Yesterday morning I decided to descend into Bryce Canyon. I’d looked at the canyon from various overlooks numerous times and felt it was time to get a totally different perspective of these unusual sculptured, multi-colored pinnacles. The descent from Sunrise point is quite precarious with steep switchbacks on dirt and rock paths. Once I reached the bottom I was awed by these red spires, some stretching over 1,000 feet into the air. I was now almost face to face with formations I’d seen from the rim. It was absolutely awesome to walk amid these huge rocks that had been sculptured by wind, weather and time. The gradual ascent proved to be extremely taxing. The physical walking was not the problem, it was the effects of the altitude. Breathing became labored as I gradually made my way to the top. This particular point is over 8,000 feet above sea level. And believe me, you really feel it. Needless to say, it was worth the time and effort. (Check out the images in my Bryce Canyon post to see the difference in perspective.)
View in the Canyon #1
View in the Canyon #2
View in the Canyon #3
Today we said goodbye to the Grand Staircase, Bryce Canyon and Utah and headed through the Vermillion Cliffs along US Highway 89. This national monument encompasses over 294,000 acres of towering cliffs, deep canyons and sandstone formations. What we saw from the road was spectacular.
Vermillion Ciffs
Having driven 363 miles today, we are now camped in Holbrook, Arizona. Tomorrow we plan to explore the Petrified Forest and, if there is time, the Painted Desert. If not, we will stay another day and explore the latter.We are on I-40 headed east and will probably be back in North Carolina in about a week or so. Our only other stop on the agenda is Cades Cove in Tennessee.
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