The goal for the trip was to hike among Anasazi ruins. The trip exceeded my expectations and hopes. We were allowed unfettered access to dozens of ruins. Just hike along a canyon bottom, come around a corner, and there one is. No fences to keep you back. No ranger keeping an eye on you. It really is a wonderful place. One cool thing is that there are many artifacts still among the ruins. Check them out.

There are several two, three, and four day overnight backpacking trips one can do in the canyons. However, I was concerned about what a tight waist-strap and 35 pounds of gear would do to our four-month old growing inside Kira so we opted for day trips instead.

We took off driving from SLC on Saturday, March 10, with a bleak weather forecast: rain and snow predicted for San Juan County. Our destination was Blanding (town motto: Basecamp to Adventure).

Here is a map of San Juan County which is where we spent every day except the second one.

Approximately where we spent each day is labeled. (day 2 was in Arizona waiting out the weather)

Anyway, below are links to pictures broken down by days. At the bottom of each day's page is a link to the next day.

• Day One. Butler Wash Ruins and Natural Bridges National Monument.
  
• Day Two. Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly (Arizona).
  
• Day Three. Kane Gulch (Grand Gulch Primitive Area).
  
• Day Four. Collins Gulch (Grand Gulch Primitive Area).
  
• Day Five. Lower Fish Creek.
  
• Day Six. South Mule Canyon.