- Joined
- Aug 9, 2007
- Messages
- 12,955
I spent a weekend in and around Bryce Canyon National Park back in June. This was a work hiking trip but it didn't feel much like it with all the great company. @neiloro and I drove down together where we met up with @Artemus and @muir_mountain the first night. We had a nice time around the fire and it was great to meet Gabe and hear about his big adventure he was embarking on. I slept in the back of the truck like I normally do, so I was a little bummed when it started raining in the middle of the night. I closed up the tonneau and got into the fetal position and stayed mostly dry. It rained on into the early morning which made crawling out of bed not much fun. And even less fun because I can't do my work hikes without good light and skies. I might as well just sit and wait for the sun to come out, which I have done many times on these trips.
@neiloro and I packed up and left before the others were awake. We were meeting some friend from out of the country that were on a long trip. We met up at a little cafe outside of Bryce. Lucky for us, by the time we were done eating, the skies were clear to the south above the canyon. Hike on!
Prior to this trip, I have totally neglected Bryce. I've gone in and stopped at a couple overlooks, but I'd never hiked it. It turns out the overlooks I stopped at were some of the less impressive ones, so my entire take on the park was pretty skewed. I just wasn't super impressed. And add the crowded national park factor and it always just seemed like more fun to go somewhere else. Boy was I wrong...
For our first hike of the day, we started down the Navajo Loop. As the trail dropped below the rim, so did my jaw. The scale of this place is incredible. And the way that rock erodes is just wild.
We walked slow and took lots of photos.
The Wall Street section of the Navajo Loop.
Looking down on Wall Street. As we neared the end of the hike, clouds moved back in and obscured the sun.
When we got back to the trailhead, the place was packed to the brim. The sight of someone walking in the parking lot got the line of cars looking for a spot go a little crazy. With the sun gone and the crowds in full force, we decided to vacate the premises.
As we were heading east on Highway 12, we decided to stop at the Mossy Cave trail. There was a bit of sun breaking through here and there. Fortunately, I had plenty of it for the key parts of the hike. Mossy Cave itself is pretty unimpressive this time of year, but the faux creek and waterfall are pretty cool.
Next we drove out on the Skutumpah Road hoping it wouldn't rain so much as to turn the surface into the snot slick that it is known to become. We stopped to check out the old pinned truck and 'bridge' at Bull Valley Gorge before backtracking to hike Willis Creek. I'd already done this one but the place was covered in ice so I figured a re-shoot was in order. The sky was overcast and uncooperative.
Next stop, Kodachrome Basin. I think it's against the rules to go there and not take at least one picture of this thing.
The one and only sign on the Kodachrome nature trail that's setup looking right at this. Interesting choice of quote there...
All we did was the little nature trail loop in Kodachrome and then the thunder and lightning started so we packed up and left.
We made out way back to the west side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau and met up with Art, Becky and Luna for another night of camping. Gabe had moved on to Zion. We had located this area or a campsite the previous day so we all knew where to meet. It was pretty nice up there chatting around some chips and salsa, and then this bad boy moved in.
It skirted right past us without making a fuss. Not the first storm that day that had come close, from what I was told.
Fffffffphotographers. But really, what kind of tree is that? I think I know what it's not.
Wandering around on a high, exposed ridge with a wicked storm whizzing by behind us. Nothing to see here.
Later that evening, we wandered out to the rim of the canyon to take in the nice evening light.
The next morning we were up and at it early to beat the crowds. First stop: The Queen's Garden Trail. This one is the easiest hike from the rim down into the amphitheater with an elevation loss of only a few hundred feet or so. It's strange how good that rock looks backlit by the sun.
Ffffffphotographers!
This was a really pleasant trail, particularly before everyone else got there.
@neiloro being @neiloro.
After hiking back to the rim, I walked the Rim Trail from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point. It's a nice little half mile walk.
And finally, we made our way out to Rainbow Point to hike the Bristlecone Loop.
A Bristlecone Pine out on the edge of the plateau.
Tree vs. tree
Looking off the other side toward Yavimpa Point.
And then a quick stop at this roadside natural bridge before the drive back to Salt Lake. It was a great weekend and I'm so happy that I finally hiked Bryce. Even with too many people here and there, it was totally worth it.
@neiloro and I packed up and left before the others were awake. We were meeting some friend from out of the country that were on a long trip. We met up at a little cafe outside of Bryce. Lucky for us, by the time we were done eating, the skies were clear to the south above the canyon. Hike on!
Prior to this trip, I have totally neglected Bryce. I've gone in and stopped at a couple overlooks, but I'd never hiked it. It turns out the overlooks I stopped at were some of the less impressive ones, so my entire take on the park was pretty skewed. I just wasn't super impressed. And add the crowded national park factor and it always just seemed like more fun to go somewhere else. Boy was I wrong...
For our first hike of the day, we started down the Navajo Loop. As the trail dropped below the rim, so did my jaw. The scale of this place is incredible. And the way that rock erodes is just wild.
We walked slow and took lots of photos.
The Wall Street section of the Navajo Loop.
Looking down on Wall Street. As we neared the end of the hike, clouds moved back in and obscured the sun.
When we got back to the trailhead, the place was packed to the brim. The sight of someone walking in the parking lot got the line of cars looking for a spot go a little crazy. With the sun gone and the crowds in full force, we decided to vacate the premises.
As we were heading east on Highway 12, we decided to stop at the Mossy Cave trail. There was a bit of sun breaking through here and there. Fortunately, I had plenty of it for the key parts of the hike. Mossy Cave itself is pretty unimpressive this time of year, but the faux creek and waterfall are pretty cool.
Next we drove out on the Skutumpah Road hoping it wouldn't rain so much as to turn the surface into the snot slick that it is known to become. We stopped to check out the old pinned truck and 'bridge' at Bull Valley Gorge before backtracking to hike Willis Creek. I'd already done this one but the place was covered in ice so I figured a re-shoot was in order. The sky was overcast and uncooperative.
Next stop, Kodachrome Basin. I think it's against the rules to go there and not take at least one picture of this thing.
The one and only sign on the Kodachrome nature trail that's setup looking right at this. Interesting choice of quote there...
All we did was the little nature trail loop in Kodachrome and then the thunder and lightning started so we packed up and left.
We made out way back to the west side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau and met up with Art, Becky and Luna for another night of camping. Gabe had moved on to Zion. We had located this area or a campsite the previous day so we all knew where to meet. It was pretty nice up there chatting around some chips and salsa, and then this bad boy moved in.
It skirted right past us without making a fuss. Not the first storm that day that had come close, from what I was told.
Fffffffphotographers. But really, what kind of tree is that? I think I know what it's not.
Wandering around on a high, exposed ridge with a wicked storm whizzing by behind us. Nothing to see here.
Later that evening, we wandered out to the rim of the canyon to take in the nice evening light.
The next morning we were up and at it early to beat the crowds. First stop: The Queen's Garden Trail. This one is the easiest hike from the rim down into the amphitheater with an elevation loss of only a few hundred feet or so. It's strange how good that rock looks backlit by the sun.
Ffffffphotographers!
This was a really pleasant trail, particularly before everyone else got there.
@neiloro being @neiloro.
After hiking back to the rim, I walked the Rim Trail from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point. It's a nice little half mile walk.
And finally, we made our way out to Rainbow Point to hike the Bristlecone Loop.
A Bristlecone Pine out on the edge of the plateau.
Tree vs. tree
Looking off the other side toward Yavimpa Point.
And then a quick stop at this roadside natural bridge before the drive back to Salt Lake. It was a great weekend and I'm so happy that I finally hiked Bryce. Even with too many people here and there, it was totally worth it.
