Moved our backyard again, and now we are in beautiful Bryce Canyon! The campsite we have is huge.... and even though the campground is full, it does not seem it. We are in the newer section (with cable tv!), so the trees have not grown in yet and it looks barren. We are actually glad about that....we have been watching one of the best shows out here near Bryce Canyon....and that is the night sky! There are so many stars out there! And the Milky Way....wow! We sit back in our recliner chairs and just gawk. Tom brought along his small telescope, which works pretty well. He was not successful yet in attaching a camera to this scope, but no matter. Sitting outside at night is like sitting in Hayden Planetarium.
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| cruisin' to Bryce Canyon |
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| passing by the airport |
So, I am digressing. Our first afternoon here, once our home at this new location was set up (ha!), we went to the Visitor Center at Bryce to check things out. Bryce has a shuttle system that runs every 15-20 minutes in a loop to see mainly the amphitheater section of the park, which is the most popular area of the park. The shuttle runs in a loop, approximately every 12-15 minutes. We decided to take the shuttle to see how that worked. Well, let's just say that we spent more time waiting for the shuttle than we did at the scenic points. It did not work well for us. We usually waited half an hour at each stop, so it took us 3 hours to see 3 scenic points. Just sayin'.
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| checking out the shuttle bus |
The views were fabulous! This is one of the prettiest parks, with sandstone rock formations and hoodoos that catch the light and become even more beautiful. In and among these formations are pines and other greenery.
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| wow....the view was spectacular |
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| so many different formations |
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| and color everywhere |
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| windows.... |
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| magnificent |
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| arches.... |
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| wow! |
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| once the gray tops of the rock formations erode, hoodoos start forming |
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| closeup |
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| check out the trail |
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| so pretty |
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| wow! |
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| the views in the distance were like a mural background |
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| our ginormous campsite |
Having gathered a bunch of information at the Visitor Center (after watching the movie, of course!), we planned a hike for the next morning, hoping upon hope that I could manage the heights. The hike we chose was the very popular Queen's Garden combined with the Navajo Trail. We then would walk back on the Rim trail to where we started. I really geared up for it, but once morning came and I saw the trail again, I had my doubts. We thought, okay, let's try it and if it didn't work out, Tom could go alone.
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| looking to start our hike |
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| starting with Queen's Garden (the easiest way down) |
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| early morning light...magnificent |
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| more |
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| part of the trail |
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| couldn't take too many pics...look where the edge is |
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| woah |
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| I'm coming Tom |
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| the views were spectacular |
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| staying away from the edge |
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| cool |
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| trees pop up in the weirdest places |
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| so cool |
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| nice view with the early light |
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| great hike so far |
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| nice view |
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| heading onward |
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| lots of switchbacks |
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| great view |
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| cool wall coming up |
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| the trail winds around a lot and then the view changes dramatically |
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| hoodoos |
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| love the light on those hoodoos |
I put one foot in front of the other and when it got "bad" with the height/ledge situation, I only looked at Tom's feet and nothing else. Therefore, I have very few pictures of the trail down, and also of the trail back up. Saint Tom was wonderful....that's all I can say! The poor guy....
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| which way? |
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| oh boy! Some parts of the trail were harder than others |
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| here we go |
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| heading for the doorway |
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| just amazing views |
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| love the colors too |
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| we are in awe! |
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| just beautiful |
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| more |
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| more |
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| more |
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| more |
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| watch your head |
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| more switchbacks |
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| cool stuff, huh? |
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| another doorway |
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| with another view |
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| reminds me of chess a bit |
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| deep doorway |
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| Queen's Garden coming up |
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| this is soooo cool! |
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| staying on the right trail? |
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| magnificent |
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| so many hoodoos |
The trail was awesome! So beautiful! The views from the bottom were so different, and the amphitheater is really amazing. There is a section we walked through that was pretty much a forest, and more of a typical hike that I am used to doing. Of course, then the hoodoos and rock formations appeared again and it was otherworldly. Magnificent. The both of us kept repeating one word every time the trail turned to a new view...."WOW".
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| end of the trail here (but now we are in the middle of the canyon amphitheater and need to get back up)! |
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| YES! |
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| the queen and her little dog too? |
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| very cool |
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| more |
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| ready to go back up? |
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| here we go |
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| aahhhh |
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| not too wide |
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| lots of greenery here |
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| love the pine scent |
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| my he-man....holding up the rock! |
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| nice stroll now |
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| cool |
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| isn't this awesome? |
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| trail seems like a "normal" trail through a forest.... |
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| until you get this view |
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| and this view |
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| okay...ready for the Navajo loop |
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| so nice |
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| here we go |
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| cool |
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| its amazing down here |
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| which way do we go? |
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| the double bridge |
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| nice and cool in the shade |
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| trees grow everywhere |
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| see? |
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| loving the shade! |
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| heading up |
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| great views |
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| otherworldly |
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| so cool |
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| going up |
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| the switchbacks...getting higher and higher |
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| bad pic of the switchbacks |
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| at one of the higher switches |
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| almost at the top....just a few more bends in the trail |
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| yikes...stay away from the edge! |
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| going up still |
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| very cool |
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| taking these pics so I don't freak out with the height waiting our turn to go past the rangers |
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| oh boy....and we are so high up on this little trail.....eeks! |
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| almost at the top |
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| ahh...made it to the section with the guardrail |
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| great great hike! |
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| though a little high in some parts |
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| walking the rim trail at the top was a piece of cake |
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| gorgeous views |
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| more |
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| more |
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| more |
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| more |
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| more |
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| great pic! |
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| not too close to the edge now! |
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| great views |
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| good place for a rest if you need it...the view is tremendous |
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| more |
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| more |
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| Saint Tom...ahhahah |
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| on the edge |
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| another view of the start of the trail |
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| looks fake |
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| finished the loop! |
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| what a great experience!! |
What a great hike down into the canyon. After a picnic lunch of peanut butter on crackers (I know!), we headed out to the very end of the park and then stopped at each overlook and scenic point. Since I have so many pictures, I will put that in another post. You've been warned...ahahhaha.
WOW!!! Awesome!!! Incredible!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing, isn't it? Tom and I are down to one word now......"WOW"
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