The Rock Magnet strikes again...or rather, got struck again

So, yesterday I spent the night at the historic Ben Lomond Suites in Ogden, UT.  This hotel was built in 1927 and originally called the Bigalow Hotel.  Constructed in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, it's one of the few "grand hotels" in Utah.  With 11 floors and 350 rooms, it's the tallest building in Ogden, and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

 

The hotel is also known to be haunted.  Yes, you heard me right...haunted.  Now, when I read about that...and you can find stories about its reputation on the internet...I was a bit apprehensive.  After all, if there's one thing I'm afraid of, it's ghosts and spirits.  But, I took a chance and spent the night at the hotel.  And, thankfully, there were no voices and no strange occurrences.

Today I headed north on Interstate 84 and had driven about 200 miles when it happened.  A pickup truck passed me in the fast lane...and threw a rock at my windshield.  There was no missing the obvious rock chip just left of the center of my windshield!  NOT AGAIN!!!  This was the 4th...or was it 5th...time a rock has hit my windshield and left a mark.  There was nothing I could do but stare at the rock chip as I continued to drive along.  About a half hour later, I stopped for lunch in Mountain Home, ID.  When I got back to the car, that big rock chip had turned into a half foot crack!  And, by the time I reached Ontario, OR, this is what that crack looked like.

If there's a bright side to this annoying turn of events, the crack is growing away from my field of vision.  Which means, I can hold off replacing the windshield.  Anyway, I was in Ontario to visit the Four Rivers Cultural Center and Museum.  This small museum traces the history of different cultures who lived and immigrated to the area.  From the native Northern Paiute tribe, the Basques and Europeans, the Japanese and the Hispanics from Mexico.  Here's a pic of typical foods those people might have eaten...you had to open a fridge to see it. 

I found the exhibit on the relocation of Japanese citizens during World War II especially poignant and interesting.  Well, that was my day.  Tomorrow is the final home stretch to home, sweet home!  I can't wait to hug my cat and sleep in my own bed again! 

Natural History Museum of Utah: Bones and birds

When I left Richfield, UT this morning, it was drizzling lightly.  But, it didn't bother me that much because my road trip outdoor activities are done.  I spent the day in Salt Lake City.  I got a much needed car wash for my Outback, and had a very tasty kimchi ramen for lunch.

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I spent the afternoon at the Natural History Museum of Utah, located on the campus of University of Utah.  The museum had a great collection of fossil bones from excavations located in the state.  In addition to mammals such as saber tooth cat and wooly mammoth, they had dinosaur bones, too.  I was particularly impressed by their display of horned dinosaur skulls.

There were also displays on native peoples, both ancient and more recent.  They had a rock with petroglyphs excavated from private land by request of the landowner who was afraid it would be vandalized or stolen.  Researchers meticulously restored many moccasins found during archeological excavations.  Quite a feat considering their age.

I was most impressed by their special exhibit on Birds of Paradise.  Not the flowers, the real birds.  Now, I'm familiar with the birds and I though there were a few different types.  Little did I know that there are 39 types of Birds of Paradise, all found on the islands of New Guinea.  A researcher and photographer spent 8 years getting photos and video, and documenting the lives and behaviors of these beautiful birds.  I certainly learned a lot from the exhibit...and an accompanying exhibit on pigeons.  They had some taxidermy examples of birds, but I find stuffed animals kind of depressing.  I much prefer to see live specimens.  Here is a headdress from a New Guinea tribe, though.

Tomorrow, I have a whole lot of driving to do...probably in the rain...and another museum visit.  It's getting closer to my road trip coming to an end.  Only two more days! 

Bryce Canyon: Hiking the Queens/Navajo Loop trail

I left Kanab, UT this morning when it was still dark.  I wanted to get to Bryce Canyon National Park nice and early to beat the crowds.  Even though it's the off season, the most popular hike in the park could get busy.  This would not be my first visit to Bryce Canyon.  I did so several years ago, but didn't do any hikes...just admired the scenery from the lookouts.  This time, I wanted to REALLY experience Bryce's famous hoodoos...that's what they call the sandstone rock formations.

I parked my car at the Sunset Point lookout.  The plan was to hike down to the bottom of Bryce Amphitheater via the Navajo trail, continue on the Queens Garden trail, and return to the top at Sunrise Point.  It would be a moderate hike of 2.9 miles.  Before heading down the Navajo trail, I admired the view from Sunset Point.

The Navajo trail started out very steep, consisting of numerous switchbacks that led to a narrow mini slot canyon.  I was amazed that trees managed to eke out an existence within.

 

The trail leveled off at the bottom, and I found myself among the trees and surrounded by hoodoos.  Eventually, the Navajo trail met up with the Queens Garden trail.  As I walked along, I heard faint drumming sounds, and noticed nuthatches flitting from tree to tree.  It was hard to get a pic, they moved so much, but I managed to get one...it's a pygmy nuthatch to be exact.

I kept walking and a few steps later, an Uinta chipmunk ran across the path.  This was soon followed by a well fed Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel.  It kept begging for a handout...curse the people who gave it treats...but, I ignored it and it gave up and ran off.  A couple of young women who said they were from Italy were fascinated with the chipmunk and were eagerly taking photos of it.  They said they don't have chipmunks in Italy. 

The Queens Garden trail gradually inclined, and I was soon walking among the hoodoos again.  Eventually, the trail led to the Queens Garden itself.  In the third photo below, you can see the rock formation known as Queen Victoria right of center.  You can kind of imagine a queen wearing her cape and crown.

A mile more of hiking, and I reached the top at Sunrise Point.  From there, the view of Bryce Amphitheater is gorgeous.  In addition, you can also see Bristlecone Point, and to the right of that in the center of the photo, Sinking Ship.

Did you notice the interesting effect my camera's panorama feature has on moving people?  Pretty cool, huh?  After finishing my awesome hike, I ate my picnic lunch, then took the main park road all the way to the end at Rainbow Point.  I took some photos, then headed back, stopping at most of the major viewpoints along the way.  From Rainbow Point, Black Birch Canyon and Natural Bridge.

Even though the beauty of Bryce Amphitheater is pretty hard to top, I saved the best for last.  You can't get any better than the views from Bryce Point and Inspiration Point.  It was a fitting end to a wonderful day.  And, it was also a great way to end my hiking adventures on this road trip!

Tomorrow, I continue to slowly make my way back home.  I have a museum visit on the agenda...and perhaps a much needed car wash! 

Grand Canyon North Rim: A symphony of solitude

After a nice overnight in Page, AZ, I traveled west to my only destination of the day...the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.  I've never visited this part of the park and I'm not alone.  Because the South Rim is more accessible, 90% of visitors to the park choose to go there.  That leaves the North Rim less crowded and much more quiet, especially this time of the year.  When I arrived at the North Rim Visitor Center parking lot, there were people around, but it was far from busy.  After a quick lunch, I headed out on the half mile Bright Angel Point Trail.  Along the way, a small butterfly caught my eye.  As I was trying to get a good photo of it, a chipmunk begged for attention.  I ended up getting a not-so-good pic of the skipper butterfly, and a great shot of the Uinta Chipmunk!

Even though the Bright Angel Point overlook is probably the most popular at the North Rim, I thought the views at other overlooks were even better.  I'll let the photos speak for themselves.  We'll start with Bright Angel Point here.

Things were a bit hazy due to air pollution from local power plants, and urban pollution from as far away as Mexico and California.  Still, the views were breathtaking.  Next, I drove about 20 miles east to Cape Royal.  Here are a couple more panoramic shots from the viewpoint there, and the adjacent Angels Window. 

You can see the Colorado River in the background of the Angels Window photo.  On the way back to the parking lot, I snapped a pic of the actual Angels Window...the rock I was standing on earlier.

As I traveled back the way I came, I stopped at two other overlooks, Walhalla and Vista Encantada.  Each had almost completely different views of the canyon.

So, that was my day, and it was a pretty awesome day.  About my only regret is that I wish it had been sunnier, especially in the afternoon.  Tomorrow will be my last hiking day of my road trip.  I'll keep my destination secret for now.  The forecast says it will be cloudy, but I won't let that put a damper on my plans...I hope. 

Natural Bridges to Monument Valley: Beautiful rocks

When I left Blanding, UT this morning, I found it had rained recently...my car was wet.  As I drove a short distance to Natural Bridges National Monument, it drizzled a little.  But, by the time I reached the park, the sun was out and the rain clouds had moved on.  This park consists of three natural bridges, which were formed by water eroding the sandstone walls of switchbacks.  I planned to hike down to two of them.  The trails are rated strenuous, but after doing the Devil's Garden primitive trail at Arches, I thought I could handle them.

First, I set out on the trail to Sipapu Bridge.  At the viewpoint, I got a nice photo of the bridge and surrounding area.

Things were going pretty good until I came upon a wooden ladder.  The height and the ladder's proximity to the edge of the cliff scared me, and I chickened out.

Defeated, I walked back to the top and decided to see if I could do better with the next bridge, Kachina.  This trail also had stone stairs, and I noticed I wasn't the only one using it.  A deer had very recently walked the same path.

The view from the upper trail was awesome.  I was feeling a little more confident with this one...until I reached the steep flight of stairs next to the cliff.  I don't have a problem with heights, but it just seemed like an unnecessary risk, especially considering the constant descending steep slick rock was starting to take a toll on my old knees.

I reluctantly hiked back up and drove to the last bridge in the park, Owachomo.  In a previous visit, I had walked down the trail to this bridge, so I didn't really feel like doing it again.  I took a quick pic from the viewpoint, ate my lunch, then left for my afternoon destination.

I took State Hwy 261, which has a very challenging section known as Moki (or Mokee) Dugway.  This 3 mile section of unpaved, gravel and dirt road consists of switchbacks descending 1100 feet from Cedar Mesa.  Before descending the steep grade, I stopped at a turnout to admire the view.

I took it slow and made it to the bottom without a problem.  I connected to US 163, and as I approached Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, I came across an interesting scene.  Cars pulled off the road to take photos of the straight away leading to the park.  This image was made famous in the movie Forrest Gump, where Forrest was running and running and running...then finally stopped.

This was not my first visit to Monument Valley, but I wanted to experience it again with my Outback.  My previous Blazer handled the rough dirt roads well, and I was confident my Subaru would excel.  When I got to the visitor center, I stood at the overlook which gave you an excellent view of the valley.  Here are the most famous rock formations, West Mittens, East Mittens and Merrick Butte.

I think I got a better picture this time around than my last visit.  Next, I proceeded down into the valley via the Valley Road.  For some strange reason, some horses were walking down the same road...to where?

As I drove along the scenic loop road, I came across many other interesting rock formations, all with names.  Three Sisters adjoining Mitchell Mesa and Yei Bi Chei adjacent to Totem Pole.  It was an inspirational and rewarding visit to a truly unique park.  Oh, and my Outback handled the roads great.  The symmetrical AWD really does well off road. 

Tomorrow, the rock concert continues.  I'll be doing the north rim of the Grand Canyon for the first time.  Looking forward to it!