What is a Hoodoo?

Friday September 9, 2011
Yesterday and today we spent at Bryce Canyon National Park.  This is somewhat similar to Zion except for the following.  The park is on the rim of the canyon, not in the canyon like Zion.  Geologically it is higher in limestone content than Zion, so it has oodles of hoodoos. I thought a hoodoo was related to voodoo and meant some spell or something.  So in case you are asked, a hoodoo is a pillar of rock with an unusual shape formed by erosion.  Bryce has these in all shapes, sizes, and colors.  These are hoodoos,

What is interesting is how they form.  Apparently Bryce has 200 days of below freezing temperatures at night.  Any rain water or snow melt seeps into small cracks in the limestone, when it freezes the crack widens and the piece eventually falls off.  This process has been going on for 200 million years.  The wind polishes and smooths the surface.

The shape is dependent on hardness and the crack patterns.  This place is remarkable.  We hiked down to near the canyon floor today.  Actually we stroll, so it takes us a while.  Thing is we gawk, shoot pictures, and touchy feely. It's not the destination as much as the trip in our opinion, well yeah OK we stop to rest often also.  I can't describe it and the pictures do not capture the immensity and spectacular color there is here.  Its hard to believe something like this exists.  So following are some of the 200 pictures we took, I picked them somewhat at random.  Every one you take is a winner.  I also did a sweeping video which can be seen at following link  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEWjDfV1HYI

Bryce Amphitheater

When we were deep in the canyon today a storm was approaching, so we had to hustle to get out.  The following shows the storm coming. 

Bryce comes in close to coolest places to see. 

Tomorrow we plan to head south.  We're only 100 miles from the Grand Canyon North Rim, so we're planning to go, however weather may be iffy tomorrow, so we'll see.



More from Zion

Wednesday September 7, 2011
Went back to Zion for a while today looking for a way to see the canyon.  Turns out there is a canyon overlook trail, 1 mile each way.  We blew right by the trailhead yesterday just before entering the tunnel, which I will tell you about later.

The canyon overlook trail was, at least for us subdivision hikers, tricky with rock ledges, lots of up and downs, and some climbing.  We took our time, held up others at times who acted like they were in some sprint race.  The sights were awesome.  When we reached the end of the trail we were rewarded with an elevated view of the canyon.  The road appears like a little brown ribbon in the lower center of the fifth picture below.

Canyon Overlook View.  Road is the little brown u-shaped ribbon in the middle

From here we drove up to Kolob Canyon and hiked that overlook trail, about a mile RT.  Although part of the same canyon, Kolob is much different, and we think cooler.  The trail tracks along a ridge so you're looking across the canyon, which is mostly red sandstone, they call it Navajo Sandstone.  A couple of pictures follow.

The tunnel.  This little engineering marvel was completed in 1929, opened 1930.  Its 1.1 miles long, blasted through rock.  Unfortunatly they built it on the small side so when anything larger than a pickup or van goes through, they shut down traffic from the opposite direction to "escort" the larger vehicle through. 

The tunnel was intended to connect Zion to Bryce, so people would not have to detour a 100 miles extra to get to Bryce.  Even with the tunnel, its still close to 100 miles from visitor center to visitor center.  Anyways, they charge $15 for this escort service.  In our 2 days of commuting to Zion, we found no escorts and no 2 way traffic regardless of whether an RV was coming through or not.  This is a rip-off and it really messes with traffic flow. Late this afternoon we waited 1/2 hour to get through.

We have pretty much seen what we wanted in Zion, so tomorrow we head to Bryce, which is about 60 miles from our campground.  It offers driving views and short hikes.

Zion National Park

Tuesday September 6, 2011
We arrived in Glendale, UT yesterday.  It started raining just after we arrived, and did so on and off throughout the afternoon.  However this morning it cleared out to become a beautiful day.  We went to Zion NP today and did some hiking.  We're pretty pooped out tonight, but let me tell you a little about Zion.  It is a sandstone canyon, part of the Colorado Plateau.  The Grand Canyon is also part of this plateau, in which 600 million years ago a plateau consisting of sand, shale and other rocks rose up several hundred feet. Rivers then cut though it creating canyons.  For Grand it is the Colorado River, for Zion, its the Virgin River.  The Mormons settled in here in 1860s, and called the place Zion to signify a safe place to worship.

The Virgin River cut down and through about 2000 feet.  The Park is on the canyon floor, so almost anywhere you go within the park is up hill, climbing the sides of the canyon wall.  It is beautiful, but the view gets monotonous.  The trails are not as good or well marked as we would like. It also does not seem to have the nifty features that YS and GT did. Tomorrow we plan to explore canyon overlooks to get a view down instead of up.    I attached some pictures, but I will tell you they really don't capture the beauty or the magnitude that you see. 

Oh did I mention people?  They're everywhere!

Movin' On

Today is Sunday September 4, 2011.
Today we went back to Temple Square to hear the Choir in a weekly broadcast called Music and the Spoken Word.  It was held in the Conference Center, which holds over 20,000 people.  Only about 2000 were there.  I have listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir doing Christmas music on CDs and TV, but I can tell you it ain't nothin' like hearing them live.  Between the Choir and Orchestra there are over 500 musicians.  It wasn't the volume, it was the power of this group.  You felt this music as much as hearing it.  They archive the 1/2 hour programs on their website, if you want to watch one, their website is, http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/
Here is a picture.

Kicked back the rest of the day after getting groceries and gas.  We're headed to Glendale, UT tomorrow.  About 300 miles south between Zion and Bryce.  Its a dinky town in the middle of nothing, so we felt we needed to stock up.  The campground is Bauers, actually a horse farm.  They indicate they have internet, we'll see.  If you don't see anything for a while, you'll know why.

Here are some links to videos that Lynn uploaded from Yellowstone:

Old Faithful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTisJHSv-PE

Lone Star Geyser: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_q3EQMDMMghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjnSP3sk1qA

A really good, soupy mudpot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-QNgCEQ3lE

Mud volcano:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLAPFFLYkgQ

Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend.

Greetings from Salt Lake City

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Today we drove from the Grand Teton Nat’l Park to Salt Lake City, a distance of slightly over 300 miles.  The scenery along WY 26 was absolutely beautiful as it tracked alongside the Snake River.  Once into Star Valley, things flattened out and all you saw were ranches, cattle, and horses.  Many small towns along the way with populations below 200, but covering many square miles.

As promised we hit those big grades on I-80 at Parley’s Summit.  5 to 6% grades, about 3 miles of them.  I was holding 40 to 45 in 2^nd gear 5000 rpm.  Trans went to 220F.  We were also in a big headwind, so I just couldn’t get my speed back.  I was hoping to hold 50 mph.  The eastbound side had far more hills and climbs.  We were already at 6000 ft, climbing to 7000 ft, but eastbound was about 4500, so they had to climb 2500 ft.

Overall for that segment I averaged about 9 mpg.  On the raft trip we met a young family from Howell, MI.  They are traveling in a 2 year old 32 ft RV built on Ford E450 van cutaway.  They have the V10 with 4 spd trans.  They have been averaging 6 mpg, and I am sure they are lighter than us in total.  They also pay the fuel penalty continuously, no towed car for touring.  Unhooked I’m getting about 16 – 17 mpg.  So I feel pretty good about our combo.

We are at the Salt Lake City KOA.  This place is like a resort!  Especially compared with the NP campgrounds.  Even had an RV wash, so we gave the Sundance a bath, it really needed it.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Two items on the agenda today, Bingham Copper Mine and Antelope Island.  The Bingham (actually Kennecott Bingham) Mine is now owned by Rio Tinto, a company in the UK.  More US dollars going overseas.  They produce 20% of the copper for North America, the pit is 3 miles across and ¾ mile deep.  Been around for 100+ years.  The amazing thing is the pit was at one time a mountain! It is the largest manmade excavation in the World, and can be seen from outer space.  Brought back some memories of the mines I visited.  Their haul trucks are now 320 ton capacity.  They were 240 ton when I was looking at them.  Caterpillar and Komatsu are the makes today.  Some pictures follow.

The Pit

                                          One big Michelin eh?

We then went to Antelope Island State Park located in the Great Salt Lake.  Whew, talk about a nasty place.  The Lake was once an ocean, then Bonneville Lake.  It is fed fresh water from rain and snow melt, but there is no out flow.  Anything going in stays there.  Over time the water is evaporating.  It is loaded with brine shimp and brine flies which birds feed on.  It is the largest aviary in North America.  So guess where all the poop goes?  I expected this clear blue lake that I was going to swim in, but after seeing and smelling it, the most I put in there is my toes!

There are buffalo and antelope on the Island.  The Island was used by the Mormons from 1848 to 1950s.  What possessed them to come to this island to farm and raise livestock is a mystery to us.  We know they were constantly hassled and seemed to seek out land no one else wanted.  Not only did they survive, but thrived here for over 100 years.  The Fielding Garr ranch still stands and can be toured.  We’re glad to get an up close look, and understanding of the Great Salt Lake.

Collecting a keepsake, don't drink this!

This 1950s Dodge was at Garr Ranch.  Looks like a Mecham Auction Special!

Saturday September 3, 2011

We visited Temple Square today, the campground is really convenient to downtown, about 2 miles away.  We attended an organ recital.  The organist was very good and the sound in the Tabernacle was awesome.  She played Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in d minor, one of my favorites, what a sound.  We visited all the buildings and displays.  Although I have been here a couple of times, it was Lynn’s first time.

We visited the Family History Museum, and I got some help with my family tree project.  I’ve gotten back on my mothers side to 1776 in Massachusetts, but having trouble going back further.  I was not able to make much progress, but got confirmation of what I have as correct and tips to try on going back further.  We plan to hear the choir tomorrow, so I may give it another shot tomorrow.

The Temple

Organ at the Taberrnacle (11,000 + pipes!)

The organist's console

11 foot Christus statue in North Visitor Center