Post by 150FromFundy on Jun 15, 2017 21:27:32 GMT -5
It’s Day 5 and we are continuing on Scenic Byway 12 from Bryce Canyon City to Torrey. This drive passes through parts of the Dixie national Forest and the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument. There were a few interesting stops along the way. One was a 2 hour diversion down the Burr Trail.
The Burr Trail – Boulder Utah
Into the Canyon
The first 30 miles of the Burr Trail is paved. It is passable by car when dry, but comes with warnings even for 4x4’s when wet. The road descends into and winds through a deep slickrock canyon and rolling desert.
Bird on a Wire?
This interesting silhouette caught our eye and warranted a closer look.
And Then I Saw Her Face
While majestic when soaring in the air, these critters have a face only a mother could love. It looks like they fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. We aren’t sure whether this bird was warming up, drying out, or trying to impress the ladies. It vogued for several minutes before eventually moving on.
There were lots of opportunities for photos on our hike along a dry wash. If you are uncertain of what you are looking at, the next photo may make sense of it.
Cottonwoods in the Wash
Did you figure it out before scrolling down? These large cottonwoods find enough water on the floor of the wash to support their needs. Their thick bark protects them from forest fires due to lightning strikes, which there was lots of evidence of. While we were there, the cottonwoods were shedding their fluff. Snow in May.
Here’s another neat one. It reminds me or worm eaten wood.
But it’s not! This is an interesting erosion pattern from water seepage and many freeze/thaw cycles that appeared throughout the canyon.
One more. It reminds me of wood grain.
But all is not what it appears to be. The desert varnish (iron and manganese staining) is particularly pronounced on these cliffs.
This canyon also offers a very accessible (but small) slot canyon that was an amazing introduction to what would come in a few days. This slot canyon is only a few hundred feet off the road shoulder and only about another hundred feet in. It’s a nice cool spot on an otherwise hot day.
Human for Scale
Inside the Slot
No Place to Be on a Rainy Day
We read and heard many warnings about hiking in the canyons. This wash had many pinch points that would not be the place to be if you needed a sudden vertical escape. Fortunately for us, the only water in the wash was in our bottles.
Claret Cup(?) Cactus
I thought these were all pricklypear cactus, but apparently there’s more to it than that.
Darryl.
The Burr Trail – Boulder Utah
Into the Canyon
The first 30 miles of the Burr Trail is paved. It is passable by car when dry, but comes with warnings even for 4x4’s when wet. The road descends into and winds through a deep slickrock canyon and rolling desert.
Bird on a Wire?
This interesting silhouette caught our eye and warranted a closer look.
And Then I Saw Her Face
While majestic when soaring in the air, these critters have a face only a mother could love. It looks like they fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. We aren’t sure whether this bird was warming up, drying out, or trying to impress the ladies. It vogued for several minutes before eventually moving on.
There were lots of opportunities for photos on our hike along a dry wash. If you are uncertain of what you are looking at, the next photo may make sense of it.
Cottonwoods in the Wash
Did you figure it out before scrolling down? These large cottonwoods find enough water on the floor of the wash to support their needs. Their thick bark protects them from forest fires due to lightning strikes, which there was lots of evidence of. While we were there, the cottonwoods were shedding their fluff. Snow in May.
Here’s another neat one. It reminds me or worm eaten wood.
But it’s not! This is an interesting erosion pattern from water seepage and many freeze/thaw cycles that appeared throughout the canyon.
One more. It reminds me of wood grain.
But all is not what it appears to be. The desert varnish (iron and manganese staining) is particularly pronounced on these cliffs.
This canyon also offers a very accessible (but small) slot canyon that was an amazing introduction to what would come in a few days. This slot canyon is only a few hundred feet off the road shoulder and only about another hundred feet in. It’s a nice cool spot on an otherwise hot day.
Human for Scale
Inside the Slot
No Place to Be on a Rainy Day
We read and heard many warnings about hiking in the canyons. This wash had many pinch points that would not be the place to be if you needed a sudden vertical escape. Fortunately for us, the only water in the wash was in our bottles.
Claret Cup(?) Cactus
I thought these were all pricklypear cactus, but apparently there’s more to it than that.
Darryl.
