Ancient Rocks and Ancient Cultures

Wednesday I departed from St George, Utah driving north on Hwy 15 to Hwy 70 going east. Cottonwood trees in the dry washes are starting to turn yellow, just a few leaves. This is DRY country !! The landscape along Hwy 70 from Fremont Jct to Green River surprised me. Several scenic viewpoints for places with names like Devil's Canyon and Ghost Rock, large red sandstone reefs, and pale grey-purple hillsides. Eagle Canyon had brown-grey blocky walls and was very deep. There is snow on the high peaks in central Utah.
Thursday morning I entered Arches National Park. Many of the arches here are created from erosion of sandstone fins. Pothole arches form high on the side of a sandstone formation, first from cascading water erosion, then from overhead freezing and cracking of the roof. I enjoyed hiking on the sandstone slick-rock as well as on the trails. This landscape is so large it dwarfs the people walking under an arch.
.....As I continued east into Colorado the red sandstone formations faded away, replaced by the pale brown and white canyons of the Sagebrush uplands. I stopped at the Anasazi Heritage Center outside Dolores. It features a wonderful display of pottery, basketry, ancient tools, models of how the ancient Puebloans lived, and photos of the intensive archeology done ahead a dam being built on the Dolores River. These ancient people did not simply vanish, as visitors were told years ago, they migrated south and east to join other groups of Puebloans. Today's Native Americans consider these ancient people to be their ancestors.
,,,,,Further east the countryside is more green and less dry. Hillsides of russet, orange and yellow Oaks were brilliant in the afternoon sun.
Photos of Double Arch in Arches NP, and Escalante Pueblo after excavation.

a few additional photos

Kolob Terrace area from the top, approaching storm.

Hiking on Angel's Landing Trail. chain for a hand rail while walking on the edge.

hiking thru Refrigerator Canyon on the way to Angel's Landing.


Lupine leaves frosted last night.

Zion

Using the magic of cell phones I was able to meet up with my brother and his wife on their epic multi-country bicycle trip. Late afternoon, along Hwy 89 just north of Hatch UT, I spotted them. None too soon, the weather was deteriorating rapidly. We finally found a camping place 5 miles up a side road in the Pinyon-Juniper forest. Raining, raining, raining.
The next day we leap-frogged the bicycles and gear down to Orderville's only grocery store, with Gary riding into a stiff headwind from the storm. We had lunch at a Rock shop that also sells food items. It was a fun atmosphere to be surrounded by large crystals and rocks. The shop owner recommended another side road to find a camping place.
.....Wednesday morning we loaded ALL the bicycles and gear into my truck, and squished ourselves into the truck's cab so we presented one vehicle for entrance into Zion National Park. That afternoon we hiked Hidden Canyon, a really pretty area. It rained on the way down, back to the shuttle stop. Wet and chilled, we drove into Springdale to a cafe for hot tea and a bit of Internet. Gary had previously contacted a Warmshowers host in St George, and they graciously welcomed us into their home, out of the rain.
Thursday was spent on errands and catching up on Internet. It was Friday before we ventured into Zion NP, this time to hike to Emerald Pools. The waterfalls are still flowing well, keeping the ferns watered on the cliffs. Fall has not yet come to the Zion valley, Swamp maples and Cottonwoods are still green.
Friday we hiked the Angel's Landing Trail. I was surprised by the large number of people on this trail, everyone was out enjoying the views from the top. That night we camped at the top of Kolob Terrace area of Zion park, nearly 7900 ft elevation. This morning the temperature was 28F in my tent !! We hiked near the West Rim of Zion valley giving us very different views of the park.
Photos of a creek near Emerald Pools, and a view of the towering sandstone cliffs from Angel's Landing trail.

On the road again

Where to start ? Friday morning (30) I checked out from being an employee and went to look for my mail package. By 4pm I had the verdict, no mail envelope today. A very frustrating afternoon
...... I headed south past Willow Flats, the autumn colors were beautiful, and continued to Jackson Hole for groceries. South of Jackson Hwy 191 goes thru Hoback Canyon, a steep walled canyon with a few sporadic bushes holding the talus in place. Golden Aspens splashed the upper mountainsides with bright colors, contrasting with dark conifers. Two wildfires were burning along 191: one seemed to be in the southwest corner of the park and the other was beyond Bondurant. It was getting dark quickly so I spent the night near Pinedale, WY.
Sunday morning I backtracked a little to join Hwy 189 South. The grassy plains seemed dry and held few trees. Pronghorn antelope bounded across the fields. Ravens and Black-billed Magpies foraged on several dead animals along the highway edges. Cottonwoods grew in roadside ditches and along Green River. An interesting historic sign gave details of the Green River Rendezvous. From 1826 - 1840 beaver trappers would meet each summer to sell the beaver pelts, and celebrate the summer season.
I drove on thru Kemmerer and had lunch in Evanston. The landscape was so dry. Three cowboys chased after their cattle in brown grass fields.
Leaving the interstate behind, I turned south on Hwy 150 toward Wasatch National Forest. Mirror Lake Scenic Byway is a beautiful road thru the forest. Aspens were again glowing golden against the Spruce and Firs. Small alpine lakes were pretty. The Uinta Mountains Wilderness Area looked like a wonderful place for hiking. High point along the byway was over 10,500 ft.
Wasatch NF is heavily used by the residents of the cities around Great Salt Lake. The entrance fee (Adventure Pass) is $ 7.00 for 1 - 3 days. Campgrounds are $ 18.00 per night. A thunderstorm was forming over the Uintas, and rain sprinkled me while I was hiking near Mirror Lake. I continued on, leaving the NF, and the high country.
.......I passed thru Provo quickly and turned east on Hwy 6, Provo Canyon was beautiful. 10 - 15 miles down Hwy 6 I found a small road with a parking space at the end. Junipers and Rabbitbrush decorated hillsides. Good enough for tonight.
......Sunday morning greeted me with a strong breeze blowing up the canyon. Small towns of Helper and Price had a history of mining and railroads. The landscape from Price to Green River was dry, naked earth with an occasional clump of dry grass. Grey-brown soil had eroded into arroyos by now dried creeks. From Hwy 70 I turned south on 24 to Goblin Valley State Park.
Pink canyons, red and white striped walls of sandstone, and brick-red short, rounded formations are all part of the scene at Goblin Valley. The goblins are fun-sized, and seem more friendly than the tall hoodoos at other locations. I did a wonderful hike in the slot canyon, Little Wild Horse Canyon.
Photos from Grand Tetons Park, Willow Flats and a deer at Spaulding Bay.

Season Finale

Cabin Office closed today, all the guests have departed, all the other visitor services have closed as well. I will be helping another department for a few days and will be heading south by the end of the week.
Aspen trees are turning yellow in certain areas. I have heard a few Elk bugling in the distance. Bison are acting frisky, snorting and rolling in the dirt.
The last adventure of the season was a paddling trip. A co-worker and I launched kayaks just below Jackson Dam and paddled the Snake River south to a well-used take out location. The Snake is a one-way river, as the current is strong. We left her car at the take-out area. It was a beautiful morning, with the willows and bushes in Autumn dress. A Bald Eagle flew from a tree on the river's edge, over our heads and disappeared into the forest. The water is so clear I could see fish swimming near the bottom.
........The adventure of leaving WY has yet to be written.
Photos of the north end of Jackson Lake, and a surprise encounter with 2 Sandhill Cranes near Spaulding Bay.

more photos from tram hike

A hillside of Lewis's flax, with Alpine sunflower, and yellow paintbrush.
Trees have a hard life at 10,400 ft.
Rendezvous Mountain

After Labor Day

Several guest service buildings are now closed for the Winter. All the horses have been trailered away from the corrals, the cafeteria is closed, activities booth has been shut down, and the visitor center has shortened hours. Its good to be able sell a night of cabin lodging to people who have no reservations. The cabins were 100% filled for 3 months.
...........Avian notes: The lone CAL Gull has returned to the Marina. Barn Swallows nesting on the grocery store building have successfully fledged 4 young ones. I saw the entire family sitting on a street light arm a few days ago. White Pelicans have departed from Oxbow Lake, replaced by a group of American Wigeons.
...........Yesterday I drove to Jackson Hole and beyond to Teton Village. My coupon for a free ride up the tram was accepted, and I ascended to 10,400 ft with other visitors. Mountain views to the south and west were amazing. Forest fires burning to the southeast were pushing smoke up the valley and made for hazy views in that direction. Alpine tundra flowers are still blooming in some places, and a few tree islands sheltered Yellow-rump Warblers and Chickadees. Clark's Nutcrackers flew between the tree islands gathering seeds and hiding them. These birds have phenomenal memories and can remember the location of buried seeds far into the winter.
The experience of hiking above tree-line was truly wonderful. In 2 months this area will be covered with snow.
Photos of kayaking on String Lake, Gentian blooming at 10,400 ft, and trees close to tree-line.