Day#9—Bryce Canyon, Kodachrome Basin, UT--May 31, 2011

Got up early this AM and despite frost on my car, decided to check out the Bryce Canyon NP campgrounds for cabins. Found that there are no cabins in the park’s campgrounds, but there is a place just outside the park called Ruby’s. Ruby’s rented cabins and had one free—well, not free, but available for $69 plus tax a night. I checked it out, and decided to spend my second Bryce Canyon night back in Cannonville at the Grand Staircase Inn, which was nearly $20 less expensive than a cabin and had heat, hot water, and a bathroom. The tiny cabin contained no heater and only a double bunk and a table with backless benches. Ruby’s also rented teepees. They were definitely interesting and roomy, but contained nothing but a canvas floor. To top it off, there was a sign for RVers on the Ruby’s registration desk that said: “Freezing temperatures tonight. Disconnect water hose.” I can take a hint. 

Typical little KOA-type cabin

 

I called the Staircase and reserved my room for a second night. Then I entered the park. The road into the park is 18 miles long with numerous viewpoints, campgrounds, and hiking trails along its length. My hike today was the Rim Trail to Sunrise Point about 2.7 miles each way. Though the trail was solid and not sandy, it had several steep elevation changes so I turned around before the end. The wind was battering me again, too, leaving me breathless. Probably walked only 3 miles at most. 

I continued on the park road seeing fields of antelope and the ever present mule deer. Each time I stopped at a viewpoint, I’d scan the area with my binoculars hoping to see a mountain lion. Seems like this would be the perfect place for one to be sunning on the warm rocks after a meal of antelope or deer. Of course I didn’t spot one.

There is evidence of fire just as one is entering the park and of two other fires within the park. One must have been quite recent because none of the understory has grown up yet. The ground and trees are still black and alien looking.

I must have taken 50 pictures of the Bryce Canyon rock formations, which are mostly peaked hoodoos, striped ecru and orange. There were also two natural bridges, and I took a better photo of one than all the photos I took of the bridges in Natural Bridges National Monument. It’s the one below and that I used for the cover of my journal.

Rainbow Point Observation Area

Snow at Rainbow Point

On my way back to Cannonville, I stopped and walked the quarter mile back to Mossy Cave and Tropic Ditch Waterfall. Both had interesting histories. The large cave is shaded and generally has icicles hanging from it into June. This must be a warmer spring than usual (could have fooled me) because it sported no icicles. 

On the road before the turnoff for Mossy Cave

Along the trail to Mossy Cave and Tropic Ditch

Tropic Ditch from Mossy Cave

Tropic Ditch was “completed in 1892 by pioneers using primitive tools who labored for more than two years to complete the canal, known as the Tropic Ditch, to bring water to the valley below. They planned the route using natural water courses, including the normally dry wash known as Water Canyon. Within Bryce Canyon NP, the water still flows and has flowed for over a century.” (Internet)

I stopped in Tropic about three o’clock and had a hot turkey sandwich for lunch/supper at the Hungry Coyote Restaurant. It was the worst hot turkey sandwich I’ve never eaten, the turkey being a quarter-inch thick slice of rubbery processed turkey. The mashed potatoes that came with it were real and good, though, and the blueberry pie I had for dessert was one of the best I’ve eaten. Lo and behold, I had cell phone coverage here, so called Jeff twice and we got caught up.

Instead of stopping at the motel, I drove past it and spent some time in the Grand Escalante Welcome Center. 

Internet photo

Then I drove nine miles to Kodachrome Basin State Park. The park contained more sandstone formations and red canyon rock, which by this time was getting a little old, so I did not stay long. 

Internet photo

Got back to the inn about 5:30 PM. Downloaded my pix and wrote up these past three days for my journal and to e-mail. 

Next on my itinerary is camping near Page at the Page Lake Powell Campground. I had to reserve there, so I hope it is a good warm spot. Should be as I’ll be at a lower elevation and in Arizona. Page is where I will tour Antelope Canyon, “the world’s most photographed canyon.” It is a beautiful slot canyon on the Navajo Reservation. More about that in a day or two.