One of my favorite trips in North America was when Alex and I drive through Nevada, Utah, and Arizona - visiting four amazing canyons in just four days. We were chasing sunlight endlessly, driving down miles of empty highways that screamed freedom.

This week I’m returning to Utah for a week to discover the secrets of the wonderful Utah Might 5. I cannot wait for the week-long hike under the beaming sun and through the canyon lands. I hope to spend the desert nights counting the stars. I can’t wait!

The trip to Utah will be the longest trip I've taken this year. Other than a few days in Harrison Hot Springs and a staycation in New York City, Alex and I have been staying put since our 2 month long trip through China, Hong Kong, and Japan last summer. I always like the idea of being back home again after a long trip, I get to put my suitcase away, buy fresh flowers for my apartment, and revisit my favorite watering holes in the neighborhood. But I can always count on the itch to go exploring returns after a few months. The only catch is, with time, my ideal way to travel changes. For at least this very moment, all I want is an adventure out in the wild - me, the elements of nature, and my camera. I don't care much for backpacking through the cultural epicenter of Europe, or a week on a beach in an all-inclusive resort. I want to run up to the top of a volcano in Bali, bike through the Canadian Rockies, and hike through the parks of Utah.

Here are my photos from the last time I was in beautiful Utah.