Zion

 

Though we have visited Zion NP four times in the last six years, always on Memorial Day weekend, we both remarked that the drive in through the East side was a beautiful as ever.  Once in the campground though, our impression changed.  Seems most of our generation has been replaced with a far younger crowd.  Many more tents, cars, and kids, than before. Very few RV’s, even in Watchman campground.

 

Car horns constantly beeping as the doors are being locked and unlocked. Large groups at each site, some even hauling their gear in small U-Haul trailers. 

With the Memorial Day crowd being what it was, we only took one short hike on Friday Morning. Our little group.

It was cloudy and drippy, so not very good pictures.  I was proud of Wanda though, as she trooped right along.

We were in lurker mode for the most part, the rest of the weekend.  Took a couple drives outside the park.  One to Grafton, which Paul Newman made famous, and I posted about back in May, 2011.

 

The little cemetery is fascinating to me.  The hardships those people went through.

 

Also drove out to Flying Monkey Mesa.  Just google it!  Scary drive up to the top of Hurricane Mesa to see only this.

 

Was a test site for ejection seats back in the early fifties.  Now???

Anyway, we had a good weekend in Zion.  Especially the early mornings as the sun touched the peaks around us, and then slid down to brighten the valley floor.  Sally and I enjoyed that time of day the best.

On to the North Rim……..jc

Cedar Breaks Nat. Mon.

 

We took a drive out West of Panguitch, UT to visit Cedar Breaks.  A smaller version of the landscape one sees at Bryce.  Located at a slightly higher elevation, there was still some snow on the ground, and a cold wind was blowing.

Sally even found a snow bank to play in.

The official opening wasn’t until Memorial Day, so we pretty much had the place to ourselves.

Since Sally had so much fun playing in the snow, we thought we would drive off the main road and let her run some more.  Seems the snow we found had a soft crust and we both were leaving postholes in it.  She didn’t appreciate being up to her belly, and headed for the truck.

Saw an unusual sign just out from Panguitch on the way up.  Appears many folks miss the turn for Hwy 89, in town.

Last post for a few days.  No internet, possibly…….jc…………..

Bryce Canyon

 

We didn’t stay in Bryce Canyon National Park campground.  There is a great Forest Service CG located about 9 miles West of the park which is much better suited to our needs.  This was our third stay here in five years.  Though we didn’t snag the same site as before, we still had a great view of the red rocks.

After getting everything set up, four of us headed for the park for a rim to rim hike.  You depart Sunrise point, descend to the bottom of the canyon, the back up to Sunset Point.  Only a couple of miles, and a few hundred feet of altitude change……..

Lots of pink, red, and yellow.  Not sure whether to call it rock of dirt.  Seems to depend on the area you are in at the moment.

Just some random pictures.  It’s another place which I can’t photograph.  Way too much stuff over a large landscape.

As the shadows deepened, we made our way back up.

Looking back down on the trail which we had taken earlier. You can barely see parts of it near the middle of the photo below.

Another natural wonder which words can’t describe.  I once read a story that gave a good description, though.  Shortly after the area was designated a national park, a local was asked what he thought of the canyon.  His answer was short, and to the point.  “It was a hell of a place to loose a cow”…………