Tuesday, June 20, 2017

On Wednesday June 14 went to Zion, including Kolob Canyon.


Bison ranch near east entrance to Zion NP.

 
Checkerboard Mesa composed of Navajo Sandstone.

Cross-bedding in the Navajo Ss.

More cross-bedding.



Kolob Canyon

Basalt caprock on the Navajo Ss.

Desert bighorns in Zion.




Tuesday June 13 started with a short trip from Kanab to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, followed by runs up to Cedar Breaks Nat'l Monument and Bryce Canyon NP to see the Tertiary Claron Formation.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Coral Pink Sand Dunes


Cedar Breaks hoodoos

More hoodoos looking west at Cedar Breaks.

Hoodoos in the Claron Fm. at Bryce.

Hoodoos near sunset at Bryce.

Claron Fm. at the edge of the Aquarius Plateau at sunset as
seen from Bryce.

Pronghorn antelope at Bryce.

Monday June 12 was and incredibly windy day for the drive from Moab to Kanab via Cedar Mesa, Muley Point and Monument Valley.

View from Muley Point at the southern end of Cedar Mesa.
Note the dust storm in Monument Valley in the background,

Monument Valley in a dust storm.

Sitting Hen Butte in Monument Valley.

Agathla Peak, a volcanic "neck" in Monument Valley.


On Sunday June 11 went to Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail and then for some short hikes around Arches because the heat and the sun and the crowds were brutal.

Sauropod vertebrae at Mill Canyon

Double Arch

Erosional "fins" in the Entrada Sandstone

Broken Arch

Fiery Furnace in the foreground with the La Sal Mtns. in the background.

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Traveled down Kane Creek Rd. along the Colorado River from Moab to see the Triassic section there.
Triassic section along Kane Creek Rd. The uppermost cliff-forming layer is the Wingate Sandstone, below is the Chinle Formation with the gray-green layers, and the underlying Moenkopi Fm. can be seen in the lower left.

Erosional "fins" developing in Navajo Sandstone.
Fisher Towers along Rt. 128 east of Moab, Fisher Towers composed of  Permian Cutler arkose capped by Triassic Moenkopi Fm.



Cutler arkose from Fisher Towers.

Mesa Arch at Island in the Sky.  https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/mesa-archs-hum-measured-track-health-rock-structure



Saturday, June 10, 2017

Crossed Rocky Mountain NP today and then traveled to Moab.

The Boulder Flatirons from Rt. 36

Longs Peak

The Never Summer Mountains

Friday, June 9, 2017

Second day of travel, reached Denver area just before sunset.  Too much driving, not enough photo taking.  Will have some tomorrow.