Bryce Canyon National Park

Those of you who’ve been reading my blog for any length of time know I like my history simple and amusing. When entering a national park they offer you a map and a newspaper. I usually read both of those, watch any films they offer, then search out children’s books in the gift shop. Then we take any scenic drives on offer but I send Dave out with the camera at most of the stops. If the park has a lodge with a restaurant we often eat there. Then I’m done with that park except for looking at the pictures Dave took and, maybe, writing a blog about the park.

After awhile the parks all start to seem alike to me. At least the ones in Utah do. After all how many ways are there to see the Colorado Plateau?

Bryce Canyon found a new way. I don’t know who writes their descriptions but check out this one from their website, http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm. “What is Bryce Canyon? Words confound when no comparable exist. A cave without a ceiling? A forest of stone? Even ‘canyon’ is misleading since Bryce is carved by freeze-thaw cycles, not a river. Yet, ‘world’s largest pothole’ is neither adequate nor flattering.”

And this one from page 4 of their newspaper, “Approximately (~) 200 million years ago (Ma), Earth’s crust was crinkling throughout Nevada, into southern Canada. A strong, dense Pacific seafloor had smashed into North America’s weaker continental crust. Much was at stake as the loser would be forced down and melted in Earth’s mantle. Although North America remained on top, it was shattered in the contest.” You can read the entire article at http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/upload/2010_Summer_Hoodoo-web.pdf.

That’s my kind of history.

Oh, yeah, here’s some pictures for those of you who feel deprived if I don’t include some.

No, we didn’t walk that trail. This is the park where my blister broke while still in the visitor center. Not that we would have walked that trail, anyway. High desert means no oxygen in the air, you know. Besides it was HOT! See, I have lots of excuses for not getting more exercise. Valid excuses. Right?

TTYL,

Linda