Bryce Canyon National Park, Two Visits, What a Difference :: Winter Sojourn 2014/15

Copyright 2015, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Yesterday, (yes, this is rather timely, unlike many of my posts in the last couple of years), we went for a LONG drive, 252 miles to be exact.  Whew.

We made a bit of a detour of about 80 miles so that Man could revisit, quickly, Bryce.  He was driving, I was prisoner, err, passenger, he turned left and we were off to Bryce.

Our first visit to Bryce was almost 4 years ago, May 2011.  If you go to the top left of Reflections, and type in Bryce you will find quite a few posts about our stay.  The weather could not have been any more different, well, there was a bit of snow then.  Really, go look around and then, come on back.

This is one of the photos I took 4 years ago, note earmuffs, many layers.  Let me tell you, I was C*O*L*D!!  It was windy and cold.  Did I mention, it was C*O*L*D??

Here is this years photo, no heavy layers, that hoodie sweatshirt is so thin. We were not cold, we were totally comfy, the sun was warm and there was almost no wind.

We did not drive to the highest point in Bryce, as we were facing a deadline to get back to Zion to get through the tunnel.  Here are just a few photos from the snowy warm visit.  We estimate there was somewhere between 2 and 3 feet of snow on the ground.

This guy was the ONLY person we saw that was prepared to hike, safely:

Snow and hoodoos.

Closed:

Awesome:

Yes, it was 48 degrees, balmy.  Really felt like 70-75.  

There is a colony of prairie dogs at Bryce.  Four years ago, I spent some fun minutes capturing photos of them. Man sighed and waited.  This year I figured they would be hiding in their little warm homes, underground.  I was quite surprised to find one out snooping around.  Yea, he is looking the other way, but, Man managed to get one photo. He took it for me, wasn't that sweet, considering how he feels about my love of the little critters.

And, today we rest and packemup.  Tomorrow we move east, just a few miles.

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On Our Way Home, Via Zion National Park, The Rock Climbers :: Winter Sojourn 2014/15

Copyright 2015, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

THIS POST IS GRAPHICS HEAVY.

Today, Man and I took a little country drive, 250 miles of mountainous roads from Leeds, Utah to Cedar City, over 14, to Utah 89, a little detour to Bryce Canyon National Park, back out to 89, where we headed south, and came home via Zion National Park.

After we paid our fees, we drove through the tunnels, heading west on Utah 9.  We stopped at a pull off after the tunnels.  Everyone was looking back at the tunnel area, of course, but, they seemed to be intently looking at one particular area.

Out came our binoculars and Sony Too.  With a LOT of zoom, the assistance of the steadiness of the back of Jolly and holding my breath, I bring you - - the rock climbers.  Not all photos are in focus, a few mis-fires, but, I am giving you every last photo I took, all 22 of em!  LOL

Man looking for the climbers,  hint, they are about in the middle of the photo from left to right.  Man tells me he thinks they were about 1/3rd of the way up.  

Zoom:

Zoom more:

Zoom more:

Backing off the zoom once again:

And, again, ZOOM:

Back off the zoom once more:

Let's watch the guy in the green t-shirt:

Back to the person in the red, I think it was a guy??

The guy in the green, check out the gear tied to his belt:

Person in the red does not have all those hooks and things:

Dude in the green, starting to move:

Almost looks easy with this much zoom, eh?

Stretching:

This one is a bit out of focus, truth, it was a fat finger, shutter went off a bit unplanned.  Excitement driven.

More stretch:

And, now, we cross the chasm.

More stretching, reaching for that "crack" on the left:

ALMOSTTTTTTTTTTT - - - - - 

Just about:

OK, Carol and Sony Too almost did not get the climber in this shot, sorry:

AND, we made it, err, he made it.

And, Man and I left, we were exhausted and could not wait around to see what these two did next.

Whew, wiping our brows!

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THE Trip, Day Trip, LONG LONG Day Trip, Part 2

CABS for Reflections From the Fence

I don't even know where to begin.  No kidding.  If I was overwhelmed by Arches National Park or Canyonlands (and I was) there are no descriptive terms big enough for what I felt when we drove Scenic Byway 12 through this area.  I have also realized there is no way I can do this justice.  I did a google search, by typing in this phrase, exactly this way:

ccc builds the million dollar road bryce utah

Here is the link for the first page of results from this search:  LINK

AMAZING!  Maybe you could wait till after you read my sad attempt at this to go read some really wonderful blog and trip reports that others have made to this spectacular area.  Oh, my, some of the photos!  WOW!  Gasp!  Awe!  Wonderful!

If you don't go to any of the sites from my search results, or if you only have time for one, try this site, tons of information on the area all summarized in one place.  Excellent!

The short story of it, the road called the Million Dollar Road cost about that to build, and it was built in a large part by some very sturdy young men who worked for the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps).  This is rough country, so rough that as late as 1940 mail was delivered via mule train during parts of the year.

Rough of course, to me, also means beautiful beyond imagination.  So, it is photo time, photos to sooth the savage, or to just enjoy:

Below:  You can see the road, running from left to right mid photo, that small little black streak.  This is a massive area, miles and miles of "nothing", nothing but beauty.

Now, you know it is large enough for a panoramic.

What is around the next turn??  More beauty.  What is down the road a bit??  More beauty.  Miles and miles of beauty.  I'll show you more, soon, I promise - - - 

*I had hoped to bring you a few more photos in today's post, but, well, life and stuff got a bit off schedule, and well, I got tired and stopped and went to zzzz land!  I know you will understand!  LOL
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THE Trip, Bryce Canyon National Park, Hiking Mossy Cave Trail

CABS for Reflections From the Fence

On May 12, 2011 Man and I approached Bryce Canyon National Park from a different direction, a hike at the Mossy Cave Trail.  Friend and fellow blogger, Susan of Nolichucky Roots was in the area just days before Man and I were.  We chatted and compared notes via email, she shared her experiences and her feelings during her visit to Bryce.

Susan, like I, has issues with heights and narrow walking/hiking ledges that over look the canyons.  Knowing that her issues were pretty much my issues I paid very close attention to her reactions and her suggestions.  She related to me how she really felt connected to the hoodoos when she got down among them, specifically at Mossy Cave and Red Canyon nearby.

After visiting Bryce Canyon National Park I decided I felt pretty much the same way.  As gorgeous as the hoodoos are, somehow I just did not feel connected or moved.  Several other friends have related how they thought Bryce was the most beautiful park they have ever visited. My photos show a gorgeous place.  But, still my heart did not miss beats, my soul was not connecting.

It was time for a good ole fashioned hike.  I chose Mossy Cave Trail because, frankly Susan could not say enough good about it.  She was certainly correct, about everything.  Once we got down among the hoodoos, looking up at them, instead of down at them, my reactions changed, my entire outlook and attitude changed.

Here, look at the hoodoos a bit closer.  Fabulous, aren't they??

Add water:

And, a water fall:

This is Tropic Ditch. it was completed in 1892.  It is a hand dug canal to provide water for the residents.  To reduce the work load of such a massive undertaking the pioneers chose a route that followed natural water courses where ever possible.  Except for in 2002 during a severe drought, water has run down Tropic Ditch for over 100 years.

And, there are windows, 4 in this particular grouping:

We did hike the section of the trail that takes you to Mossy Cave, my photos received a failing grade, but for us, it was such a minor portion of the day's experience.  The hike, the Tropic Ditch water, the windows, and being IN the canyon with the hoodoos made the day.

Finally, another panoramic photo:

Thank you again to Susan, you were spot on with your observations and suggestions.  Yes, I finally "got" the hoodoos and the magic.


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