Wednesday, July 13, 2005 off to Bryce Canyon Clear, fluffy clouds 90 degrees
Hoodoo – a pillar of rock, usually of fantastic shape, left by erosion.
Today we would get to really see the hoodoos. Deciding to let the kids sleep in somewhat, I packed for the whole day, including long clothing in case we ended up staying into the night. Eating a quick breakfast in the room of cereal for the kids (turns out Austin loves using non-fat dry milk, and Emma has learned to “love” it), and oatmeal for me and Mike, we headed for the Visitor’s Center by 10 am to catch the movie. The kids Jr. Ranger program was set for 11, so we checked out some things in the VC gift shop and then headed to the North Campground campfire circle for Jr. Ranger Camp.
The Jr. Ranger talk today was about lizards, and the kids played like they were lizards or predators. Austin played as a snake predator, and was able to catch almost all of the “baby” lizards. They had a good time running around, so letting them sleep in was a good thing. Mike watched the kids at the camp while I tried to catch up on this journal at a nearby picnic table in the shade. The camp only lasted about 40 minutes. They had their books signed by the Ranger to make it all official, and then we were off.
To give the kids a little break from all of the running around they did, we decided to drive the whole 18 miles to the very end at Yovimpa Point and check out the Rainbow Point Overlook. It was very beautiful, but so is every view in this park. The parks have been surprisingly empty, as we were expecting the massive crowds that all the books warn you about.
Lunch was calling, so we sat and had pb&j rollups, torilla chips and cheese stix. The Bristle Cone Loop was calling our name, so we started down that trail and branched off at the Under The Rim Trail, which come to find out is a backcountry trail. After much walking through beautiful (but still very hot) woods filled with junipers and ponderosa pines, we came out on the large red jut called the Promontory which can be seen from the Rainbow Point overlook. It was quite a walk out there, which tuckered out Jr. Ranger Emma so much so that she plopped down and waited while Mike and I took turns walking out to the point. This area is so different from the rest of the park, as the red hills of sand make you feel like you’re walking on the graves of hoodoos past. The walk back however, was not so fun, as now we had to walk all that way back uphill. Austin was understandably tired and cranky.
Feeling like we just finished a half-marathon, we finally made it back to the Bristle Cone loop. Not wanting to miss anything, we took the spur to the Yovimpa Point overlook - after all we’ve already come this far and we’re already tired and cranky, so why not keep going? The overlook is really neat, and the vista is amazing. I’m glad I walked the extra 100 yards. Austin opted out, waiting for us on the sidewalk.
Slogging the final bit back to the car, I let Austin sit in the front, figuring correctly that as navigator, it would improve his mood. Cruising back we stopped at all the vista overlooks and took in the sights. Ponderosa Canyon Overlook is a nice one, and Agua Canyon Overlook boasts the hoodoo named the Hunter. We spent the most time at Bryce Point, which has a great overlook for viewing the Amphitheater, which is truly amazing. I took a lot of stitch pictures, meaning they get stitched together to make one panoramic or large picture, so I hope they turn out. The lighting wasn’t the best, as I’m afraid a lot of the color may be washed out. I experimented using the vivid setting on the camera, so we’ll see what happens. A nice lady offered to take a picture of us all together, and that is the family one you see here.
Finishing out our tour of the overlooks, we cooked dinner at Sunset Point – chicken in a can over Ramen noodles, sardines in mustard, and bbq beans – yum! Amazing how good things taste when you’re hungry!
From Sunset Point you can walk through Lodge Village where the cutest cabins are there to rent. It’s like you walked into a gingerbread village or a storybook. The front of Bryce Lodge is really quaint too, and we went inside in search of an ice cream cone (the promise of an ice cream cone at the top does wonders for the motivation – mine included!) and of course had to check out the gift shop. I was able to find a nice gift for Aunt Sue’s upcoming birthday, now if I can get it home without breaking it.
Since we didn’t find ice cream at the lodge, we made it an early night and came back to the ranch to have an ice cream novelty from the hotel grocery store – it seems as though Fosters needs to update their outdoor sign that promises Ice Cream. The kids got to watch a little tv – something they considered quite a treat. We took showers and fell into bed.
Today we would get to really see the hoodoos. Deciding to let the kids sleep in somewhat, I packed for the whole day, including long clothing in case we ended up staying into the night. Eating a quick breakfast in the room of cereal for the kids (turns out Austin loves using non-fat dry milk, and Emma has learned to “love” it), and oatmeal for me and Mike, we headed for the Visitor’s Center by 10 am to catch the movie. The kids Jr. Ranger program was set for 11, so we checked out some things in the VC gift shop and then headed to the North Campground campfire circle for Jr. Ranger Camp.
The Jr. Ranger talk today was about lizards, and the kids played like they were lizards or predators. Austin played as a snake predator, and was able to catch almost all of the “baby” lizards. They had a good time running around, so letting them sleep in was a good thing. Mike watched the kids at the camp while I tried to catch up on this journal at a nearby picnic table in the shade. The camp only lasted about 40 minutes. They had their books signed by the Ranger to make it all official, and then we were off.
To give the kids a little break from all of the running around they did, we decided to drive the whole 18 miles to the very end at Yovimpa Point and check out the Rainbow Point Overlook. It was very beautiful, but so is every view in this park. The parks have been surprisingly empty, as we were expecting the massive crowds that all the books warn you about.
Lunch was calling, so we sat and had pb&j rollups, torilla chips and cheese stix. The Bristle Cone Loop was calling our name, so we started down that trail and branched off at the Under The Rim Trail, which come to find out is a backcountry trail. After much walking through beautiful (but still very hot) woods filled with junipers and ponderosa pines, we came out on the large red jut called the Promontory which can be seen from the Rainbow Point overlook. It was quite a walk out there, which tuckered out Jr. Ranger Emma so much so that she plopped down and waited while Mike and I took turns walking out to the point. This area is so different from the rest of the park, as the red hills of sand make you feel like you’re walking on the graves of hoodoos past. The walk back however, was not so fun, as now we had to walk all that way back uphill. Austin was understandably tired and cranky.
Feeling like we just finished a half-marathon, we finally made it back to the Bristle Cone loop. Not wanting to miss anything, we took the spur to the Yovimpa Point overlook - after all we’ve already come this far and we’re already tired and cranky, so why not keep going? The overlook is really neat, and the vista is amazing. I’m glad I walked the extra 100 yards. Austin opted out, waiting for us on the sidewalk.
Slogging the final bit back to the car, I let Austin sit in the front, figuring correctly that as navigator, it would improve his mood. Cruising back we stopped at all the vista overlooks and took in the sights. Ponderosa Canyon Overlook is a nice one, and Agua Canyon Overlook boasts the hoodoo named the Hunter. We spent the most time at Bryce Point, which has a great overlook for viewing the Amphitheater, which is truly amazing. I took a lot of stitch pictures, meaning they get stitched together to make one panoramic or large picture, so I hope they turn out. The lighting wasn’t the best, as I’m afraid a lot of the color may be washed out. I experimented using the vivid setting on the camera, so we’ll see what happens. A nice lady offered to take a picture of us all together, and that is the family one you see here.
Finishing out our tour of the overlooks, we cooked dinner at Sunset Point – chicken in a can over Ramen noodles, sardines in mustard, and bbq beans – yum! Amazing how good things taste when you’re hungry!
From Sunset Point you can walk through Lodge Village where the cutest cabins are there to rent. It’s like you walked into a gingerbread village or a storybook. The front of Bryce Lodge is really quaint too, and we went inside in search of an ice cream cone (the promise of an ice cream cone at the top does wonders for the motivation – mine included!) and of course had to check out the gift shop. I was able to find a nice gift for Aunt Sue’s upcoming birthday, now if I can get it home without breaking it.
Since we didn’t find ice cream at the lodge, we made it an early night and came back to the ranch to have an ice cream novelty from the hotel grocery store – it seems as though Fosters needs to update their outdoor sign that promises Ice Cream. The kids got to watch a little tv – something they considered quite a treat. We took showers and fell into bed.
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