Route-Zion NP-Mt Carmel-Glendale-Long Valley- Bryce Canyon National Park
As campsites are allocated on a first serve basis, and once you have a site you can stay as long as you want, and because the 31st is Memorial Day, we decide to leave very early. The sites are so sought after, that the people who got our Zion site arranged with us the day before to be there when we left in the still dark dawn.
The road through the park winds up through the spectacular mountains. We would loved to have lingered to photograph and enjoy them but we had a mission and that was to get to Bryce Canyon, to see if we could get a site. Bryce Canyon is described as a high altitude desert, which has its highest point at 9115 feet. The final section of road before we exit Zion goes trough a 1.3 mile tunnel, which was cut through the mountain in 1930. From Glendale the road passes through a fertile valley called Long Valley, this idyllic valley would be a lovely place to live.
Lady luck is on our side, as we arrive at Northcamp, just inside the park border, a couple of Aussies are packing their last few things into the car. The early start, without stops has paid off, we get a great campsite for the very busy weekend.
We quickly pitch our tent and then head out to do the scenic drive through the park. But the wind is blowing so strong, that its buffets you off your feet when you get out of the car at the viewpoints. We eventually give up, head down to the small town just outside the park, to buy some provisions. As it is so unpleasant, we decide to take shelter in the tent. By the time we get up we are covered in fine, wind borne sand.
Finally the wind dies down and at about 16:30, we hike the Queens Garden followed by the Navajo Loop. This 5km hike is rated the best of its length in the world, and it is. As we descend into the valley we admire the grotesquely shaped pillars of sandstone rock, that have been left by erosion. They are called Hoodoos, so named apparently because they were bad people that were turned into stone. When you gaze out at them, they do resemble rows of standing and crouching people. The colours change from chocolate brown through rust red, orange, oche yellow, pink and finally white. We are truly blessed to be able to see these wonders of nature.
Decked out in 4 layers, we survive a very cold night.
29 May 2010
Route-Bryce Canyon
These Americans only seem to surface after 9, which is great for us, as we get the trails to ourselves. Today we decide to tackle the Fairyland Loop, a 13km awesomely beautiful trail, marked as strenuous. Strenuous it was, but so worth it. You wind right down to the valley floor 2300 feet below the rim, traversing a landscape where every metre deserves a photograph. Tired but energized we made a picnic brunch at the end point, Sunrise Pt, before enjoying a $2 shower.
The afternoon is spent, catching up on writing and doing our laundry. We are fortunate to add Utah Prairie Dog to our list of mammals, which includes Pronghorn buck and Chipmunks. These rodents which resemble ‘tailless suricates’ were believed to number 40 million in the 1800’s, but their numbers have been decimated to less than 5000, of which 200 occur in Bryce.
30 May 2010
Route-Bryce Canyon
After a late start, we head out for Peek-a-Boo trail, this 8km is situated in the N of Bryce. Deep valleys still have snow about 300 thick in the cool areas, but then it did snow last week. The route is once again spectacular, with plenty of up & downs to tax the weary legs.
On the way down from Bryce point, we are very lucky to see a Black Bear on the side of the road, they are listed as very unlikely to be seen.
Bob, our neighbour at the campsite has offered us either fresh King Salmon or Halibut, that he caught in Alaska, for our supper tonight, can’t wait to try it, but not sure how we will cook it with our very limited kitchen.
We take the scenic drive up to Rainbow point, enjoying the views and the Bristle cone trail, were large areas of snow still have not melted.
We dine like kings on the King of Salmon, 750grams of 50mm thick fish, served with saute green beans. Our praises to Bob, rewarded us with a piece of Halibut for tomorrows supper. Thanks Bob and family, from Alaska.
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