Today was a great day. We got up about 7:30pm UT time, had some breakfast, got packed and were out the door by about 9am. I think Grandma Burtenshaw might have been a bit disappointed that we got up and had breakfast before they could get up and fix us something. That is O.K. though because they can do that for us when we come back through town in a week and a half.
We drove through Zion National Park because it was the fastest way to get to Bryce Canyon National Park Zion 
We drove through a canyon that had lots of switch-backs and climbed very steeply up to the top of the plateau. At one point we even got to drive through a long 1.1 mile tunnel.
When we went through during the day, we had to take turns with the buses and RV’s going through the tunnel because it was only just over 13 feet high and they had to drive down the center of the tunnel in order to not scrape the sides. After all, the tunnel was built in 1930, so they didn’t really have 12 and 13 foot tall buses and RV’s that were able to travel that steep and windy of a road.
This is us getting ready to enter the tunnel.
Now we are actually moving to enter the tunnel.
Note: Sometimes Shari forgets that video can't be rotated like pictures can.
Here we are traveling through the 1.1 mile long tunnel.
This is what it looks like on the other side after leaving the canyon and tunnel behind.
We stopped one other time after the tunnel and I had Shari model for me while I took some pictures of the mountains so that you can all see how big they really are.
From there we drove through this really green valley. We followed a nice river all the way north until we came to our turn off for Bryce Canyon Dixie National Forest and the first thing we came to was Red Rock Canyon 
It was cool because everything except for the trees was red. From the top to the bottoms of the canyon everything was red. Shari said that it reminded her of our drive from AZ to UT yesterday, but I pointed out that the red in this canyon has some yellow/orange tint to it and the red from our drive in AZ has more of a purple tint to it. They are all very pretty colors.
We arrived at Bryce Canyon 
From there we drove all the way to rainbow point at the end of the 18 mile road. 
The end of the18 mile road had the greatest view. You could see everything from there, and the wind was really cold so I had to pull out my wool poncho (Because he forgot his sweat jacket at Grandpa & Grandma Burtenshaw’s) 
We were up at 9,115 feet and there was nothing that is taller in the area.
We were up at 9,115 feet and there was nothing that is taller in the area.
(Later, back at the visitor center we found out that one of the mountains we were looking at from Bryce Canyon was actually the mountain on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon that Shari and I stopped at after conference over a year and a half ago. With the storm clouds rolling in it was spectacular to see and admire the wonderful creations that God has left for us to enjoy. Shari makes a great Vanna White as you will soon find out.
Then we went down to #2 Black Birch Canyon
Here the picture practically speaks for itself
#3 Natural Bridge 
One of the coolest looking things! It reminds me of arch ways that have capstones. These are the stones at the top of an arch that distribute the pressure just right for an arch to stay up. If they weren’t there, the entire thing would fall down. I believe there is a gospel analogy made with the Book of Mormon being the capstone of our religion. Without it, the Church would crumble and fall. 
Leaving here, I tried closing the car door before my foot was all the way in and said ouch. Ammon asked me, what is the matter; and I said, “Insert foot then close door.”
#4 Farview Point. Looks cool. 
#5 Inspiration Point
By this time shari was ready to call it a day and since it has been attempting to rain at every stop she was ready to be done.
Finally we went to the Visitor center and did some shopping for a few things that would allow us to remember our adventures for the day. (Not to mention ALL of the MANY pictures we’ve taken!)
On the way home, Shari has finally gotten into the picture taking mood and took lots of photos while we were driving home. (Whatever, we had been taking pictures ALL day!)
We got to drive through the rocks! It was really awesome! We stopped at this restaurant that looked really new and inviting, but upon walking up to it, we found out that it was a restaurant in a hotel, and we did not feel in the mood for that expensive of a meal, so we went across the street to a local place that looked like a 100 year old Café. The food inside was great! I must have had a long day because I took a glass container of white stuff and went to shake it on my fries only to find out that is was sugar and not salt. Surprisingly it was really good. Kind of has the same effect as chocolate with the sweet and salty combination. We also had the coolest surprise as we were getting ready to leave. We ran into a family from the singles ward that we were in before we got married. Of the many siblings, Leonard, Luke, and Linda, were there and Luke was there with his wife Tia. They were all in our ward and what was funny is that Luke and Tia were married about 2 weeks after we got married and we have not seen them since. How is that for a small world!? Been more than a year since we saw someone that only lives a few miles from where we live in Mesa, and we have to go all the way to up to Bryce Canyon, UT in order to run into them. It was a great surprise and made for a great day.
On our way home Shari was still in her picture taking mood (Big Yeah!!! for me as I was driving) and so we got lots of pictures of the mountains, rocks, and cloud/sunset on our way home. We arrived home just after 9pm and it was a great day.
The following are a few pictures we took on our way back through Zion National Park.
What an amazing day! The sunset was so full of color! We were thrilled to see all the fun colors! God has a very amazing paintbrush.
Off to St. George, a shower, and bed! Great day!
Educational notes:
When we learn cool things about the places we went, we will include them at the bottom of the post so that anyone who is interested in leanring more about the places we go, can benifit same as we have. Enjoy the knowledge that comes with the beauty of our journey.
Okay, this first one is just a sign that makes me laugh, because all of this should be a "no duh".
Warning
Dangerous cliffs
Watch your children
Stay in your car during
lightning storms
No pets or bicycles
on trails
Do not leave
valuables in your car
I have placed a yellow dot of where Shari and I are at on this sign; which is the end of the 18 mile road talked about above. We are over 9,000 feet from sea level at this point.
The High Plateaus of Utah - Stairway to the Clouds
The Paunsaugunt Plateau where you are standing [yellow dot] was once connected to the Aquarius Plateau, 30 miles (50 km) across the valley [Aquarius Plateau is located in the upper right corner of the above picture]. When the entire Rocy Mountain regioun began rising 16 million years ago, north-south faults split the vast tableland into seven separate plateaus. (The most uplift occurred in the unimaginably distant past, recent seismograph readings indicate minute but ongoing activity.) Here at the southern end of the park the Paunsaugunt Plateau is 9,105 feet (2776m) above sea level, almost 2,000 feet lower than the Aquarius.
"Of this vast region of unexcelled scenery in Utah and Arizona, Bryce Canyon National Park is but a short, narrow strip along the southeastern rim of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, and this plateau is only one of the seven great tables that dominate the landscape of southern Utah." - Herbert E Gregory. A Geologic and Geographic Sketch of Brayce Canyon National Park, 1940
The Geology of Bryce Canyon
Diagram 1
Once A Lake
About 60 million years ago, a large freshwater lake befan to fill the low basin that covered most of southern Utah. Over a period of millions of years, rivers and streams from surrounding mountains gradually filled this lake with clays, silts and sands. Calcium carbonate cemented these sediments together, forming the limestone lsyer from which Bryce Canyon has been carved.
Diagram 2
A Period of Uplift
About 16 million years ago the land in southern Utah began to rise. A series of plateaus were uplifed along large cracks in the earth's crust called faults. The Paunsaugunt Plateau, on which you are standing, rose from near sea level to 8.000 feet (2440 m). To the east, the Aquarius Plateau moved 2,000 feet (610 m) higher than the Paunsaugunt Plateau.
Diagram 3
Erosion By Water
Even as the plateaus rose, erosion began to ear them away. The Paria River, a tributary of the Colorado River, began cutting northward into the landscape. Gradually, through a process known as headward erosion, it carved out a broad valley between teh Aquarus and Paunsaugunt Plateaus. As erosion continues, the softer limestone on the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau is washed away, leaving the many colored pinnacles, or hoodoos, of Bryce Canyon.
Drawing on the right
The Colors
The range of color in the loimestone layers at Bryce Canyon seems almost endless. Yet limestone in its pure state is basically white in color. Small amounts of iron deposited with the limestone have oxidized, or rusted, to produce the yellows, oranges, reds and browns.
Manganese oxides cause the blue and purple hues. Constantly changing weater and light conditions also add variety to the canyon's colors.
The Geology of Bryce Canyon
Picture on left
Weathering and Erosion: Nature's Relentless Forces
Water is the major force shaping the landscapre here. Wind has had little if any affect. Weathering occurs when rain, snow & ice break rock into smaller pieces. Erosion occurs when running water washes away weathered rock debris. Spanning vast amounts of time, these relentless forces have shaped, and will continue to shape, the landscape you see today.
Left diagram
Mechanical Weathering
Mechanical weatering is the most importatn type of weatering at Bryce Canyon. On about 200 days a year the temperature rises above freezing during the day and drops below freesing at night. During these freeze/thaw cycles, water seeps into cracks in the rock, expands as it freezes, and breaks apart the rock.
Diagram 2
Chemical Weathering
Chemical weatering, while less importatnt, also helps break down the rocks at Bryce Canyon. Water picks up weak acids from the air and soil, dissoving the calcium carbonate cement, which holds the clay, silt, and sand particles together. These particles then fall away, helping in small way to shape the formations.
Picture on right
Shaping the Hoodoos
A hoodoo is a rock pinnacle left standing by the combined forces of weatering and erosion. Bryce Canyon has thousands of hoodoos, in all shapes, sizes and colors. These columns of rock are protected from erosion by a harder caprock called dolomite, a unique form of limestone reinforced by magnesium. Alternating hard and soft layers erode at different rates - a process known as differential erosion - which causes the varied hoodoo shpes. As the softer layers continue to erode, the hoodoos will eventually collapse.
Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge is misnamed; this "bridge" is technically and arch. Natural bridges are carved by rushing streams, whereas subtler forms of weather have sculpted this opening.
Illusion of Permanence
Natural Bridge appears solid, enduring. Though weather is constantly chipping away at the opening, the stone arch may last hundreds or thousands of years. In this case, appearance gives no clue to longevity.
4 pictures
Upper left
The arch befan as a recess in a narrow limestone fin. As moisture seeped into cracks, freesing and thawing combined with gravity and chemical weathering to erode the rock.
Upper right
Hollows may have developed on both sides of the wall, greadually deepening until sky showed through.
Lower left
Gaps usually form beneath harder caprock. Though the gully below did not carve the arch, runoff washes away debris and deepens the span.
Lower right
It is impossible to predict when the span might fall. At Arches National Park similar spans have collapsed without warning, leaving pillars to erode more slowly.
When we learn cool things about the places we went, we will include them at the bottom of the post so that anyone who is interested in leanring more about the places we go, can benifit same as we have. Enjoy the knowledge that comes with the beauty of our journey.
Okay, this first one is just a sign that makes me laugh, because all of this should be a "no duh".
WarningDangerous cliffs
Watch your children
Stay in your car during
lightning storms
No pets or bicycles
on trails
Do not leave
valuables in your car
Question for Jacob, Parley, or anyone who wants to answer . . . Why do you think they tell you to stay in your car during lightning storms?
I have placed a yellow dot of where Shari and I are at on this sign; which is the end of the 18 mile road talked about above. We are over 9,000 feet from sea level at this point.
The High Plateaus of Utah - Stairway to the CloudsThe Paunsaugunt Plateau where you are standing [yellow dot] was once connected to the Aquarius Plateau, 30 miles (50 km) across the valley [Aquarius Plateau is located in the upper right corner of the above picture]. When the entire Rocy Mountain regioun began rising 16 million years ago, north-south faults split the vast tableland into seven separate plateaus. (The most uplift occurred in the unimaginably distant past, recent seismograph readings indicate minute but ongoing activity.) Here at the southern end of the park the Paunsaugunt Plateau is 9,105 feet (2776m) above sea level, almost 2,000 feet lower than the Aquarius.
"Of this vast region of unexcelled scenery in Utah and Arizona, Bryce Canyon National Park is but a short, narrow strip along the southeastern rim of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, and this plateau is only one of the seven great tables that dominate the landscape of southern Utah." - Herbert E Gregory. A Geologic and Geographic Sketch of Brayce Canyon National Park, 1940
The Geology of Bryce CanyonDiagram 1
Once A Lake
About 60 million years ago, a large freshwater lake befan to fill the low basin that covered most of southern Utah. Over a period of millions of years, rivers and streams from surrounding mountains gradually filled this lake with clays, silts and sands. Calcium carbonate cemented these sediments together, forming the limestone lsyer from which Bryce Canyon has been carved.
Diagram 2
A Period of Uplift
About 16 million years ago the land in southern Utah began to rise. A series of plateaus were uplifed along large cracks in the earth's crust called faults. The Paunsaugunt Plateau, on which you are standing, rose from near sea level to 8.000 feet (2440 m). To the east, the Aquarius Plateau moved 2,000 feet (610 m) higher than the Paunsaugunt Plateau.
Diagram 3
Erosion By Water
Even as the plateaus rose, erosion began to ear them away. The Paria River, a tributary of the Colorado River, began cutting northward into the landscape. Gradually, through a process known as headward erosion, it carved out a broad valley between teh Aquarus and Paunsaugunt Plateaus. As erosion continues, the softer limestone on the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau is washed away, leaving the many colored pinnacles, or hoodoos, of Bryce Canyon.
Drawing on the right
The Colors
The range of color in the loimestone layers at Bryce Canyon seems almost endless. Yet limestone in its pure state is basically white in color. Small amounts of iron deposited with the limestone have oxidized, or rusted, to produce the yellows, oranges, reds and browns.
Manganese oxides cause the blue and purple hues. Constantly changing weater and light conditions also add variety to the canyon's colors.
The Geology of Bryce CanyonPicture on left
Weathering and Erosion: Nature's Relentless Forces
Water is the major force shaping the landscapre here. Wind has had little if any affect. Weathering occurs when rain, snow & ice break rock into smaller pieces. Erosion occurs when running water washes away weathered rock debris. Spanning vast amounts of time, these relentless forces have shaped, and will continue to shape, the landscape you see today.
Left diagram
Mechanical Weathering
Mechanical weatering is the most importatn type of weatering at Bryce Canyon. On about 200 days a year the temperature rises above freezing during the day and drops below freesing at night. During these freeze/thaw cycles, water seeps into cracks in the rock, expands as it freezes, and breaks apart the rock.
Diagram 2
Chemical Weathering
Chemical weatering, while less importatnt, also helps break down the rocks at Bryce Canyon. Water picks up weak acids from the air and soil, dissoving the calcium carbonate cement, which holds the clay, silt, and sand particles together. These particles then fall away, helping in small way to shape the formations.
Picture on right
Shaping the Hoodoos
A hoodoo is a rock pinnacle left standing by the combined forces of weatering and erosion. Bryce Canyon has thousands of hoodoos, in all shapes, sizes and colors. These columns of rock are protected from erosion by a harder caprock called dolomite, a unique form of limestone reinforced by magnesium. Alternating hard and soft layers erode at different rates - a process known as differential erosion - which causes the varied hoodoo shpes. As the softer layers continue to erode, the hoodoos will eventually collapse.
This is informaton about the Natural Brigde location in the above post.
Natural BridgeNatural Bridge is misnamed; this "bridge" is technically and arch. Natural bridges are carved by rushing streams, whereas subtler forms of weather have sculpted this opening.
Illusion of Permanence
Natural Bridge appears solid, enduring. Though weather is constantly chipping away at the opening, the stone arch may last hundreds or thousands of years. In this case, appearance gives no clue to longevity.
4 pictures
Upper left
The arch befan as a recess in a narrow limestone fin. As moisture seeped into cracks, freesing and thawing combined with gravity and chemical weathering to erode the rock.
Upper right
Hollows may have developed on both sides of the wall, greadually deepening until sky showed through.
Lower left
Gaps usually form beneath harder caprock. Though the gully below did not carve the arch, runoff washes away debris and deepens the span.
Lower right
It is impossible to predict when the span might fall. At Arches National Park similar spans have collapsed without warning, leaving pillars to erode more slowly.
wonderful!! I love these posts!! More MOre!! Shari does make a very beautiful Vanna White.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, dude, you could do this travel log thing as a business. Wonder where you got that penchant for detail?
ReplyDeleteDetails...sometimes he KILLS me with the details!!
ReplyDelete