Vacation Day Seven: Cedar Breaks National Monument

Cedar Breaks still had snow on the upper rim, which blocked many of the hikes around the rim and consequently the trails were closed.  However we were able to take a small hike under the direction of a botanist from Southern Utah University.  He was able to educate us on looking for similarities among plants.  Amazingly Bryce Canyon is another place where they have Bristle Cone Pine.  I couldn’t get close because of the blocked trails but I did get a distance picture.  We had a nice picnic in the wind and the girls also found some snow in which to play.  We had a pretty good time at the Monument.  We were told it was similar to Bryce canyon but less crowded, and higher in elevation. 

First day traveling past park to campground

Tony and Elliott

Elk's Ear

Bristle Cone Pine

Girls in the snow

Window

Promotion At Work

I am a bit late in announcing, but after 24 years at ACCESS and CallCenter I have accepted a promotion position at Substance Use Treatment QI.  I am still with Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services.  I started in July.  I am now located on Lenzen Avenue which is by the Alameda.

A few pictures of the going away party.

  

Panguitch Balloon Festival

I don't know who heard about it, but the message went through camp that we were heading to a morning Balloon Festival in Panguitch.  This was a two-day affair, but Charity and kids who didn't go the first doy missed it the second as there was too much wind.  When we got there there were no balloons in the air, and it looked like there were maybe 20 balloons.  However more kept arriving and in the end it seemed there were at least 100.  Out favorites were Smoky Bear and an owl.  

Day 8 Bryce Canyon National Park, Escalante National Monument and Capitol Reef National Park

From camping we headed east, traveling through Dixie National Forrest where we took some pictures from the road, and then to Bryce Canyon.  Because Sheri's foot was acting up Bryce Canyon was mostly just me stopping and walking to view points.  I really wanted a picture of Thor's Hammer and was able to get that.  The Escalante country was very interesting.  It varied somewhat but presented interesting rock formations and gullies.  Then on to Capitol Reef National Park.  We visited her with the older kids some years ago.  We were able to stop and see Indian Petroglyphs.  The rock has many interesting formations, and sometimes it seems like there are bubbles in the rock.  We made it to Grand Junction where we spent the night.

Dixie National Forest

Bryce Canyon National Park

Thor's Hammer

Escalante National Monument

Capitol Reef National Park

After Capitol Reef