Sunday, May 13, 2012

Grand Staircase Escalante NM and Capitol Reef NP area

Route through Utah.

We are at the southern entrance of Capitol Reef NP,
at the western edge of the Waterpocket Fold.



Enjoying the day.  You can see the eastern edge of the eroded fold.
The earth just folded without breaking about 275
million years ago.  The fold is a monocline and is 
about 100 miles long.  That is the geology--
the scenery is even more remarkable.



If you work at i you can see the dirt road down the eroded 
fold.  It drops nearly 1000 ft in about 1 mile of switchbacks.



We are in the Grand Staircase Escalante NM.  
It is huge and great.  We spent several days exploring
the monument, which borders Bryce Canyon and 
Capitol Reef NP.   This is on the Burr Trail Rd.
It is said to be one of the best 30-mile drives
in the country.



A slot canyon dead end carved out of 
"rusted" sandstone.



Also in the slot canyon and in a water pocket.
When the sand dunes were buried and cementing materials
leeched through, some areas petrified harder 
than others.  Erosion wore away the pockets, 
making for interesting pictures..



At the entrance of the slot canyon.



More water pockets, this time in
Capitol Reef NP.



Sunset in Capitol Reef NP 
at Panorama Point.  We thought it was so
beautiful!  There are two more pictures following!




Told you.



Hiking to Cassidy Arch.  In the background is 
Fern's Nipple.  (Jan, I tried to get Judy's nipple
in the picture, but there was no hot springs around.)



Hiking to Cassidy Arch.



Almost there.



Hiking to Cassidy Arch.



Hiking to Cassidy Arch.

Finally there and celebrating with no pack and water.



The Cassidy Arch.



Judy, on the arch.



Our campsite in Capitol Reef NP.
It couldn't have been much better.



Fremont petroglyphs.  The Fremont people lived
in the same time frame as the Anasazi, but in this
area.  They disappeared around the same time but
left no clues to their next history.  Most think that the Anasazi
are the ancestors of the Puebloan societies.  

  

Beautiful golden Navajo Sandstone along 
UT 24 in Capitol Reef NP.
Judy too!



Overlooking the Goosenecks in the National Park.



From Sunset Point.



Still near sunset.  The Capitol geological feature
is above Judy.







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