5/28/2013

May 29, 2013 - Guided Rim Tour in Bryce

This morning we headed out to the Visitor Center to take our narrated tour to Rainbow Point and back.  While waiting for the bus, we met a gentleman who had just hiked “The Wave” - one of our bucket list items.  He gave us a few pointers and we continue to file them (and hoped we get picked in that lottery).

The bus arrived and off we went. Our tour guide was very informative about the history of the park.  We also learned about the different animals, trees, and plants and he pointed out a number of them as we rolled along.  We did see prairie dogs and many prong antelope - but I could not get any pictures - Sad smile.

We made a few stops at the overlooks and our guide pointed out what we were seeing on the horizon.  Along the walk way, he also pointed out some plants and trees.

This is the needles of the bristlecone pine tree - they were very soft.  These trees can live over 1500 years.  They are located in the high country because they can handle all the elements - high winds, extreme temps, a wide range of dryness and wetness.  As they grow, their trunks twist but the bark does not twist - very interesting.  I posted a few twisted trunk pictures the other day.

05-28-13 A Ranger Rim Tour (2)

This is known as the limber pine - it’s younger limbs can be tied together like shoelaces.

05-28-13 A Ranger Rim Tour (11)

This whole area was once an inland sea and then pushed up and is now part of the Colorado Plateau.  However, the soils are just like those found in the seas.  As time goes by, they continually erode .

Here are a few pictures of Bryce Canyon National Park from our stops:

05-28-13 A Ranger Rim Tour (12)

05-28-13 A Ranger Rim Tour (25)

05-28-13 A Ranger Rim Tour (34)

05-28-13 A Ranger Rim Tour (40)

05-28-13 A Ranger Rim Tour (48)a

We really enjoyed the tour for the information.  There were only five overlook stops and there are fourteen in the park.  So it was a nice mix between the tour and doing our own exploring.

This afternoon we had a mix of weather - rain, hail, wind, sun, then rain and wind again.  Right now it is clear and the sun is setting.  The forecast for tonight is freezing temperatures and snow flurries - BRRRR...  Time to go.

We have had a great time here and tomorrow we are moving  north to Provo. 

Stay tuned and enjoy today.

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5/27/2013

May 27, 2013 - Memorial Day

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO FOUGHT AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOMS.

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We were just going to hang out today but decided to take our pictures to the Visitor Center for the Hike the Hoodoo Program. 

We received this nice pin for our hikes - COOL - Smile.

05-27-13 C Hike the Hoodoos Award (3)

There are shuttles in the park that go to a few of the overlooks - about 4 miles into the park.  Twice a day there is a shuttle that goes down to the end of the road.  When we went to the Visitor Center last week I asked if it was a guided tour and was told no.  Well I asked again today and found out that it is a guided tour - 3.5 hours and free.  So we signed up for tomorrow morning.  (A little peeved that we were not told that last week!) 

Since it was still early we decided to take a ride on the shuttle - just for fun Smile.   Then we found out there was a ranger talk at Sunset Point on Bryce geology so we got off there.  But we could not find the meeting place so walked on the Rim Trail to Sunrise Point.  The views:

05-27-13 A Bryce Theater near Sunset

05-27-13 A Bryce Theater near Sunset (8)

05-27-13 A Bryce Theater near Sunset (9)

From Sunset Point, we walked to the Bryce Lodge and found this along the way:

05-27-13 B Area near Bryce Lodge

05-27-13 B Area near Bryce Lodge (10)

Andy LOVED the price - 21.9 cents per gallon:

05-27-13 B Area near Bryce Lodge (4)

And then into the Lodge:

05-27-13 B Area near Bryce Lodge (17)

05-27-13 B Area near Bryce Lodge (14)

We wandered around the lobby, gift shop, and patio and looked at the menus for the restaurant.  Beautiful inside.

The shuttle was coming so we hopped on and hopped off at the Visitor Center and walked home - nice.  Our new neighbors are from Pennsylvania so we had a nice chat - small world.

I spent time updating the blogs but have not been able to upload.  So when the signal is strong, you may be seeing a few of them instead of one.

Enjoy today and stay tuned for tomorrow’s adventure.

May 26, 2013 Water, Cave, Waterfall and Fairyland

Today’s adventure - another road trip! Smile

The East Fork Sevier River Scenic Backway was our first adventure late morning.  This Backway stretches for 17 miles along the edge of Bryce Canyon National Park.  Seven miles from the start is the Tropic Reservoir that offers camping, boating, picnicking, and fishing.

Good dirt road - it was VERY busy:

05-26-13 A Dixie NF FR087 to Tropic Reservior

Beautiful meadows and nice pines:

05-26-13 A Dixie NF FR087 to Tropic Reservior (5)

05-26-13 A Dixie NF FR087 to Tropic Reservior (7)

05-26-13 A Dixie NF FR087 to Tropic Reservior (11)

The start of Tropic Reservoir:

05-26-13 A Dixie NF FR087 to Tropic Reservior (13)

There is a Forest Service Campground on this side of the Reservoir - nice.  That will also be on my list.

We walked around the boating/swimming area and decided to drive all the way around the Reservoir.  Beautiful:

05-26-13 A Dixie NF FR087 to Tropic Reservior (23)

Lots of babies:

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05-26-13 A Dixie NF FR087 to Tropic Reservior (31)

05-26-13 A Dixie NF FR087 to Tropic Reservior (33)

05-26-13 A Dixie NF FR087 to Tropic Reservior (37)

We had lunch by the water and decided to head back. One more view from the Scenic Backway:

05-26-13 A Dixie NF FR087 to Tropic Reservior (40)

Our next stop was Mossy Cave Trail.  This was rated as an easy hike - 0.4 miles and 200’ elevation one way.

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (4)

On our way up the trail:

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (2)

The river was flowing fast:

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (9)

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (10)

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (13)

We came around the corner and saw this little waterfall.  I was a little disappointed at first but kept walking:

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (16)

And then saw this waterfall Smile:

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (20)

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (22)

Another benchmark on the Hike the Hoodoos Program - we now have 4:

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (24)

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (26)

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (32)

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (33)

Mossy Cave:

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (34)a

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (46)

Slowly sliding away:

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (39)

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (40)

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (41)

The water from that little waterfall was the water coming from the cave.

Going back down from Mossy Cave:

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (51)

To the waterfall:

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (76)

This waterway is part of the Tropic Ditch.  “The lack of water was a major problem in arid Bryce Valley when the area was settled.  Early pioneers spent two years excavating the East Fork Canal, also known as the Tropic Ditch, relying primarily on hand tools.  The ditch diverted water from the East Fork of the Sevier River to the Paria River drainage and allowed settlers to successfully farm, grow orchards and raise livestock.  The nearly 10 mile long ditch was completed in 1890 and is a testament to the perseverance and ingenuity of the area’s early pioneers.”

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (55)a

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (56)a

Views from the waterfall area:

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (60)

05-26-13 B Mossy Cave Trail Bryce (65)

Our last stop was the Fairyland Overlook.

05-26-13 C Fairyland Point (4)

05-26-13 C Fairyland Point (2)

05-26-13 C Fairyland Point (5)

05-26-13 C Fairyland Point (9)

This tree is barely clinging to the side of the canyon.

05-26-13 C Fairyland Point (6)

Back home, we started putting some of our outside “stuff” away.  Rain is in the forecast Sad smile!

We ended our evening with another great campfire.

Enjoy today!