Day 19 Hoodoos!

Wow! Today's drive is only 125 miles. We should make it to Bryce Canyon NP in a little over two hours!

After an early start, we drove to the little town of Torry, just outside Capitol Reef NP. What do you know? Someone opened a coffee shop and we're in need!

After a quick stop, we made a left turn onto Utah' Scenic Byway, Route 12. Billed as Utah's only "All-American Road." The road was paved in 1985. Along the way we saw two magnificent elk. Each sported a huge rack. One had a small harem of perhaps three or four females (at least that's all we could see) and the other had at least 20 females in his harem. He kept them tightly packed together.

Highway 12 has many scenic overlooks and transits Dixie National Forest and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Both allow free range cattle to graze. We liked Dixie NF because it was great to see trees and animals again. You see, we've been in the desert for several days.

At one point, Route 12 followed a ridge that was only as wide as the two lane (no shoulder) road. There were deep drop offs on either side of the road, with no guard rails at all! At times there were one or two mile stretches of 14% grade usually with a hairpin turn or two thrown in for good measure.

Our first objective upon reaching Bryce Canyon NP was to secure a campsite. Once accomplished we set off for lunch at the Lodge. This particular lodge is the last remaining lodge of four that were built in 1920. of the other three, one deteriorated. Two, Grand Canyon North Rim and Zion, were consumed by fire. Both were rebuilt. In fact, the Bryce Canyon Lodge caught fire two years ago. The damage was repaired in the winter and the lodge continues to serve visitors.

Throwing ourselves right into the activities, we first attended a Ranger led walk. Ranger Don explained a little about the Geology of the park and how the Hoodoos were formed, he talked a bit about the environment and ecology and how it has been altered since the first settlers, Ebeneezer and Mary Bryce, arrived.

Following that walk/talk, we went back to the lodge where sat around the fireplace while waiting for the next program.

The talk on "Wilderness" was disappointing. This ranger just read the words that were on each slide shown.

Following the program, we made our way back to our respective campsites, attending to some chores before hitting the sack.

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