10 May ‘08
Saturday
Yesterday we had planned to take a couple of hikes in the Canyonlands, but that didn’t work out. Just as we pulled into the visitors center, we were met at the door by one of the “newbie” Park Rangers. She was telling us that she was just about ready to put on an half-hour seminar and wanted us to join her. I think she was afraid that she wasn’t going to have much of a crowd to talk too. Well we couldn’t disappoint her so we walked across the street with her and found a rock to sit on. Her talk was on how the different animals and insects adapt to the season changes in the high deserts of Utah. The time taken with her was well worth it as we really learned a lot. Now back across the street, we took the time to watch the movie on Canyonlands and pick up the information sheet for the area. This area is still part of the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado River runs down one side of the Canyonlands and meets up with the Green River that runs down the other side. Where they meet is deep in the canyon and make up one of the most incredible “white water” areas for floaters and kayakers. We gave a thought of taking our kayak down there but immediately came to our senses… This is the same water that has created the hundred of canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches, and spires thought out Canyonlands. At the far end of the road through Canyonlands, we ended up at the Mesa Arch. After taking our picture under the Mesa Arch,
Saturday
Yesterday we had planned to take a couple of hikes in the Canyonlands, but that didn’t work out. Just as we pulled into the visitors center, we were met at the door by one of the “newbie” Park Rangers. She was telling us that she was just about ready to put on an half-hour seminar and wanted us to join her. I think she was afraid that she wasn’t going to have much of a crowd to talk too. Well we couldn’t disappoint her so we walked across the street with her and found a rock to sit on. Her talk was on how the different animals and insects adapt to the season changes in the high deserts of Utah. The time taken with her was well worth it as we really learned a lot. Now back across the street, we took the time to watch the movie on Canyonlands and pick up the information sheet for the area. This area is still part of the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado River runs down one side of the Canyonlands and meets up with the Green River that runs down the other side. Where they meet is deep in the canyon and make up one of the most incredible “white water” areas for floaters and kayakers. We gave a thought of taking our kayak down there but immediately came to our senses… This is the same water that has created the hundred of canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches, and spires thought out Canyonlands. At the far end of the road through Canyonlands, we ended up at the Mesa Arch. After taking our picture under the Mesa Arch,
we decided to take time out and enjoy the view of the valley and ridges below us. We could follow the Green River as it twisted its way through the jagged edges of the “new” canyons below.
After a couple of short one mile hikes, and stopping a couple dozen more times to see some different views, we headed back to the coach to rest up for tomorrows hike into the Fiery Furnace of the Arches. Oh, by the way, yesterday evening Lou and I were out for a walk around our campground. This campground is semi-primitive, as it is in the middle of no-where, has no hook ups, and is spread out so that just about every site is not within view of an other. Well, on this hike we came upon a fox den.
At the time we were walking by, there were up to 8 pups and 2 adult fox. The pups were jumping and running around each other and having a great time and the other two were being aware of all that was around and being watchful...what a great find !!!