Take a hike........Navajo Loop

We are now among the connected and because I could download pictures quickly,  just be warned that this blog may cause picture overload.      We left the beautiful and tranquil Kodachrome Basin SP this morning for a short hour ride to Pangquitch, Utah, est in 1864.  (pronounced a bit like sandwich and means "big fish" in the language of the early tribes....Paiute I think.)

 Indian Paintbrush flower, about 2 inches.   Flowers are not abundant in this arid climate but this time of year they are more showy.
Bryce Canyon NP has a wonderful free shuttle system to all of the must-see areas.   It's a hop on and off and hikers and backpackers and tourists find it very helpful.   And the drivers know all the answers and point out the common wildlife (mostly pronghorn antelope, mule deer and prairie dogs).   On Saturday, we took a longer shuttle ride to the top of the Park, which is only 20 mi long.    The highlight was this natural bridge and the very helpful and informative tips by the driver "Spike".  

 Also, he pointed out the Bronze Evening Primrose which blooms at night and dies off in a red color in the morning....this one was in the shade so still photogenic.

 Later, we came back to the campground area and headed out to see the beautiful Grosvenor Arch.

 It was 10 miles down a dusty road.   Kodachrome Basin was named in honor of Kodak film in the 1940's and the arch, named for National Geographic's founder.

 On Sunday morning, with recommendations from Spike and Cay and Ron, who had done the hike two days before,  we headed out for a good workout on the Navajo Loop portion of a trail that connects Sunset Point with Sunrise Point.   There is a nice Rim Trail that connects the two, but what's the point ?...you can drive between them and see the same thing.

 Anyway, the distant signs don't really mean much as there are side trails and the elevation changes.   Looking down, we could see where we were headed......very steep dirt trail.

 If you look carefully, this picture is taken looking back up at the trail and you can see the people along the very tight switchbacks.....very narrow and steep.....but not intimidating going down.....

 The canyon narrows and becomes more shady....a welcome change from the brilliant sun.

 Another view looking up from whence we came....note the people again.....they reminded me of ants all in a row.    I'm sure that if we'd have done this on a weekday, the numbers would have been less.

 Mr Videographer, documenting the canyon.

 At the bottom, is this narrow canyon with a very large Douglas fir growing out of it.    It's even featured on postcards.

 It was so cool and peaceful at the bottom.

 Once out of the Wall Street area, we came to an open treed basin with numerous other trails veering off.

 We stayed in the  open for about a mile or so.....and stopped for a snack and to chat with other "older " hikers.    People of all ages were on the trail, many families with small children on shoulders and in carriers.....It sounded like a mini- United Nations down there with all the passing chatter in unknown languages.
I have never seen a ground squirrel in a tree ..... he was very quick so most of my shots were a blur.

 The dusty trail started a gradual climb......we knew we had to climb back up at some point as the elevation change was 350 ft and we had already come down.    I wasn't too concerned, thinking we were at about 5000 ft and I felt acclimated.

We took a short side trip to the Queen's Garden where you can see 

 Queen Victoria ....she is on the left.    See her small head, her crown and her arms across her chest and her large gown.   P never did figure it out.

 The climb became steeper and we passed thru an opening and then we really started climbing.

 The trail we had just come up.    By this time, it was hot and there were no clouds or shade.   We had plenty of water tho.

 We sat for a bit ...... our legs and shoes were covered in dust.  

 And then we came to the top......It took us a bit over 2 hours.   And I discovered that

it was well over 7000 ft , not the 5000 I had thought.    Note the warnings on the sign.    Spike told us that the #1 cause of injuries on the trail is lack of proper footwear.    I saw one lady in some very cute silver ballet flats......I can't imagine how she managed.   It can be very slippery with the dirt and gravel.  

We would have loved to do some hiking on the trails in the Campground but the gnats were unrelenting.   Even P gave in to them.     

Later that day, we had interesting neighbors pull into the CG.   It was an older RV pulling a black utility trailer with a door.    Out tumbled about 11 people, the women in their long dresses and long hair.    There was one man, one older very pregnant woman, two late teens or early 20 something girls who did all the work and about 5 younger girls and one small boy.   There may have been a baby or two in the RV as they were always going in and out.   So, in my mind, I figured it was a polygamist family.    The two girls being the other wives.   They all seemed very happy to be out running around and eating a large watermelon.    The older girls all slept in the trailer.   They left in the morning.    We are in the heart of Mormon country that was settled in the 1800's.   

Not sure how long we will stay in this area.   Now that we have internet and cell phone coverage, we can do some research and figure out our next destination.     We will drive down to Zion tomorrow.   I picked up a book by Wallace Stegner  on John Wesley Powell, who explored this area.   It's not an easy read but my brain needs more than pretty views once in awhile.

Bryce Canyon

We are staying at Kodachrome SP, a stunningly beautiful hideaway amid the sandstone cliffs.    This is the view as you approach the park.   

And this is the view from our campsite....of course, the colors shift with the sun.   

    We have full hook-ups, we have a large site, we are the only Class A among the 31 sites, the ranger is very informative, the weather is perfect, we get satellite, we can have a wood fire and the beer is cold.     BUT....................there is no cell, no wifi, no 4G, no payphone.    We are 11 miles from Tropic, Utah which is the first blip on the cell connection and another 11 miles to Bryce Canyon and the restaurant we are sitting in, and eating the best fruit pie I have ever had !!  And the 2nd BUT......

 are miserable tiny black gnats that zip in your ears and nose and hair and make being outside mostly impossible.....the 40% Deet is worthless.   The ranger said its the only biting bug they have and only last a month.!!

 The weather is ideal......in the 50's this morning and near 80 in afternoon.   There have been very strong winds.....probably related to the same winds  that are decimating Colorado with the fires.   Today we went to the highest point at 9100 ft.  

And surprise, surprise, we got an email from old friends Cay and Ron who wrote that they are currently at Bryce !!   We met up with them in Canada last summer.   We made plans to have dinner tonight and then ran into them in the parking lot here at the Park this morning.   They've given us some good hints.  We'll look forward to catching up........Dean and Diane, why aren't you here too???

We leave Kodachrome on Monday and as yet, have no idea where we are going.......  But will try and check in again when we can.........

One more dusty trail in Moab ......

We had a good plan for our last day in Moab.    Head up a canyon jeep trail to Canyonlands and return via another jeep trail, making a large loop.    We headed up the Shafer Trail, which followed the Colorado River for awhile.

Then if opened up , rough but easy.  

At about 11 miles up the trail, we came to the scenic point where Thelma and Louise vaulted themselves into fabled history.    Very pretty up there. 

And behind us, on the middle high mesa, is Dead Horse Point.

The road narrowed and we climbed on................

And then, we came to this barricade just as we were to enter Canyonlands.   You'd think they could have put the sign further down and saved us a lot of dust.    Luckily there was room to turn around.

In this area, is a large potash producing plant.   Potash is potassium chloride and is used in fertilizer.   The settling pools are a brilliant blue edged with the white sand-like substance....assume the water evaporates and the scoop up the residue.  

After making the long trip back down to where we started, we opted to go up Long Canyon Trail and then come down again......it's relatively short but very scenic.  

At Pucker Pass, this large boulder makes for a Kodak moment.  

Easy to see our route from high above.   The Colorado is down there in the faint green area and beyond is the LaSal mountain range.    We came back to a car wash.   

That evening we joined Joe and Gay for dinner and to get helpful hints for our next adventures in Kodachrome State Park.       It's about a 6 hour drive down there and we look forward to meeting up with Cay and Ron......old friends that we met up with last summer in Canada.    

Still making plans for the days and weeks to follow.................stay tuned.  

PS:    I put an email subscription box for the blog up at the top.....have no idea how it works but others use this so thought I would try it.        

Petroglyphs

The elusive bull frogs are hard to capture but this one got a bit too comfortable in the clover .   

 We took a late afternoon drive up the canyon along the mighty Colorado River to search for petroglyphs.   In some remote areas there are also pictographs but they have mostly faded away.   The difference is the pictographs are painted on the rock and the petroglyphs are 'pecked' into the varnish layer .... presumably with a sharp stone as they had no Dremels or sharp pointy metal objects.   These are dated anywhere from 1000-2000 BC to 1400 AD....as far as anyone can tell...who really knows.

 I like the small person and the large jackrabbit.    About a foot tall on the rabbit and high up on the wall which makes you wonder how they did it.

 This is the" birthing rock", right beside the road.    It has details on all sides but the most interesting one

 is of a birth....awfully big baby and the literature says it is feet first....sounds impossible but their sense of scale seems a bit off on most things.

 This one has various sizes of feet and a horse or deer or something.   Didn't the Spanish introduce the horse, so guess that's not a horse.

 This is supposed to be a bear.

 Relaxing outside the house in the beautiful evening glow.    Mornings and evenings are perfect.

This morning, I was able to register for the 3 classes that I wanted at Denver Botanic Gardens.....yippee.     It was stressful as registration started at 9 and classes fill fast.    Two of mine sold out shortly after I got in.    I'm so thrilled.     Paul successfully  did his thing and got us camping sites back in Denver in July and August.    And he's anticipating his return to the Parkers Picklers......!
And now, it's off on one more trail ride and then tomorrow we pack up and head south to cooler weather.    (yes, you read that right.....higher elevation......)