Dinosaur Tracks at St. George

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On the way from “Zion National Park” to the west – after all, I have to move another 800 miles or so to get to the airport, on the highway to Las Vegas, I noticed a tourist sign, that advertised dinosaur tracks. After I have already spent quite some time enjoying fossilized dinosaur bones, that sounded like an interesting place. While preparing the land to build something on it, these dinosaur tracks where discovered. All in all, there are several layers of tracks from different Read More +

Disney Land at Zion

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While the “Zion National Park” itself is quite nice of offers spectacular views and hiking routes within the 300 meter or higher sandstone cliffs, there are so many people, that the main valey can only be reached by a shuttle bus. That shuttle bus by itself is nothing bad. On the opposite, its probably much more convenient that way with that many people, but still it gives the place a bit the charm of Disney Land. After enjoying the view a bit and doing a Read More +

Sunset at Bryce

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The usual sunset pictures at “Bryce Canyon National Park” probably all involved somehow the beautiful cliff. So its about time to turn around the lenses by 180 decrees and show the sky too.

Bryce Canyon NP

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As the park ranger, who gave speech about the geology of the “Bryce Canyon National Park” correctly remembered, this place is not about a canyon. The its more like a ridge, which erodes – more in the east than in the west. The water sources here at around 9000 feet / 2700 meters, is mostly rainfall. What makes this place so special compared to the neighboring mountains, which partially are built from the same sediments, but don’t show the same type of erosion, is that Read More +

Moosy Cave

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Close to the “Bryce Canyon National Park”, and therefore build from similar stone and by similar processes, the “Moosy Cave” provides a great view for a short rest. I actually ended up there for lunchtime. The place, which gives this short hike its name, the “Moosy Cave”, really is just that a moosy cave. Ground water eroded that cave and at the same time provides the necessary environment for moose to grow in that desert like environment. The cave is so secluded, that ice might Read More +

Petrified Wood

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On the way from the “Capitol Reef National Park” to the “Bryce Canyon National Park”, a rough 110 mile drive, the state park at Escalante is a place to see some petrified wood. This once was real wood, which under special circumstances became petrified. Like in all petrification processes, the organic material is gradually replaced by minerals, before the organic material can be decomposed. Similar to exhibits of dinosaur bones in plain nature, also this petrified forest is presented under the open sky, the way Read More +

Before Zion – Super 8 Hurricane

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Without not too many days left of my holiday, I had to start some planning and such I tried to go West a bit today. I therefore searched for a place to stay near the Zion National Park, such that I can start exploring it early in the morning. Thanks to hotels.com, which I used in the past days to find a location to stay, searching was easy and I found a pleasant room.

Nautical Miles

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Today, I planned to do a bit of a full day hiking. At the visitor center, I got the hiking map and asked for distances. Of course, I did plan my day with a bit of generous tolerances in that respect. A good decision as I found out by the end of the day, when my GPS showed me the real distance. It kind of matched the information from the visitor center – in nautical miles though. The hike itself was quite spectacular. First the Read More +

Mountains in Full Color

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I did not expect too much from the “Capitol Reef National Park”, while it was mentioned in the flyer, that the colors are beautiful, I kind of thought I have seen many nice places in the past days, this cannot top it. It kind of did. However my first encounter, when I was inside the national park, was with Dave and his wife. Two hikers where standing on the side of the street and hoped for a ride. As they looked quite normal and quite Read More +

Goblin Valley State Park

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What a strange place. When I was at Vernal UT, more precisely at the Tourist Information at Jenson UT, I got hold of a flyer, which advertised Goblin Valley State Park – in very small print actually. Luckily, that particular park was on my route today from Green River to Torrey. These very special geological formations, really look like from another world. As the state park seems to be relatively rarely visited – or the visitors behave – one can wander between the formations and Read More +