Hope road trip 2018

This was our family road trip! We flew into New Mexico and explored there, Arizona, and Wyoming. We ended up in Utah and flew home from there. It was epic and this is our photographic story!

New Mexico
This was our drive down from Albuquerque to Truth or Consequences where we spent the night our first night out. We flew into Albuquerque and rented a mini van and hit the road. We didn't have much time for photography this day but managed to pull the car over and snap a few off.
New Mexico
This was our drive down from Albuquerque to Truth or Consequences where we spent the night our first night out. We flew into Albuquerque and rented a mini van and hit the road. We didn't have much time for photography this day but managed to pull the car over and snap a few off.

I was walking through the desert to get these photos and I was so worried about accidentally stepping on a rattle snake but never did. In fact, we haven't see one yet.
New Mexico
This was our drive down from Albuquerque to Truth or Consequences where we spent the night our first night out. We flew into Albuquerque and rented a mini van and hit the road. We didn't have much time for photography this day but managed to pull the car over and snap a few off.
New Mexico
This was our drive down from Albuquerque to Truth or Consequences where we spent the night our first night out. We flew into Albuquerque and rented a mini van and hit the road. We didn't have much time for photography this day but managed to pull the car over and snap a few off.

I basically just turned my body around from the previous shots and got this one
New Mexico
This was our drive down from Albuquerque to Truth or Consequences where we spent the night our first night out. We flew into Albuquerque and rented a mini van and hit the road.

On the road
New Mexico
Our amazing little road boy! What a trooper. This kid was born to travel!
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
This was our second day out. We stopped in this town and got a hotel room our first night. When I woke up in the morning I went for a run and, although it was a pretty rough area, there were some really neat things to look at and photograph! So when I got back we loaded up and went to photograph the town.

It was kind of like an old "Wild West" village. Half of the place was abandoned and the other half was just dusty and desolate.
New Mexico
Cactus Flowers
New Mexico
Cactus Tree
New Mexico
This was just part of a flower/plant outside of one of the motels. A huge thorny vine is the norm around there!
New Mexico
Cactus Flower. Those are little bugs inside feeding on the flower.
New Mexico
You guessed it, more cactus!
New Mexico
So this was the same hotel pictured before except from a different angle. This old dog was just laying in the heat being lazy.
New Mexico
Some random guys window to his house. Never met him but I took a shot. I'm sure he loves the attention.
New Mexico
A house in Truth or Consequences, NM
Truth or Consequences, NM
Somebody's old car and house
New Mexico
Somewhere along the way. There was a turn off so we stopped for the view, it was pretty but we had no idea what we'd be seeing in the next couple days and how spectacular that would be!
New Mexico
My guys
New Mexico
Isn't he cute!
New Mexico
This was the same place as the previous photos. It was an old bridge that was on the side of the highway that had been closed off. They kept it for the view.
New Mexico
So I basically just turned around and got this shot. This bridge in the photo is the highway. There were guys rock climbing right before we got there but it was sooooo increadibley windy that they couldn't climb.
New Mexico
New Mexico
Somewhere along the side of the road on the way to Gila
New Mexico
Gila National Forest, New Mexico
Unfortunaltey I can not remember what the name of this place but it was the only stop for a long time! We were so glad when we found it because the gas tank was getting low and we stocked up on supplies while we were there. (It doubled as a grocery store).

The restaurant was great and they accommodated us and Nathan so well! David fell in love with the taste of New Mexico's green chilies and the waitress was nice enough to make us some green chille stew for the road on the house.

This place was great!
New Mexico's Gila National Forest
This was a trail called "Purgatory Chasm Trail" and we expected much more than we got, but it was still pretty awesome. We walked in between the canyons for a long time. It looked like this was where the water rushed when it rained because all of the rocks in the canyon were so smooth. We had to turn around because the sun was setting and we were not prepared for the dark. We did make it to the top of the trail for a bit though before the sun set.
New Mexico's Gila National Forest
Purgatory Chasm Trail
New Mexico's Gila National Forest
Purgatory Chasm Trail
New Mexico's Gila National Forest
Purgatory Chasm Trail. I just thought these vines looked pretty neat.
New Mexico's Gila National Forest
Purgatory Chasm Trail
New Mexico's Gila National Forest
So we backed out of the Chasm and took the trail to the right. When we got to the top this is pretty much what it looked like. Tall grass and trees and cactus.
New Mexico's Gila National Forest
Purgatory Chasm Trail
New Mexico's Gila National Forest
This was at the top of Purgatory Chasm Trail as the sun was about to set. It was our first hike of the whole trip.
New Mexico's Gila National Forest
Blazing Trails
New Mexico's Gila National Forest
This was on our drive from Lake Roberts to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. It was a look out point on the side of the road and it was well worth the stop!
New Mexico's Gila National Forest
Somewhere between Lake Roberts and the Gila Cliff Dwellings
New Mexico's Gila National Forest
Somewhere on the side of the road between Lake Roberts and The Gila Cliff Dwellings
New Mexico, Gila Cliff Dwellings
This was the trail head to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. We were not allowed to bring flavored drinks or any food on this trail, as the protectors of this area do not want to attract insects that will decay the dwellings faster than they are already doing.
New Mexico Gila Cliff Dwelling
the trail up to the dwellings
New Mexico's Gila Cliff Dwellings.
David and Nathan on the trail up to the dwellings. The Gila River is just to the right of this frame. It was a beautiful source of life.
New Mexico's Gila Cliff Dwellings
A far off view of the dwellings from the trail. I guess this was about 1/2 a mile up the trail.
New Mexico's Gila Cliff Dwellings
More steep steps up the mile long trail to the dwellings.
New Mexico's Gila Cliff Dwellings
Another far off view of the dwellings.
New Mexico's Gila Cliff Dwellings
We were on our way up the trail to the cliff dwelling when I looked to my right and saw this beautiful landscape. I just had to have my photo taken in front of it.
New Mexico's Gila National Forest
Getting closer to the dwellings...

Every time I looked up there was a new vantage point that was just a little prettier than the last one.
New Mexico's Gila Cliff Dwellings
We are off of the incline now and approaching the entrance to the dwellings.
New Mexico's Gila Cliff Dwellings
Me and my baby! (Nathan was passed out in the pack on Davids back)

We bothered kind strangers for this photo.
New Mexico's Gila Cliff Dwellings
So here we are passing the first dwelling on the left. Native people hundreds of years ago took up these cliffs and built homes here. Then one day they were gone, but they left these magnificent ruins for us to see.