Day 47 - Canyonlands Island in the Sky

Canyonlands National park has three districts and today I thoroughly experienced the Grand Canyon-like vistas of the highest altitude district, properly called Island in the Sky. After arriving in Canyonlands and securing a campsite, I drove to the Green River overlook for my first "white rim" vista-- like the Grand Canyon there is a flat bench in the middle of the elevation down to the river, and here it is distinctly white-colored rock. See pic.

Another special feature is the shape of the Island in the Sky is like a V with the Green River to the West and Colorado River to the East, the two rivers meeting in the distance south at another district-- the Needles. I would go see this confluence of rivers later in the week.

A strange geological feature called Upheaval Dime was next on the list. Upheaval Dome looks like a meteor impact crater but with salt rising out of its center. I hiked to the viewpoint overlooking the crater and then off trail to the highest peak at the mouth of the crater. I found a nice spot with big views to sit down and read for a while. Just as I sat down, two birds buzzed me, three feet from my head, and scared the living daylights out of me. My "reading" perch.

With storm clouds closing in, I headed off trail over some ridges to intersect a loop trail going around the crater and returned safely to the van. Grand View Point at the southern tip of the Mesa was my next stop to explore, again by traveling a combination of easy off trail and easier on trail. The weather was rainy but would clear up long enough for great pictures.

After taking in these vistas, I did some great short trails like the "white rim overlook"--best views in park, "Aztec butte"--easy climb to ancient granaries and big views, and finally the famous "Mesa arch"--an arch set on the rim famous for sunrise views of the canyon behind.

With the sun setting quickly, I rushed out a trail nearby in search of the perfect view of the canyon set in shadow by the fading sunlight. I arrived at a comfortable overhang just in time to read more of my book as the sun set and the shadows gently fell over the valley below.

Comments

Day 51 - Canyonlands Needles Pt 3

A deep connection to the nature surrounding you comes from the solitude of solo travel, but sometimes it is nice to have a companion! I ran into David, a retired telecom exec from Canada a few days ago on the Syncline Loop trail at Canyonlands Island in the Sky. Then I ran into him again halfway through my Chesler Park hike two days ago, then again later in the hike, finishing the last two miles together. David hiked his favorite trail, the Peekaboo trail yesterday, and said I could join him, but my heart was set on confluence trail, so we hiked separately. We did share a campsite though and exchanged travel stories. David was 55 and had retired at 50 from a high-level international job with Nortel and was now traveling full-time. We instantly bonded over our solo travel style. He outclassed me by leagues. He had trekked one month in Nepal, then another month in India, then some months in Asia. He had hiked and skied and adventured all over the western U.S. and Canada....

Day 40 Escalante Hole-in-the-Rock Road

I woke up late following a lovely slumber in a REAL bed-- such a luxury. I stayed in bed reading my maps and guidebooks, trying to put a plan together for the next months travels. I decided I would spend two more weeks in Utah and add on two weeks in western Colorado instead of spending all four weeks in Utah-- I was starting to tire of the desert and Colorado seemed like a good mix of backcountry beauty and civilization proper. The last must do in Escalante was Coyote Gulch, so I read and reread the route description in my guidebook and went to the visitor center to get my permit. I was going to do a loop down Hurricane Wash to Coyote Gulch to the Escalante River and then up Crack-in-the-Wall overland back to my car. Permit in hand, I lingered by the Outfitters wifi emailing and blogging and then drove out Hole-in-the-rock road forty miles to my trailhead. The road was dirt but well graded in most parts. A high-clearance vehicle was recommended for the last five miles but my Dodg...

Days 89 and 90 - Waterton

I started my journey north to Canada today. My plan was to head to Waterton Lakes, just north of Glacier, then to Calgary, then the Canadian Rockies parks of Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Glacier and a few others, then to Vancouver and finally to Seattle, all over the next several weeks. But first I needed the Internet! I drove south out of Many Glacier to a place I remembered having cell reception. I did some emailing and calling back home, did some research for my Canada trip and watched the final three episodes of Game of Thrones--wow, the final two episodes were sensational. This rainy, dreary day was perfect for such activities. I then drove into Canada late in the evening and to a campground set in the cloudy mountains at Waterton. The weather cleared a bit the next day and I was able to do some hiking around this scenic alpine lakes district. Waterton Lakes district from a high hill called Bear's Hump: The chipmunks at Bear's Bump were very interested in the conten...

Road Trip Daily

Search This Blog