Went Looking for a Cemetery, Found Instead Stunning Beauty, This Ones for Emily :: Winter Sojourn 2014/15

Copyright 2015, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

 When Man and I were staying in Leeds Utah we had the distinct pleasure of meeting Emily and Bill.  Without writing a book, let's just say they are totally delightful and they KNOW the area of Paria Station of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.  They really know it.  They were volunteers there for many years.  Emily typed up well over a page of suggestions of things to see and do while we were in Kanab and Page.  We are working very hard to see as much as we can from their list.

Today, we did part of # 3 from her typed list, 3a to be exact, the PariaTownsite.  We had stopped at their old office, see, Emily, we really did, and Man has the brochures to prove it!

We decided to start at the Paria town site because the young lady in the station mentioned there was a cemetery down there.  Everyone knows I cannot resist a cemetery.

So, went for a drive looking for a cemetery, we found much much more!  We found a HUGE hunk o heaven.

See, we did the drive, here is a dusty GPS photo to prove it.

This out of focus photo shows the early part of the drive (about 6 miles one way).  Up and down, dusty but, currently dry road:

Starting to get "purdy"

You know I am loving this already, tis red!

And, then!!!!  OHHHHH MYYYYY:

Yes, we have panoramic, but, let me tell you, this does not begin to capture the beauty,nor the colors, the blues just don't show well.

We drove, we stopped, I took photos, we drove, we stopped, I took MORE photos:

From another vantage point:

We stopped at the picnic area, read some signs and then, we headed for the cemetery (and - - - - )

And, the Paria River!!!  Note the sign indicates we should not drive Jolly over/through the river.

After a few minutes of gazing at the wonder and the beauty, we turned Jolly around and out we headed, 6 miles back, but, first we stop many more times, and take tons more photos.

One more, for tonight.

Some time I'll share the cemetery, yes, we found it. And, some of Cappy's adventures for the day.

Thank you Emily, it was more than fantastic.  And, so were a lot of the other things you have suggested.  Not sure we can get them all, but, we sure are having a blast trying!

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THE Trip, Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, Driving Kodachrome Basin State Park to Grosevnor Arch

CABS for Reflections From the Fence

May 16, 2011.

Man and I have managed to reach the road to Grosevnor Arch.  It is 11 miles from the entrance to Kodachrome Basin State Park to the Arch.  Unpaved!  Also, narrow, hilly, and totally scenic.

Within minutes of "hitting the dirt" we see these signs, I think they just want to remind you:

And, the road:

Below:  about mid photo is a white streak, it is a washout area, when it rains, it fills with water, running water.

Below, photo does not show this real well either, but this section of road was rather steep and caused a bit of spinning wheels, spitting gravel and sand, slip sliding away, just a little.

And, when you get to the top, this is what you see.  Ya, WOW.

Below, what went  up, must go down.

Below, more downhill, and a slow turn, believe me 15 MPH was not too fast.

Below, still a few miles to go - -

We are almost to Butler Valley, full of cattle, grazing right along the road, one must slow down or you will be paying for a side of beef.  

Yes, we will reach the arch, in just a couple more miles, I promise - -


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THE Trip, Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, Driving to Kodachrome Basin State Park

CABS for Reflections From the Fence

On May 16, 2011 Man and I continued our exploration of the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument by driving out towards Grosevenor Arch.

The first part of our ride once we left the Visitors Center at Cannonville took us to Kodachrome Basin State Park.  The ride was about 11 miles, paved road, it was a pretty ride:

Right at Kodachrome Basin State Park the road changes, we will continue our ride, down the unpaved 11 miles from there to the Grosvenor Arch next time.


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THE Trip, Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, and Beyond

CABS for Reflections From the Fence

The day after the LONG LONG day trip we were out again, working hard to see as much of this fantastic area of Utah as we could.  We had driven the Scenic route 12 all the way to Capital Reef National Park and back, but there was so much left to explore.  We decided that since it had been dry for a few days we would drive out Grosvenor Arch way and see if the road was passable.

The brochures covering the area all have the following types of warnings, pretty much word for word:

PLAN AHEAD when heading into the backcountry. Start with a full gas tank and carry extra food, clothing and water....

ROADS within the (area) are mostly dirt, clay or gravel. Dirt surface roads are subject to flooding and impassable when wet. High clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended. Please inquire at visitor centers for road conditions.

WEATHER can change suddenly in the (park)....

FLASH FLOODS are possible any time of year. If the potential for storms is high for the region, avoid traveling in narrow canyons. Camp on high ground, away from steambeds. If you find yourself in a flood situation, climb to the highest possible point. Flood conditions usually subside in 8 to 12 hours, but it is possible to be stranded for several days.

So being cautious, as we have been all along during THE Trip, we knew we would only drive to Grosvenor Arch if we could first determine the true road conditions.

Kodachrome Basin State Park is 10 miles south of Cannonville Utah, the road is paved.   Grosvenor Arch is about 11 miles south of Kodchrome Basin State Park, the road is NOT paved, 11 miles one way of unpaved road.   The brochures say to allow at least 1.5 hours round trip for the trip from Kodachrome to Grosvenor and back.  It took us about 2 hours.

So, it made sense to us to have our first stop at the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument Visitor Center at Canonville Utah.  Visitors Centers have proven throughout THE Trip to be perfect beginnings of our stops at the national parks and monuments, and state and county parks as well.   Stop and get the "insider" information.  So happened while we were at this Visitors Center we heard a report from an employee that he had just driven the road to Grosvenor Arch and it was passable with no issues.  Good to go!

But, before we jumped into Big Butt for our drive/adventure out to Grosvenor Arch and of course, Kodachrome State Park we took a few minutes to review the displays inside and outside of the Visitors Center.  Outside displays were quite interesting, and included the silhouettes I have included in this post.  The display talked of early pioneer settlers and Native Americans.  Personally, I found them subtle, charming and artistic.

Next, more scenery, of course.  I took over 340 photos this day trip.  (And, if you are keeping track that means I took nearly 1,000 photos in two days.  Shazam!!!)

We toured this area on May 16, 2011.


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THE Trip, Day Trip, LONG LONG Day Trip, Part 4, Hogback

CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Well, my photos just don't show it well, but, here we go anyway.  This is the Hogback section of the Million Dollar Road at the Grand Staircase Escalante - National Monument.  This section of the road is built on a very narrow section of land.  Barely two lanes wide plus a small shoulder on each side, and I mean SMALL shoulder.  There is NO place to stop on this section of road, unless you want to stop at the bottom of a canyon, oh, did I mention, it is a L*ON*G way down??  Well, it is.  L*O*N*G!!!  Man doesn't always comments about the road, except for the extremes,  like rough pavement, deep potholes, 10 MPH turns, 14% grades (especially with Tana in tow, anything over 8% grades starts pulling comments out of him), and roads that hug long drop offs like the Hogback section of the Million Dollar Road.

First shot, below, taken out of my (passenger) side window, looking out and down into the canyon.  That is Big Butt's side view mirror in the lower left of the photo.  Directly below the mirror is a gray gravel type surface.  That is the side of the road.  After that gray gravel stuff, there is no more road!  Really, just no more road.

Below, the road just seemed to get more and more narrow, and the canyon walls just seemed to get more and more steep.  Now, look real close at those small poles with reflectors that mark the side of the road, note how they are not even on the flat part, they are put in the "hill".

On the way home that night after our drive we passed over the Hogback again, the next two photos are from the return trip, just another look at the Hogback, the first photo is another shot out the side window, those green blurs are the grass/weeds/low shrubs along side the road.

And, one more photo of the road.

Now, if you want to see a really fun photo of the Hogback, go to this web page and click on the photo to enlarge it.  Yea, amazing isn't it???


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