Monumental Courage

The Story Behind the View

⚡ The Quick Scoop

The Vibe: A frozen desert morning surrounded by the giants of the American Southwest.

Must See: The wild horses grazing peacefully at the base of the massive monuments, and the sheer cliff drops of the Moki Dugway.

The Inspiration: Learning to stand strong, be authentic, and brave the elements, just like the towering monuments of the desert.

Shauna's Rating: 💎💎💎💎💎 (5 out of 5 Diamonds!)

Sometimes an adventure starts with a whisper from an unexpected place. For me, that place was a virtual reality workout in my Supernatural VR headset. I was exercising in a stunning digital re-creation of Monument Valley, a place I’d never been, and I was instantly hooked. The problem? We had been on the road for a while, and my husband Todd, having been there multiple times, wasn’t exactly keen on going. It took some serious puppy dog eyes, but I finally convinced him, and I am so incredibly glad I did.

We loaded up our trusty vehicle, affectionately named ORVilla (our Off-Road Villa). People think we are crazy, but she is fully equipped with four wheels and a bed! We used to have her completely decked out with solar panels, a fridge, a microwave, a generator, a portable gas fireplace, and two paddleboards. Now, we've become minimalist pros. We traded the bulky fridge for an amazing cooler, threw a cargo carrier on top, and Todd has hidden Boy Scout-style emergency gadgets in every nook and cranny. We even added a satellite since we are off the grid so much. It takes us less than 5 minutes to transition ORVilla from travel mode to our sleeping bedroom. It allows us to get to the craziest, most remote places on earth with everything we need!

As we drove ORVilla across the flat expanse of the frozen desert, I was struck by one undeniable truth: how boldly these massive structures stood out from the flatness that surrounded them. They chose to do things differently. To stand strong. I related to them on a deeply personal level, because it takes monumental courage to stand alone.

Chapter I

Into the Frozen Desert

There is a certain magic to the desert in the morning, but let me tell you—it is shocking how nice the temperatures can be during a winter day compared to how bitterly cold it gets at night! We woke up to thick frost covering the ground and the windows of ORVilla.

After a night huddled together under 10 blankets (with Todd literally wearing a massive fur hat on his head!), we quickly turned the car on in the morning just to get some warmth flowing. You even have to sleep with your gear close by so it doesn't freeze! But once the sun peaked over the red rocks, the sheer beauty of the landscape warmed us right up.

One of the most mind-bending moments of the trip was driving across the flat, featureless desert when suddenly—without warning—the earth simply drops away into a wonderland. We were rewarded with views of Goosenecks State Park, where the river carves an epic 'N' shape with three massive horseshoe bends into the earth. Looking over that 700-foot sheer drop makes you realize just how vast and powerful nature really is.

Chapter II

White-Knuckle Switchbacks

A few years ago, I didn't even realize crazy cliff-drives like this existed. Now? I know there are at least four epic ones in Utah that I have personally driven! This specific drive took us right up the sheer, dizzying cliff face of the famous Moki Dugway near the Valley of the Gods.

🧭 Epic Utah Switchbacks

If you love white-knuckle driving adventures that reward you with the best views on earth, add these four Utah cliff-drives to your bucket list:

♦️ Moki Dugway (Valley of the Gods)
♦️ Shafer Trail (Canyonlands National Park)
♦️ Mineral Bottom Boat Dock Switchbacks (near Canyonlands)
♦️ The Burr Trail Switchbacks (Capitol Reef National Park)

Looking at the cliff as we drove straight toward it, my only thought was, "There is no way we are going to get up that!" Todd was comfortably driving, cool as a cucumber, while I was completely white-knuckled, holding my camera out the window and hoping against hope that a car wasn't coming down from the other direction!

When we finally reached the top, the view of the Valley of the Gods monuments in the distance was super cool. We debated for a good 15 minutes about whether to keep going from the top, but we weren't sure if we had enough gas. We decided to play it safe and turn around—which meant we got the thrill of driving the Moki Dugway a second time!

Monument Valley Red Rocks

Chapter III

A Near Miss in the Sky

My absolute favorite part of the day was sitting at an overlook, gazing at the iconic Mitten buttes. It was there that Todd shared an incredible, intense story. He had been in that exact spot years before during the Red Bull Air Races.

📖 Todd's Epic Tale

"This is where Red Bull held their Air Races. They set up all the pylons out there in the valley and raced their planes through them. At one point, one of the pilots had a malfunction in his cockpit while doing a loop. While trying to fix it, he lost control. On his way down out of the loop, he tried to correct... and he hit one of the pylons.

The engine roar was deafening. He came right towards the crowd. He was flying right at us. He had just destroyed a pylon with his wing, and the crowd was in a major panic—everyone thought we were going to die! At the very last second, he managed to pull up, banked hard to miss the air tower, and flew right over us. It was incredibly loud and scary, and everybody collectively had a little bit of a crap-your-pants moment!"

It was a heart-stopping story of skill and survival, and I was so lucky to capture him telling it on video, right there where it all happened. That moment, combined with seeing the beautiful wild horses grazing at the base of a monument, made the entire trip worthwhile.

The Portal is Open

Step Into The Magic (360° VR)

Need some courage to stand strong? This VR Getaway is a tribute to the earth’s monuments that stand tall and alone after everything else has eroded away. Put on your headset (or use your mouse!) and prepare for a positive boost from these incredible landscapes.

🔎 The VR Scavenger Hunt 🌟

Can you spot these hidden details while exploring?

Hunt 1: Keep an eye out for the herds of wild horses grazing at the base of the monuments. It is a truly magical and iconic shot!
Hunt 2: Try to spot the gravity-defying "Mexican Hat" balanced rock!
Hunt 3: See if you can solve the puzzle of "Face Rock" (Hint: look for an eye and a frog's mouth!).

Interactive Magic

✨ Ask the Desert Guide

Curious about how the Mittens were formed? Need an inspirational quote about standing strong? Ask our AI Guide!

Until Next Time...

As I end this VR getaway, know that I'm cheering for your strength as you try to muster your courage. If you enjoyed this journey, please do me a favor and hit that subscribe button so you don't miss my next amazing getaway.

Sending Love and Positive Vibes,
Shauna @ VRGetaway