As I wrote it in the previous update, VivaLaVida has turned south-west, temperatures from -13 to -22F being announced for the San Rafael Swell.
 
 
1. Tremendous panorama of Cathedral Valley and Henry Mountains in the distance.
 

 
 
2. At Hogan Pass at almost 8,000 feet above sea level, it is 8F at noon despite the sun.
 

 
 
3. And it blows a strong north wind that sculpts the snow.
 

 
 
Forsyth Reservoir is frozen, you could almost skate there.
 

 
 
5. VLV almost reached the Rock Lake but had to give up 9,350 feet, too much snow…
 

 
 
6. So I continued on foot, wrapped up warmly, while they didn’t seem to be cold! 😀
 

 
 
7. Went back down just before night, enjoying a beautiful sunset on highlands.
 

 
 
8. The next day, Christmas Eve, VivaLaVida tried to reach Escalante across the splendid Awapa Plateau, between 7,800 and 9,800 feet elevation.
 

 
 
9. Vast stretches of grasslands. I like to imagine herds of bison grazing here 150 years ago before that men exterminated them from these areas…
 

 
 
10. As the altitude increases, the snow becomes more present.
 

 
 
11. It blows an icy wind that makes me think of a blizzard. 10F to the best of the day. But at least I enjoy a Christmas with snow! 😀
 

 
 
12. VLV had to give up, the amount of blown snow making progress difficult. He tried two other tracks but it ended the same.
 

 
 
13. Beautiful cirrus sky announcing some snowfall overnight…
 

 
 
14. These semi-snowy meadows remind me of the tundra of northern Alaska.
 

 
 
15. The wind has drawn waves, while the sky covers.
 

 
 
16. I so love this kind of moors landscapes, I decided to spend the night there. And Nature offered me a nice surprise for Christmas: an amazing sunset. It began with soft colors to the north.
 

 
 
17. Too much wind to light a campfire as I expected and it is already 3F…
 

 
 
18. Three minutes later, the sky blazes…
 

 
 
19. Without Christmas tree in her, VivaLaVida is aflamed by the Christmas setting sun! 😉
 

 
 
20. Last colors… all lasted only a few moments…
 

 
 
Unable to join Escalante by the way I had imagined because of the winter already installed in altitude, I found another path that led me to discover Bryce Canyon in its winter coat… To come here soon! 😉