. Not a lot of water around here.

Snake Gulch contains more pictographs than I've ever seen in one place. Miles and miles of paintings on both sides of the canyon. 5 miles from the start is a spring, and the rocks are covered with bigger than life sized humanoids everywhere you turn.

The Havasupai Reservation is almost straight south of here, on the other side of Grand Canyon. Torroweap (or Tuweep) is not far to the west.

Mac was giving soft growls intermittently for hours after dark. He's no stranger to the wilderness so it definitely had me curious. He'd get up a few times to wander around our campsite and every time he returned he'd cuddle up close. He's not the biggest cuddler so I assumed it had more to do with the chill breeze. The last time he did it he just dove right into the sleeping bag into my arms and I got the pleasure of falling asleep hugging him.

That last pic is Mac sitting next to an agave flower stalk. I've seen ones taller than this. Despite being called a Century Plant it doesn't take 100 years to bloom. 10 to 30 years is pretty standard. They only bloom once though so they shoot that stalk up as high as they can to catch the attention of some pollinators. In my head I hear them singing "look at me, look at me. I'm right over here. Pollinate meeeeeeee".

My best friend came to visit me this weekend in Kanab. We haven't seen each other since I moved to southwest Utah 5 years ago. We were both raised in the Pacific Northwest and had nothing like this landscape to explore. We had mud and rain and tall trees instead of sand and sandstone and scrub. We grabbed my boy MacReady and took his truck off road for the first time.

Since he'd never been to this part of the country I figured White Pocket would be a good introduction. Multi-colored sandstone that's been twisted and tortured and swept up into waves. Huge patches of brain rock, or to use the scientific term polygonal cracking. Little iron concretions we call Moqui Marbles littering the ground (I'm holding some in my hand). A Martian Rover found some of these on the surface of Mars laying in the red sand that looks identical to what I trek thru here. NASA calls them Martian Blueberries. It's why the rock is so red out here. Rusted iron.

There was no water trapped in the sandstone pockets but sometimes when there is you'll find freshwater shrimp swimming in them. Their eggs can lay dormant and dehydrated in the sand for decades waiting for water and heat. I've found 5 distinct species but the triops are my favorite. Look them up. They resemble miniature horseshoe crabs.

I wonder if anyone recognizes Lone Tree from Apple's wallpaper circa 2020? The only ponderosa pine for many miles. There is a Ponderosa forest on top of the neighboring Kaibab Plateau, but those are all growing well above 7000 feet and in dirt. This lonely tree is around 6000 feet and growing out of a small sandstone pocket full of sand. .

We caught the 2026 Condor Release at the Vermillion Cliffs, brought to us by the Peregrine Fund. 4 new to the wild condors were set free, and about 6 adults glided above the cages for hours. We reduced their numbers to 22 in the 80's due to lead poisoning and DDT. We captured them all and instituted a captive breeding program. Today their numbers have increased to around 600, with more than 300 in the wild. In the wild they lay one egg, and it takes 18 months to raise th3 chicks so no wgg the next year. In captivity they'd take the egg away immediately, and a few weeks later she'd lay a 2nd one. Then done for the year.

Included some pics of The Grand Staircase. You may have heard of it recently due to the reduction of the protections the federal government oversaw. The shrinking of the Monument. Bear's Ears is right next door. The Staircase consists of five different colored cliff layers stepping up from the Arizona Flat and ending at Bryce Canyon National Park. It consists of the Chocolate Cliffs at the bottom, then the Red or Vermilion Cliffs, then the White Cliffs of Zion, then a small hard to distinguish section of Grey Cliffs, and then finishes with the Pink Cliffs of Bryce Canyon National Park. The elevation rises from 5000 to around 9000 feet. In the pictures you can easily see the Red, White, and Pink Cliffs. If you zoom in you might pick out the Chocolate Cliffs at the bottom.

I watched the new series shortly after it ended its run. Enjoyed it. Was a bit disappointed in the ending but felt like it sufficed. I was much less enamored of the wilderness back then and couldn't see why setting aside all their technology would have been a good idea.

Just finished it for the 2nd time a few days ago. What a difference. The acting blew me away. Having my mother die of cancer last year made the last season difficult to watch. Being more knowledgeable now about living off the land and the skills required had me wishing the remnants of the colonies luck. A technological society transitioning to a primitive existence overnight is going to end with some heartache and death.

Olmos was incredible. From Adama's flaws and stubbornness, to his evolution and triumphs. His joy and grief were palpable.

Callis was disgustingly charismatic. You loved to hate Baltar while rooting for him to succeed. Not easy to pull off. His redemption arc is one of the best I've ever seen. And believable.

Helfer had to play so many roles. Baltar's ethereal #6 companion was so devious. Figured Caprica Six was just going to be eye candy in the beginning. Was totally wrong. She never disappointed.

Hogan shined. Tigh was such a troubled and broken man. You applaud his devotion while watching him frak up everything he touched.

Vernon had to be so disgusting so often. Mrs. Tigh rarely had you on her side. She never left a doubt as to her motivations.

Sackhoff seemed like she loved every minute of her performance. Tough and flirty and confident and lost. All you knew about Starbuck is that she was going to Starbuck the hell out of everything.

Bamber had to alter Apollo so drastically throughout the series. Starting as a son who wanted nothing to do with his father, to seeking out his approval, to having to set aside that new desire to forge his own path. Such a journey.

Park was energetic. Boomer, Athena, #8. Soft and hard and loving and ruthless.

Douglas always had me wanting more. You feel genuine sympathy for the chaos that fate kept throwing in Chief Tyrol's face.

Shepard. Romo Lampkin might be my favorite character from the whole show. I wonder how much fun he had playing that role.

And so many secondary characters. Too many to list. Doc and Cally and Gaeta and Agathon and Leoben. So much talent.

BUT

Mcdonnell stole the show. There wasn't a second of unbelievability in her performance. Watching Laura Roslin fade away, with the shakes and the glasses and the stammering speech.... I was watching Connie waste away all over again. Bizarre and unsettling. I wonder how she emulated that so accurately?

So much more though. Watching her morph from an uncertain unwilling leader to a determined block of granite was incredible. She displayed strength and weakness simultaneously. Beautiful performance.

This is my 3rd watch of the show. Not my normal routine. Watched it twice then read the 9 book series in 2 months last summer. Ended up back in my 2 door Wrangler due to an unscrupulous landlord and had plenty of free time after guiding my wilderness tours. Devoured the source material.

Logical, ethereal, engaging and exciting writing. The show did an exemplary job converting the books to TV. I don't normally enjoy when stories get changed, like combining multiple characters into a single person, but in this case I believe it worked. I'd have been happier if they translated it 100% but I appreciate what they accomplished. It's a shame the show ended before the books.

The Expanse is...... authentic. Not only with the physics and science. The universe was full and vast. The history relatable. The characters breathed. The writers and actors did an astounding job.

I LOVE Amos. As an autistic man who suffered thru a lot of pain and abuse in my younger years I can viscerally relate to his logic and reason.

Naomi is strong and soft. A woman of principles, capable enough to evolve.

Kamal grows as a man and a human being. A compassionate coward that strives to do the right thing. Best pilot in the system.

Bobby is AWESOME personified. No fear, no arrogance, no quarter. I'd count myself as lucky to have her as a friend.

Avasarala kicks ass every single second she's on screen and her authenticity is enviable. I'd never want her as an enemy. I think I'd enjoy sharing a meal with her.

Miller steals the show. He's a lovable asshole that is almost never wrong. Super driven and never ambitious. No one tells him what is right or what is wrong. Watch those doors and corners.

And Holden.... well, Holden is brave and naive and righteous and strong and scared. He's the kind of man I aspire to be every day. Assure of what's right while being able to adapt.

Dandelion Sky. S3 E10. A lot is changing, power and influence and factions. Holden might be changing the most. Letting go of his strict rules and opening himself to new possibilities. The sequence at the end after Holden completes the connection was inspired.

Just wanted to share my appreciation for this series.