Zion!

Drove to Zion today and met an old friend at the entrance to the park - Checkerboard Mesa, with its cross-bedding and joints giving it the appearance it's named after.

As I was driving through the park, the amount of aeolian cross-bedding visible was astounding.  Utah really should change its nickname from "Beehive State" to "Land of Cross-Beds".

After leaving the main section of the park, I headed up Kolob Terrace Road to Lava Point.  The views along the drive were spectacular and there was practically no one around.  From the top of the plateau you can look down towards the main section of Zion.

Today, there was a wildfire visible in the distance on the plateau above the main section of Zion.

After leaving Lava Point, I went to the Kolob Canyon section of the park, about 45 minutes from the main section of the park.  This area is just as scenic as the rest of the park, yet there are very few visitors, which is good for me since I hate crowds.

As I was driving back to Kanab, I managed to get a photo of some "wildlife" - some bison on a ranch just east of Zion.

Monuments, Dams, Horeshoe and Grand

Leaving Bluff, UT this morning I first traveled through Monument Valley on the border of Utah and Arizona.

At the south end of Monument Valley is Agathla Peak, a volcanic plug dating to about 25 million years ago.

Traveling to Page, AZ I passed two of environmentalists worst nightmares, both about 5 miles from each other:  the coal-fired Navajo Generating Station and Glen Canyon Dam.

Glen Canyon Dam is an impressive structure, and although it's effect on the Colorado River has been abysmal, it does produce carbon-free electricity.  Ironically, the Navajo Generating Station had to be built to supply the electricity for the Central Arizona Project because the the hydropower electricity had  already been apportioned to other users.

Next stop was Horseshoe Bend, a classic entrenched meander on the Colorado River just downstream from the dam.

Last stop was the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  The Grand Canyon still takes my breath away, lieterally - at 8000 feet the air is mighty thin for a lowlander.

 

Bridges and Muley

Today I said goodbye to Arches, but the day was so clear and bright at the beginning, I just had to make a quick visit for a few more photos. This is looking towards Courthouse Towers.

After leaving Moab, I headed to Natural Bridges Nat'l Monument. When I arrived the rain was pouring down, but I figured "what the hell" and drove the loop road.  When I got to the far end of the loop it cleared up enough to get some shots of Kachina Bridge.

Also, if you like cross-bedding, you'll love Natural Bridges - the Cedar Mesa Sandstone is loaded with them.

After driving through more torrential storms, I arrived at Muley Point at the southern tip of Cedar Mesa.  After all that I had heard about this place, it did NOT disappoint!  It's about 1000 feet above the Goosenecks of the San Juan River and the view is spectacular.

In this view you can see the buttes and mesas of Monument Valley in the distance.

Arches (MyFavorite)

Today I traveled to Arches, again!  First and last stops were at Park Avenue to see the difference in shadowing from morning and afternoon.

Morning

Afternoon

I then went to other sections of the park, but as is my custom , I made the hike up to Delicate Arch one more time.

On the way back from Delicae Arch, I spotted a frog in the water of Salt Wash near the old Wolfe Ranch.

After leaving Arches, I headed over to Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands just as one set of thunderstorms was passing and another set was getting ready to arrive.

While I was looking out for lightning, I did manage to spot this lizard (skink?)  He was about 6 inches long.

Tomorrow I head for Natural Bridges and Muley Point.

Crossing the Rockies

Today, left Boulder and headed for Utah.  The weather east of the Continental Divide was cloudy and rainy, but it cleared by the time I reached Dillon.

For the rest of the trip it was mostly clear with occasional showers.  At Glenwood Canyon I got a shot of some rafters running the muddy Colorado River.

I made a brief stop at Colorado National Monument before the rains set in.

I drove along Utah S.R 128 into Moab.  That road is certainly has some of the most impressive views in the country.

Signs of the times

Today, while crossing Kansas during ferocious thunderstorms, I came across two symbols of our energy sources - the oil pumpjack (the past) and wind turbines (the future).

Heading Out to the wide open spaces!!!

I will begin another trek to the Colorado Plateau beginning  this Sunday.