Bryce Canyon
Trip Start
Sep 03, 2007
1
42
220
Trip End
Jun 17, 2009
Bryce Canyon,
Utah,
United States
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Not far out of Springdale we turned up into Zion Canyon, a 15 mile road to a dead end at the head of the canyon. The area had been growing steadily greener but we were not prepared for the woods that flanked the 'Virgin River' in this vertically sided narrow valley. It was an impressive mix of green caged in by towering sandstone. The early settlers called this place Zion because, after the deserts, it was the closest thing to Heaven that they'd seen! We really loved this small valley.
Continuing north and then east, we reached the start of 'Bryce Canyon National Park' in late afternoon and decided to go straight to the end of the canyon road. This 'canyon' road was 17 miles long, runs on a steadily climbing narrow escarpment that starts at about 7000 feet and ends at 9115 feet
Zion Canyon
!At the start of the road were a herd of 'mule deer' feeding. We drove up and up and got out of the car at the top - 9115 feet. It was a cool 54 deg and we felt the cold but the amazing views over the canyon floor showed incredible rock formations called 'hoodoos'. These pillars were formed from water and ice freezing eroding the rocks over millenia. We were also conscious of the thin air at this altitude and were breathless, not only at the views but also if we walked any distance, especially uphill.
We stopped at every viewing point on the way down, marvelling at more and more intricate shapes, pillars, ridges, crests and bridges as the sun sank and the temperature dropped. By the time we reached the bottom again it was 45 deg !
The hotel was another that had grown with the national park visitor numbers. 'Ruby's Inn' started in 1923 and now has a main lounge with a log fire, store, restaurant and several of the two storey motel style blocks similar to the ones we had seen in Death Valley.
Distance driven 141 miles
Comments
Hello
Hi Norah & Harry
Sorry not to have emailed you before now, but dad had a massive heart attack and has only just come out of hospital.
You both seem to be having the most marvellous time, the pictures are great and I'm really envious - what an experience you are having.
Kate Preston rang yesterday and sends you her best wishes. She's back at the Beeb, but given the recent round of redundancies they are not recruiting at all, so she is out of a job at Xmas. I didn't know Mercedes had left the BBC and split up with Steve - how things change! Kate also told me that Kate Wormesley is pregnant at 45!!!, she's estatic as you can imagine but unfortunately has jot lost her mum.
Anyway, less of my news - keep doing your blog, as it's really interesting and I love seeing where you are and what you are both up to.
Where will you be for X-mas??
Take care, watch the heat!!
Mel
xxxxxxx