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December 5, 2007
Bryce Canyon, Briefly
After a few days of playing in the Grand Canyon, we spent one short day exploring Bryce Canyon National Park in south-central Utah. Bryce Canyon protects and preserves a relatively small area of uniquely eroded and highly colorful rocks. It isn’t a huge national park, but it is definitely what I would call an intricate place. The rocks here have eroded into an infinite display of “hoodoos,” which take the shape of objects such as pillars, grottos, pencils, windows, the Virgin Mary (seriously), a cathedral, and more. Exploring the hoodoos is a lot like picking elephants, Abraham Lincoln, and other random objects out of puffy white clouds in the sky; if you can imagine it, it’s out there. One day exploring Bryce Canyon wasn't even close to enough time to really experience it.
At t-plus 30 hours from completing the Grand Canyon double crossing, we went for a 6 mile hike at Bryce Canyon at an average elevation of 8000 feet above sea level with 1800 feet of elevation gain. The hike was not what I would call comfortable as I was sore and fatigued, more like it was a recovery hike. However, at the time, I was impressed with this accomplishment. As I write this now, I’m still kind of impressed with myself. Last year, I was a sorry cripple who was literally beat walking to a bathroom by a very nice but very elderly woman. This year, I was upwardly mobile!
We began the hike by descending one of Bryce Canyon’s famous trails, Wall Street, which is pictured in the two photos above. Surrounded by nearly vertical walls of orange rock, the trail descended 600 vertical feet through a continuously narrowing gully. The scene was beautiful, remarkable, and a little bit creepy. The bottom of this gully narrowed to a point in which I was able touch both sides with my hands, and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of Aron Ralston claustrophobia.
As soon as we passed through this narrow point, the trail opened to a breathable width again. We made a roundabout loop up, over, around, through, and under thousands of hoodoos. At times, the scene was supremely incredulous, and I had to sweet talk my mind into believing that the rock formations are nature-made.
Near the end of the loop, in the last light of day, we passed by another of Bryce Canyon’s famous features, Thor’s Hammer, which is pictured above. It’s a cool hoodoo, and T was feeling kind of feisty. He lined up Thor’s Hammer and I just perfectly and took a picture that looks like I’m either kissing or licking Thor’s Hammer. The photo was amusing and I giggled, and it was a fun way to end the hike.
Posted by Meghan at December 5, 2007 2:41 PM
Comments
Pretty amazing few days in an amazing place... and you amazingly were not so amazingly sore to enjoy it all amazingly :-)
Amazing -lol
OK time for sleep I had an amazing day at the beach :-)
Posted by: Bob Gentile at December 5, 2007 9:39 PM
See any rattlesnakes?
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at December 6, 2007 2:06 AM
what an adventure, thanks for sharing
Posted by: tom riley at December 6, 2007 8:25 AM
You kissed Thor's what? Did you guys smoke afterwards?
Those photos are beautiful. Bryce might be a ways down the list though. (The list is getting too long.) When I can no longer run, I want to travel and camp for days at each spot. I'll be a transient that uses the maximum limit at campgrounds.
Sounds like you had a fantastic journey.
Posted by: JeffO at December 6, 2007 8:27 AM
Bryce is MY personal favorite place in US. I have a poster/picture taken when we were there, on my wall.
Sounds like you had an awesome trip!
Posted by: olga at December 6, 2007 10:40 AM
How do you find your way back after the exploration? Looks like a beautiful spot, one I need to visit.
Posted by: backofpack at December 6, 2007 6:04 PM
Are you guys done playing in the ditch?
Posted by: Eric at December 8, 2007 9:37 PM
What a fantastic journey. You learned so many useful things in preparation for your 100 miler! Thanks for sharing the photos. I agree the garbage ball was totally art nouveau like. And good job on the moon -- my moon photos always look the same: a pinprick of white in a black square. I think by the way that the cashews sound yummy. Good idea! So, in sum: thank you for the vicarious journey.
Posted by: Kendra Borgonia at December 10, 2007 2:22 PM
Hi y'all! Thanks for the comments!
Bob- So mean to taunt with beach comments! The high today was so ridiculously low that I won't even mention it!
Corrado- Nope, no rattlesnakes. It's rattlesnake off-season down in there canyon country, a little too chilly for those cold-blooded folks. :)
Tom- Thanks for reading!
JeffO- I just knew it would be you who would make that comment! It was like a baited hook for you. ;)
Olga- I understand exactly why this is your favorite place in the US!
Michelle- I tell you, it's so hard to come home after a week of this kind of play time! I'm sure you can relate!
Eric- Yup, back to business as usual. :(
Kendra- The garbage art and moon pictures are T's, so he deserves the props! I agree, they turned out well! Thanks for reading!
Posted by: Meghan at December 11, 2007 6:22 PM