River Ford to Bentonite Hills, Capitol Reef National Park

Another day off from volunteering and after a hike this morning we headed to the Fremont River where we had to make a crossing in the truck.  The park ranger said it was only 16" deep if you found the right path and did not get into the deeper area.  The river is muddy so you could not see the bottom but we made it.  Along the way we did some rock hounding and found some white and red agates, just a few.

This picture was on the crossing on the way back but it was still a little scary as we could not see the bottom or the larger rocks.  As you can see we had quite a distance to go up the river before we could climb out again.  I tried to get Jackie to stay on one side and take pictures and I would come back for her.  That was not about to happen so you only get this shot.

 

 



 

It was a sunny day with lots of clouds and rain in the far distance.  The road was a narrow dirt and then rocky but when we started to climb the Bentonite Hills it turned into a spectacle of color.  Here are a few shots taken as we crossed over the hill.   The pictures do not give it justice.

 

 

On the way back we found a watering area for the cattle and this old truck buried in the sand.

 

 

Oops, looks like I got our truck in the picture.  Can you see it?

 

 

To be continued...

 

 

Grand Wash Trail, Capitol Reef National Park

While here at Capitol Reef National Park as volunteer campground hosts we work four days and then have four days off.  On our days off we try and get out into and around the park.  Today we spent two hours on the GRAND WASH TRAIL.  It's about 2.2 miles each way in soft gravel but we decided to do most of it today and start from the other end on another day.  The towering walls that remain after thousands of years of erosion are a sight to see.  We saw it and now we can share a little of it with you.

Starting into the wash with a picture of Jackie to give you an idea of the scale.

 

 

 

Looks like there are other people on our trail today.

 

 

The scaring on the walls of the wash have taken years to show.

 

The little rock that Dick is sitting on came down from the top a very long time ago, or was it yesterday?

 

Mother nature does some strange thing in the sandstone.

 

 

A close up of one of the areas taken from the above area.

 

 

Another close up

 

Just another shot of a side wash.

 

 

 

A little man made art against what God has created.

 

The dead tree stands out against the white rock.

 

You can sure tell we are in red rock country with the looks of this wall.

 

No, this guy was not in the wash but thought I would share a very unusual (to me) picture of a cow we ran across the other day with a very thick white band of hair around its middle.  The hair looks to be about three time longer than the rest.

 

 

 

   To be continued...

Spring in the orchards of Capitol Reef National Park

It's only been a year since we posted a blog but now that we are campground hosting for four months at Capitol Reef National Park (mid March to mid July) it's time to do a few postings and share some of the beauty of this park.

The first thing, we ran across several herds of mule deer roaming through the orchards and the campground.  Also lots of wild turkeys roam around here day and night.

 

Looking down on the two host sites in the campground when things are just starting to bloom.  What great views we have.  We are the one on the left.

 

 

One of the orchards next to the campground starting to bloom.

 

 

More and more blooms every day.

 

 

 

 

And then the sun came out for a few days before the wind and snow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then a little snow during the night.

 

 

 

 

 

Started with a deer and will finish this blog with another one trying to decide if he/she wants to go up the trail.  Look close.

 

 

 

To be continued: