The Great Crossing

Travel Notes

West to East

This was a ten-day road trip from Irvine to New York, made to move my belongings from UCI to Columbia University. But somewhere along the highway, it became far more than a move.

We crossed deserts, mountains, plains, and cities, stopping at Zion, Arches, Las Vegas, Mammoth Cave, St. Louis, Kansas City, and many places in between.

Some of the most unforgettable moments came on the trails: hiking through the river in The Narrows at Zion, exploring the underground world of Mammoth Cave, and reaching Delicate Arch under the open Utah sky. It felt less like travel, and more like a grand American crossing.