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I am not a geologist but I should imagine anyone who was, or had an abiding interest in geology, would have been experiencing orgasms of delight if they had done what I did today. Actually, make that multiple orgasms.
Of course this is all old hat to any American who has travelled through Arizona and Utah and it is probably old hat to any geologist worthy of the title. The journey I made today started at the north rim of the Grand Canyon and followed it east until, basically, it ceases to be grand. Then north up the Navajo Trail, turn left into southern Utah and then north again for about 150 miles to Bryce.
The reason geologists would be suffering damp trousers is every mile is different. Go over the crest of a hill and the rocks and formations offer up a completely new landscape from any seen before. For a few miles the landscape will be filled with smallish, grey, completely smooth domed shapes and a few miles on they are dark red and jagged. Round the next corner they are almost white and just as you get used to them they turn green and craggy.
And finally I made it to Bryce Canyon and a vista seen in many a cowboy film when young. Although I don’t think cows would survive here very well. The picture is the first one I took and was my first view of what is a remarkable work of geology that has been shaped this way over billions of years.
And I wore my new hat as well.
Bryce is stunning, isn’t it? Zion & Arches are amazing as well, but in a different way
I didn’t make it to Zion… not enough time. Next time perhas and hopefully with my wife who would have loved it all.
Andy, glad you enjoyed Bryce and the southern part of my “adopted” state (California native, Utah resident)…one of the things I love so much about Utah is its diversity of terrain/environment. Things are very different from north to south, east to west…deserts, alpine mountains, desolate salt flats…I was actually driving through southern Utah on Sunday (north from Los Angeles) but on a different route. Had I known, I would’ve waved…LOL. Hope next time you’ll get to see more of this great state. The welcome mat will always be out for you!
I rather suspect I’ll make a return visit at some time….