Bryce Canyon

Monday, we headed out to Bryce Canyon at the invitation of our neighbors Jerry and Wanda, who came up with the plan last spring.  The first night we stayed in Cedar City, Utah.  Tuesday morning, we drove to Cedar Breaks National Monument, and then on to Bryce Canyon.  We returned home late Friday.

Soda Spring, aka ZZyZX

Gail and I stopped for a lunch break at Soda Spring between Barstow and Las Vegas.  What once was a health spa is now The Desert Studies Center, a field station of the California State University System in the Mojave National Preserve.

 Driving in, the always observant Gail spotted this group of Bighorn Sheep on the hillside. Quiz: can you find the seven Bighorns in this picture?

The group was led by this very healthy looking ram.

 The little lake at Soda Spring.

Cedar City

 The Best Western Plus in Cedar City has a great vegetable garden that is maintained by an 85 year old master gardener.  We liked the look of the corrugated metal, too.  There is also a free BBQ every night around a large fire pit.

Cedar Breaks National Monument

 Tuesday morning, we left Cedar City for the climb up to Cedar Breaks at around 8,000 feet.  The fall colors and steep gorge we drove through were stunning.  This is looking east from Cedar Breaks.

 The westward view.  Cedar breaks is like a little Bryce, but has less accessibility.  Oh, and it was a little below freezing here at mid morning.

 Wanda, Jerry, and Gail at the overlook.

Bryce Canyon

 It's a beautiful Southwest  drive to Bryce along the Sevier River valley.

The four of us met up at Bryce Canyon National Park around noon.  None of the following pictures have been altered in any way -  at times, the colors of the earth and rock seem to glow from within.

Navajo Loop Trail

 Gail's and my first look into the break was mind blowing!

 We took a short hike down on the Navajo Loop Trail that winds through the main amphitheater.

 We love the deep blue skies of the interior Southwest.

The second and third nights, we had our very own cabin in Tropic, about 10 miles from Bryce.  Thanks, Jerry and Wanda, for finding this place! (Photo by Gail)

Wednesday, Gail and I headed out early for the sunrise and a long hike.

 Sunrise at one of the rim overlooks.

 Natural Bridge.

 Mule deer buck.

Under the Rim Trail

Rainbow Point to Ponderosa Canyon

 Gail and I did this 8 mile trail without seeing any other hikers.  We so enjoyed the solitude and unmarred wilderness!

 Windows are common in the Bryce landscape.

 The trail crossed several dry creeks that carried recent flash floods.  The ducks were helpful!  check the height of the mud stain on that tree.

 There were beautiful areas of turning foliage.  Red oaks and maples, yellow aspens with white bark set against green pines, spruce, blue skies, and white clouds.

Photo by Gail

 Contorted rock.

 Looking up at the rim above.

We saw this Northern Sagebrush Lizard and a probable Striped Whipsnake.

 Waiting at the Ponderosa Overlook was this raven.  Since we hiked point to point and didn't want to walk on the narrow highway all the way back to the car, we hitchhiked, finally getting a ride with a lively young couple from Montreal.

Fairyland Trail

 Thursday morning, we all met for the 8 mile Fairyland Loop, one of Jerry's all time favorite hikes.  Like the other mornings, it started out cold (high twenties) and quickly warmed up to around sixty.

 The trail wound through miles of hoodoos, fins, bridges, and windows.

 Bristlecone Pine.

 Bridge and window.

 Chipmunk friends.

From the rim was this view through a window.

The trip ended way too soon for us. Friday morning we drove through Zion National Park which was gorgeous.  Thank you Jerry and Wanda for coming up with the plan for this trip.  Our dinners, happy hour, and of course the hiking will be remembered for a long time!