In the last two years, my then-bfriend and I trekked ~ camping and hiking ~ most of the western United States. July 1997 we drove from Texas thru New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, skipped up a bit to Hoover Dam and Las Vegas, Nevada into southern California up to Oregon, Washington, Idaho, into Montana (our destination was Glacier National Park!), turning south into Wyoming, down thru Colorado and back into New Mexico to visit friends before returning to Austin, Texas. Last summer we drove somewhat the same route to get to places we missed the prior year.

"In my life I have gone to numerous tourist traps, staying in hotels and motels, seeing and paying for museums and must-see's. Those are great but there's nothing like being on the open road too ~ taking your time and driving America's highways and bi-ways, lunching out of a sack..."

We saw approximately 25 National Park, various state and numerous local hotspots such as: White Sands Monument, Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains, the Sandias, Meteor Crater, Kitt Peak, Yosemite, San Jacinto Mountains, Joshua Tree, Canyon de Chelly, Sequioa/King's Canyon, Arches NP (the "Delicate Arch"!), Zion NP (Angels Landing and the Narrows!), Lassen Volcanic, Bryce Canyon, the Canyonlands, Carlsbad Caverns, Lake of the Woods (Oregon), Mt Rainier, the Space Needle, General Sherman Tree, the windmills of California, Yellowstone NP, Jackson Hole, Great Basin NP (new and really nice!), the Great Dunes not to mention hundreds of fantastic towns and cities like Taos NM, Durango, Seattle, Las Vegas, Moab UT, Portland OR, Palm Springs, Spokane, Phoenix, Tucson AZ, Albuquerque NM...

In my life I have gone to numerous tourist traps, staying in hotels and motels, seeing and paying for museums and must-see's. Those are great but there's nothing like being on the open road too ~ taking your time and driving America's highways and bi-ways, lunching out of a sack. We recorded every stop in our road atlas ~ the end of the first trip we covered over 7600 miles and 11 states, the second over 6000 miles in 8 states.

Last summer we had numerous car problems and changed rental cars out 5 times ~ yes Avis reimbursed us for most of the costs! But even then it didn't ruin our good time ~ we met several wonderful people along the way. I will tell ya though, we've met mostly europeans on the trails deep into parks. Americans know how great this land is, I encourage everyone to return to nature soon. I spent less than $1400 for the month-long trip including the occasional B&Bs and restaurants we ate in when not near a campground or for a change of pace.

I've recommended this same route to many friends and all have come back with a cajillion memories and a desire to repeat the trip! Well my bfriend and I are no more, but I plan to find someone just as adventurous to join me in covering the eastern portion of the USA!!

Peace to all ~

— Nelda Guerrero, MountainZone.com Pubster