May 17 - United States: Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
We woke up and packed, and I went to the grocery store for bagels, beer, and soap. (An odd combination, I know. But necessary nonetheless). Then we drove the two hours through lovely valleys and then up and up and up to Bryce Canyon.
We made lunch of grilled turkey sandwiches with avocado. This is the latest in Jon's culinary brainstorms, and was a very nice variation from the dry and tired turkey and cheese sandwich. Then, we hit the trails.
Tower Bridge Hiking Trail
The National Park map lists the Tower Bridge Trail as "moderate" difficulty lasting 2-3 hours round trip. We thought this sounded like an ideal way to spend the afternoon, so we took our backpack full of water and headed out.
It was warm and incredibly sunny, and the temperature rose with each few feet we descended into the canyon. As it was around 3:00, there was almost no one else on the trail. And the canyon itself was absolutely breathtaking.
Bryce Canyon is full of Hoodoos. Hoodoo means "to cast a spell" and I suppose that's what these pillars of rocks do. According to the Bryce Map we have, "Geologists say that 10 million years ago, forces within the Earth created and then moved the massive blocks we now know as the Table Cliffs and the Paunsaugunt plateaus. Rock layers on the Table Cliffs now tower 3000 feet above the same layers in the Paunsaugunt. Ancient rivers carved the tops and exposed edges of these blocks, removing some layers and sculpting intricate formations in others. The Paria Valley was created and later widened between the plateaus."
Bryce Canyon
The hoodoos and needles and buttes are continuously being eroded by water and dirt and gravel. This is what gives the canyon its beauty.
Our hike took us down and around and around and around, until we reached a shady part with a view of the Tower Bridge. This is really an arch on a hill with two towers on either side. Definitely worth the hike, although did curse Jon "The Water Nazi" Connal a few times. If I have to hear one more time that I have to drink a gallon of water a day, I'm going to quietly kill someone.
In Front of the Tower Bridge - Bottom of Bryce Canyon
The hike back up the canyon wasn't quite as easy as the way down. It's not that it was steep or technical, but it was the altitude. We could definitely feel our lungs and heart fighting to draw in more oxygen. Jon said that it reminded him of the hike we did to the Hermitage in Tibet. (See Aug 20, 2001)]
When we reached the top two hours later, we were tired and hot and covered in dust. But we went back to our stellar campsite to wait a few more hours before showering.
The showers were located at the General Store, a quick drive away from camp. A $2 token got us a hot 10-minute shower. Very nice, except that only two of the five showers in the women's room were operational. Other than that, it felt so nice to get all the dust off.
Back At the Best Campsite EVER
Dinner was pasta cooked over the camp stove. Jon said that - at higher elevations - water takes longer to boil. Well, this fine, but after an hour of watching the pot not boil we started to get suspicious. It turns out that the fuel can needed more pressure through the hand pump, and that made all the difference in the world.
Jon - Slaving Over the Camp Stove
This place gets incredibly cold when the sun goes down. Given the elevation, this makes a lot of sense. But burrrr! Once again, we're thankful that we'd bought those extra fleece sleeping bag liners in California. Because instead of being REALLY cold at nice, we're just kind of cold.