Day 37 - April 22, 2008

We explored Capital Reef National Park today. I am still in the "uww and augh" stage of seeing all this magnificent geology but I think Frank is more into "one rock looks like the other rock".

We had a great day of hiking and exploring.

View from our camp site

View from our Capital Gorge hike

"The Castle"

Mule deer along the Fremont River Hike

Reaching the summit after the Fremont River Hike

Reaching the summit after the Fremont River Hike

Capital Dome

View from Panorama Point

Day 36 - April 21, 2008

We moved to another nicer campground today. A much better choice.

We had a small road trip today to Fish Lake in the Fish Lake National Forrest. Again, this area is quite remote. Also, since it is at such a high elevation there was still quite a bit of ice and snow. Probably not the best time to see it but it sure was picturesque. During our ride along Hwy 24 we have seen so many different transitions of terrains. Today we saw the wooded valleys and peaks but we have also traveled through sunset-colored sandstone formations. It is quite amazing.

Don't forget to leave a comment. You just need to click on the comment link at the end of the post and it will give you the simple instructions.

Looking through the aspen forrest at frozen Fish Lake.

We don't know what these perfectly round lakes/ponds. Do you think the aliens are present?

Look at this wall of ice and snow. It is really thick!

Day 35 - April 20, 2008

Today we went on a little touring trip to Hite Crossing and Lake Powell Overlook. Hite Crossing was the only way to get across the Colorado River back in the 1880's. Again, the scenery is spectacular.

There was quite a bit of bicycle activity at our campground today. First there was a caravan of bicyclists for World Hunger. They apparently had pledges from individuals for every mile they bike. Then we met a couple from Switzerland who are in the 8th month of a year long bicycling trip. They started in New Zealand and then went to Los Angelas. They have made their way to Utah and are just taking it day by day. Can you imagine packing everything you need for whole year on little packs on a bicycle? They are also maintaining a blog but it is in German.

I spoke with the campground and got a refund for the next 3 days. We will be moving on to a nicer campground in Torrey, Utah.

Day 34 - April 19, 2008

Today was a travel day. We went from Moab, Utah to Hanksville, Utah. The road was great and very little traffic. This part of the state is not very populated. There are not many roads to connect the cities as there are so many National Parks and the terrain is rugged. Rather than going directly west, we had to go north, then west, and then south.

This campground is another boo boo. It's amazing how pictures can make something not so good look good. However, in this city it is the only campground so there wasn't any other choice.

Day 33 - April 18, 2008

This was our second day in the incredible Arches National Park. We walked seveal other trails and again saw incredible sights. I hope you will agree with the images we have attached below.

Just a few words about Moab, Utah. I read in one of the tour books that it was the most cosmopolitan city in Utah. I agree. It is very diverse but a whole lot of emphasis on outdoor sports. This is another town like Durango, Co - you don't see many fat people and almost every car has a rack on it to hold bicyles, kayaks, etc. There are lots of long hair outdoors men around this town.

The Three Gossips

Sheep Rock

Balanced Rock

"G" holdng up the Balanced Rock

Fiery Furnace

Skyline Arch

Landscape Arch - A very mature arch which may collapse any day per geologists. . It is one of the longest stone arches in the world. At one point it is only 6' deep.

The Courthouse Towers

The Organ

Day 32 - April 17, 2008

We started this incredible day with breakfast at the Jail House Cafe. They only serve breakfast and was it ever fabulous. Parker, we thought about you as we know how much you love to go out to eat big breakfasts.

Then it was on to the fabulous Arches National Park. This is an awesome park with so many incredible sights. I only wish the pictures would do half the justice of seeing the real thing. I hope all of you get to see this incredible park if you haven't all ready done so.

Delicate Arch

Here we are after our big hike up to Delicate Arch. This arch is the symbol for the state of Utah.

A look from the half way point on our LONG, STEEP hike up to Delicate Arch.

Look how steep our hike was to Delicate Arch

Note Rock climber on top of spire

North Window Arch

South Window Arch

Turret Arch - Note crazy guy on the right side

North & South Arch in one picture. Kind of looks like eye glasses.

Double Arch

Day 31 - April 16,2008

Today we went to Canyonlands National Park, Utah. Another awesome day filled with unforgettable sights. The park encompasses deeply eroded canyons interspersed with sheer-sided mesas and a variety of spires, arches and unusual rock formations.

The Monitor and Merrimac Buttes on the way to Canyonland National Park

View from Mesa Arch of spectacular landscape.

Mesa Arch -made of Navajo sandstone. It hangs precariously on the edge of a 500' cliff.

View from Grand View Trail. The Colorado and Green River converge at this point.

After our hike up to Grand View Point Overlook

Upheaval Dome: doesn't fit with the rest of Canyonlands' terrain - it's not the result of gradual erosion but rather a dramatic deformity in which rocks have been pushed into a domelike structure. At one time it was theorized that a hidden volcano formed the dome, but now experts say the cause may have been a meteorite that stuck the earth some 60 million years ago.