The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
We woke to cold temperatures, but sunny skies. Got bundled up and headed to Bryce Canyon for our final hike. It snowed there last night and as a result, the trails were very wet which meant very muddy. We attempted, but after 1/4 mile, it was like walking with lead shoes on. The mud accumulated around our boots making walking difficult and dangerous. We decided it was not a wise move to hike 8 miles in those conditions. We watched others get ready to go, so good luck to them.
We decided to do more exploring the Grand Staircase area. 1.7 million acres of geological wonders. Our hike yesterday at the Kodachrome State Park is in this area. Fun fact about Kodachrome- the color and contrast prompted the National Geographic Society in 1949, got consent from Kodak Film Corp to name the park Kodachrome.
It was sunny and much warmer where we were going. We drove to Calf Creek Falls trail. A scenic drive that provided some overlooks of this vast area. The hike took us three miles inside a canyon. Towering rock walls and slick rock started the hike. As we walked, we passed several granaries built by the ancient Fremont Culture which inhabited Utah from AD 799 to AD 1300. The canyon walls had vertical striping as a result of microbes oxidizing iron and manganese found in the clay minerals. As we continued to hike, we saw Pictographs-I ages painted on the stone walls. It is amazing that they are still there after all this time.
The trail then began following the curves if the creek. Still pools had cutthroat trout in them. There was a worm that was eating the leaves of several trees, so Marty took them and fed the trout. These worms were dropping from the trees and were everywhere on the trail. We had to walk with care not to have them land on us.
We reached the falls and the hike was worth it. Water cascaded 126 feet. The colored rocks were covered with algae; creating a colorful effect. Return hike back just in time before the rain. Tomorrow we head for Moab.
We decided to do more exploring the Grand Staircase area. 1.7 million acres of geological wonders. Our hike yesterday at the Kodachrome State Park is in this area. Fun fact about Kodachrome- the color and contrast prompted the National Geographic Society in 1949, got consent from Kodak Film Corp to name the park Kodachrome.
It was sunny and much warmer where we were going. We drove to Calf Creek Falls trail. A scenic drive that provided some overlooks of this vast area. The hike took us three miles inside a canyon. Towering rock walls and slick rock started the hike. As we walked, we passed several granaries built by the ancient Fremont Culture which inhabited Utah from AD 799 to AD 1300. The canyon walls had vertical striping as a result of microbes oxidizing iron and manganese found in the clay minerals. As we continued to hike, we saw Pictographs-I ages painted on the stone walls. It is amazing that they are still there after all this time.
The trail then began following the curves if the creek. Still pools had cutthroat trout in them. There was a worm that was eating the leaves of several trees, so Marty took them and fed the trout. These worms were dropping from the trees and were everywhere on the trail. We had to walk with care not to have them land on us.
We reached the falls and the hike was worth it. Water cascaded 126 feet. The colored rocks were covered with algae; creating a colorful effect. Return hike back just in time before the rain. Tomorrow we head for Moab.
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