Blue Skies and Bristlecone Loop

Cannonville, Utah

Can you see it? Blue skies!

 We actually had blue skies yesterday too, but still feeling a little light headed from the altitude we decided to take a ride, but that will be another post.


 I am just way too excited about our hike and fresh air today! We both woke up this morning feeling great and ready to hit the trails in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Wanting to be safe and not over do on our first day out, we chose Bristlecone Loop at Rainbow Point. It's a one mile loop and has mildly hilly trail changes.

 
 
Elevation at Rainbow Point, where the loop begins, is 9,115 ft. The loop descent is 100 ft.

The trail offers spectacular views...

...and a nice walk through a deep-mixed conifer forest.







The search was on...I had read a description of what to look for, but we kept looking and looking...this is not a Bristlecone Pine. 

The ground cover is beautiful...Greenleaf manzanita bushes are flourishing.

According to information I read, the Bristlecone Pine is one of the oldest living species on the planet. One sculptured tree can live to be almost 5,000 years old.

The needles are produced from the branches of the tree in groups of five.



As a defense against the harsh climate in which they live, needles may not shed for up to 40 years!

Bristlecone Pines are called "Wind Timber" due to their fantastically tortured forms.


                                                                 

Is this a yellow-bellied marmot? NO! Thank goodness! We were told to watch for them along with blue grouse. This is the only bird we saw and it has yellow on it. Thanks Judy...its a yellow-rumped warbler.

These little spots of yellow were everywhere too...don't know what it is either. It grows close to the ground, red stems and sometimes red leaves, and the leaves had prickleys.

The busy sounds of the everyday world were conspicuously absent.  An occasional bird, but just pure calm and quiet, and then an occasional breeze in the trees. 

 

We shared our lunch spot with a couple from Western MA, then met a family from Poland...we gave them our maps, and then met a  young family from France with the sweetest baby.

We had a wonderful day...hope you did too!

Y'all come back!

Escalante, Utah

Cannonville, Utah 

This picture pretty much sums up what our days have been like so far in Cannonville....mostly bad thunderstorms and heavy down pours. Our biggest pup, Wrecks, is so afraid of storms that we don't dare leave him alone in the MH.

 According to the hourly report yesterday, there was a 3 hour break in the storms. Joe and I had a bit of cabin fever so we decided to drive the Scenic Hwy 12 towards Escalante.

The views as we drove along were quite pretty!

Hwy 12 is undergoing work to improve shoulders and pull-outs. We did find one spot for photographs.





These little guys were so busy!

Here comes trouble!

                   



And we enjoyed the views!

 

Wide Hollow Reservoir was a busy place. There were lots of people fishing and  taking pictures. These geese were the main attraction...there's definitely an explorer in this little family!

Just after you enter Escalanate, there is a scenic backway...Smokey Mountain Road. We gave it a try. It's a well maintained, unpaved road with lots of washes.

We walked a short distance in one of the washes...the rocks were awesome. All colors, shapes, and sizes! A great place for lunch too.

 

It was then time to head home! It was nice to be out and about for awhile...we enjoyed a little bit of sunshine!

 

  It's raining now! Not a surprise. I think I will put on a pot of homemade potato soup. I did look at the long range forecast...next week should be sunny and warm here...no thunderstorms and highs in the 80s. We are so glad we planned a 2 week stay!

 

I hope you are enjoying your day.

 

Y'all come back!