Day 23 (Red rocks and flowers)
Day 23
July 14, 2006
Zion, Cedar Breaks and Kolob Canyons
Norm and Sylvia joined us at our campsite for breakfast and then we went to the visitor center to join a 2-hour, ranger-interpreted shuttle bus trip up the canyon road. We learned about Zion’s geology, flora and fauna and took some very impressive photos. Just as has been the case with other places we’ve visited, we discovered that you really have to work at it to take a bad picture here!
The tour ended at the River Walk Trail head, so we decided to walk upstream along the river for a mile before pursuing other activities. When we got to the end of the trail and the only options were to turn back or start wading, we were a bit surprised that most people (75%?) took the plunge.
After lunch, all six of us piled in the minivan and drove a 170-mile circuit on the mountainous roads that surround Zion. First we climbed about 6,000 feet, arriving at Cedar Breaks National Monument. As soon as we got out of the car the importance of elevation and its affect on temperature in the desert was reinforced for us. It was more than 30 degrees cooler at 10,350 feet elevation than it had been in Zion Canyon. 75 felt a lot better than 105!
We walked a short distance to the Point Supreme overlook where we joined a 20-minute lecture given by a student volunteer on the geological history of the breaks. Multiple forces have conspired there to cause what can best be described as a 1-sided canyon. The mountain side has eroded in a very dramatic way due mostly to the chemical reaction of limestone (base) and rain water (acid) that resulted in large areas of the understructure disintegrating and the surface rock sloughing off. The exposed limestone is punctuated by myriad colors that are brilliant.
The other thing that Cedar Breaks is known for is alpine meadows full of wild flowers. Although the flowers peaked in late June, they were still in fine form today and we stopped in several places to snap some pictures.
We then drove south on I-15 to the Kolob Canyons area of Zion National Park. Kolob is known for beautiful red rock formations that are best viewed late in the day when the sun is low in the western sky. We spent about 45 minutes there and took about 45 photographs!
By the time we complete our round trip, entering Zion from the south via Springdale, we had driven 170+ miles and it was 10 PM. In spite of the late hour, we took Mom and Dad up on their offer to let us shower in their room. By the time we got in our bunks, the temperatures had dropped a bit and the night winds were just beginning.
The overnight was not as cool as the night before, so we never needed blankets. The night winds were not as strong either. We slept soundly, nonetheless!
July 14, 2006
Zion, Cedar Breaks and Kolob Canyons
Norm and Sylvia joined us at our campsite for breakfast and then we went to the visitor center to join a 2-hour, ranger-interpreted shuttle bus trip up the canyon road. We learned about Zion’s geology, flora and fauna and took some very impressive photos. Just as has been the case with other places we’ve visited, we discovered that you really have to work at it to take a bad picture here!The tour ended at the River Walk Trail head, so we decided to walk upstream along the river for a mile before pursuing other activities. When we got to the end of the trail and the only options were to turn back or start wading, we were a bit surprised that most people (75%?) took the plunge.
After lunch, all six of us piled in the minivan and drove a 170-mile circuit on the mountainous roads that surround Zion. First we climbed about 6,000 feet, arriving at Cedar Breaks National Monument. As soon as we got out of the car the importance of elevation and its affect on temperature in the desert was reinforced for us. It was more than 30 degrees cooler at 10,350 feet elevation than it had been in Zion Canyon. 75 felt a lot better than 105!We walked a short distance to the Point Supreme overlook where we joined a 20-minute lecture given by a student volunteer on the geological history of the breaks. Multiple forces have conspired there to cause what can best be described as a 1-sided canyon. The mountain side has eroded in a very dramatic way due mostly to the chemical reaction of limestone (base) and rain water (acid) that resulted in large areas of the understructure disintegrating and the surface rock sloughing off. The exposed limestone is punctuated by myriad colors that are brilliant.
The other thing that Cedar Breaks is known for is alpine meadows full of wild flowers. Although the flowers peaked in late June, they were still in fine form today and we stopped in several places to snap some pictures.We then drove south on I-15 to the Kolob Canyons area of Zion National Park. Kolob is known for beautiful red rock formations that are best viewed late in the day when the sun is low in the western sky. We spent about 45 minutes there and took about 45 photographs!
By the time we complete our round trip, entering Zion from the south via Springdale, we had driven 170+ miles and it was 10 PM. In spite of the late hour, we took Mom and Dad up on their offer to let us shower in their room. By the time we got in our bunks, the temperatures had dropped a bit and the night winds were just beginning.The overnight was not as cool as the night before, so we never needed blankets. The night winds were not as strong either. We slept soundly, nonetheless!
posted by Hazzard Family | 16:39
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