Utah hiking

Three Utah Canyons Are Hikers’ Dream

Published September 16, 2016 | By Clark Norton

Third in a Series

In our first two guest posts from Mitch Stevens, founder of Tucson-based Southwest Discoveries — which runs guided hiking tours of Arizona and the Southwest — Mitch gave riveting accounts of “The Most Beautiful Hike in the Southwest” and “The Incomparable Stevens Arch.”

His Hiking the Escalante series that appears on his website focuses on the extraordinary Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument in southern Utah.

In today’s guest post, Mitch takes you into Dry Gulch, Spooky Gulch, and Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon.

The names alone are enticing, and if you’re looking for some adventure and what Mitch calls “spectacular solitude” deep in the heart of southern Utah’s no man’s land. you may want to add them to your life list.

As Mitch notes, though, these are not suited for hikers who are overly claustrophobic or with limited climbing… Continue reading →

Hiking Utah: The Incomparable Stevens Arch

Published September 13, 2016 | By Clark Norton

escalante-hikiners-stevens-arch In our previous post, guest blogger Mitch Stevens, founder of Southwest Discoveries, which runs hiking tours in Arizona and adjoining states, wrote about what he calls the most beautiful hike in the Southwest: Coyote Gulch in southern Utah.

Today he writes about what he calls perhaps the single most impressive natural feature in the West: Stevens Arch. It’s part of his “Hiking the Escalante” series and makes me want to fly/drive/hike to southern Utah right now (or maybe when it cools down a bit). Reading his description of the sometimes rough and tricky terrain, though, I think I would want Mitch to lead the way. Here’s Mitch:

By Mitch Stevens

Considering that the Western U.S. features some of the most amazing scenery on earth, including the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone, it may sound strange to say the single most impressive natural feature in… Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure travel, Baby boomer travel, Hiking, Tours | Tagged Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument, Escalante River, hiking Utah, Mitch Stevens, Southwest Discoveries, Stevens Arch, Utah hiking | 3 Comments

The Most Beautiful Hike in the Southwest

Published September 12, 2016 | By Clark Norton

Today we have a guest post from Mitch Stevens, who runs a terrific Tucson-based company called Southwest Discoveries, which specializes in hiking tours in Arizona and elsewhere in the Southwest.

This is the first post in a series that Mitch has written about “Hiking the Escalante,” showcasing the beauty and splendor of the awe-inspiring formations created by the Escalante River in southern Utah. It will give you a good sense of hiking Coyote Gulch, what Mitch calls the “most beautiful hike in the Southwest.” (And that’s saying a lot.)

Not incidentally, Mitch welcomes — encourages — baby boomers to join his hiking tours. This one is for active, fit boomers who enjoy the best that nature has to offer.

By Mitch Stevens

Sheer cliffs, red rock walls, ancient geologic sculptures and dozens of tributaries await the adventurous trekker when hiking Coyote Gulch; a stunning, nine-mile… Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure travel, Baby boomer travel, Hiking, National Parks, Tours | Tagged Coyote Gulch, Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument, Escalante River, Mitch Stevens, Southwest Discoveries, Utah, Utah hiking | Leave a comment

According to government and private surveys:

Leading-edge baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1955) and seniors account for four out of every five dollars spent on luxury travel today.
Roughly half the consumer spending money in the U.S.--more than $2 trillion--is in the hands of leading-edge baby boomers and seniors.
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) travel more than any other age group.
When asked what they would most like to spend their money on, baby boomers answered “travel” more than any other category, including improving their health or finances.