Saturday, May 14, 2016

Amphitheater Loop Hike

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
May 11, 2016

Waking up to an absolutely gorgeous day set the mood for an outdoor adventure.  The desert was calling and we answered by choosing the Amphitheater Loop Hike.  

The trail head and parking for this quiet 3 mile hike is at Hittle Bottom Campground about 22 miles east on Hwy 128.  
The trail actually begins across the street.

The loop is an excursion into the heart of Richardson Amphitheater.  The trail follows a wash with interesting rock formations  before ascending a steep, rocky gully to the top of the ridge. 


We were first greeted by Evening-primrose also enjoying the warm sunshine before the heat of the day.  Since they depend on moths for pollination, they usually wither during the day.  


The trail is narrow and easy to follow with the help of cairns. The first section follows formations in the Moenkopi sandstone layers dating back 225.5 million years.   

 Joe has a good eye for spotting things like the ladybug on the Harriman's Yucca. 


I couldn't find the name of this beauty.  Do you know it?   Don't you love it when your pictures have surprises like a beetle tucked away in the bloom below?










These purple blooms are from the Showy Four O'Clock plant which enjoy the shade in juniper and piñon pine communities.  These must have been a little confused because they usually bloom late in the day and it was mid morning when we spotted these.

And these pale lavender blooms called Utah Daisys appear early thoughout the southwest in April and May.   





The desert was full of Scarlet Globemallow. They literally glowed in the sunlight.  


 Climbing up the gully was a bit of a challenge for short legs...



Next...
 ...but so worth it.  I love walking a ridge line !
















































Everything I see makes me photo happy !


















 Until next time...



 HAPPY TRAILS !

14 comments:

  1. Looks like a terrific day on the trail! I saw masses of flowers that looked like those you were questioning last year when we were in Buffalo, WY and Pam told me they were milkweed.

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    1. Thanks Lisa...I looked up the milkweed before I posted and just couldn't make a decision one way or the other. Good to know!

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    2. yep they are indeed milkweed, beauties none the less

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  2. Great hike! I'm sorry we didn't get to this trail, but then there is always next year:) I guess five weeks just wasn't enough! Super photo of the rabbit on the run:)

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    1. It was a lucky shot...caught him at just the right time Pam.

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  3. Looks like you had a great time and also got some great pictures too.

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  4. More awesome scenery in your pictures.

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    1. Hope you are not getting tired of red rocks...

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  5. A wonderful hike, looks like the weather is perfect. So many pretty flowers! Short legs seem to make short work of that scramble :-) Love all the formations of red rock - and of course the jumping rabbit!

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    1. It was a pleasant surprise to see so many different kinds of flowers Jodee. The prickly pear cactus were also radiant yellow in the sunlight.

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  6. Such beautiful scenery. I enjoy all of the flower photos you put in many of your posts as Don & I were once big into flower gardens when we had an actual house. Nice action shot of the rabbit too.

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