Monroe
It seems like I end up near Monroe almost every year. But it’s easy to see why – the area has some of the best mountain flying in the country. Additionally there is some fantastic hiking, rock climbing, and off-roading nearby. It is definitely a paradise for adventure seekers. This year I visited in April, and unfortunately high winds shut us down for flying on most days. But the numerous options for recreation mean that even on these days it’s hard to be bored.
Fish Lake
High winds made for some unflyable conditions in Monroe, so I decided to spend a day exploring the Fish Lake area. Fish lake has an aspen grove that supposedly forms the largest living organism on the planet. Unfortunately the trees didn’t have any leaves since I was visiting in April, but I imagine this place it gorgeous in the summer and fall.
St. George
After hearing some good things about St. George, I decided to make a weekend trip to the area. St. George is one of the fastest growing cities in the US, thanks to its year-round warm climate and proximity to outdoor recreation. The city has a neat down-town area with some nice restaurants and cafes. Nearby is Snow Canyon, a state park with loads of great hiking. The canyon is beautiful, and I was lucky to be there when the cacti were blooming with pink flowers. The park has 3 lava caves, which are short but fun to explore.
After exploring Snow canyon I drove to a dark area to get some photos of the night sky. This was my first attempt at the Spiral Galaxy, and I’m really happy with how it turned out!
