Roadtrip to the Rockies

Travel
A rocky outlook in the foreground offers a panoramic view of the surrounding fall-colored forest. Bright red, orange and yellow trees are interspersed with green pine trees
View of the fall colors at Lutsen Mountain
Connor and his partner Jillian pose arm-in-arm in front of the fall-colored forest
Jillian and I are fortunate to be able to take a month of sabbatical leave from work which made this trip possible.
A broad, muddy wall of water rushes down a waterfall between rocky shores covered in pine trees
Heavy rainfall the day before had turned Gooseberry Falls into a roaring and muddy sight.
Connor stands next to a pine tree looking down onto the rushing and roaring river below
Usually, it's possible to walk or swim across the river.
Julie sits in the middle of a rocky beach. In the background, the wooded coast line rises to a towering rock topped by a yellow lighthouse
Connor and Jillian take a selfie inside a car. Both are wearing sunglasses and Jillian is making a kissing face
The roadtrip begins! We drove 2,500 miles (4,000 km) in 10 days.
Makoshika State Park
Rain washes away loose soil except where it is protected by rocks, leaving behind strange looking pillars.
Pine Creek trailhead
Where's Jillian?
Sophia's house, our home for 2 days.
Devil's Thumb
Mineral deposits at Mammoth Hot Springs
Gibbon Falls
...and Gibbon River
Cliff Geyser
Chromatic Spring
Ear Spring
Inspiration Point
Curious chipmunk!
Jenny Lake
Sun set behind the Grand Tetons
Endless plains in South Dakota
Needle Highway
Center Lake
Mount Rushmore
Badlands National Park. The region got its name because settlers found it difficult to traverse with waggons.