Vacation in UUUUTah

On vacation in the state of mormonism, Utah.  Capitol Reef National Park to be more specific.  So now then we plan to make this a major photo expedition.  The first thing I was able to capture was a tourist in the infamous "Ed Pants".  Now these aren't just any style of pants.  The beauty of the pant is that the legs zip off and become shorts.  Originally they appeared to be available only in a basic lightweight nylon type material.  But I discovered on Friday, as I searched for a second pair for myself in STP, they now come in many materials and some of them are quite high tech.  High tech to the tune of $135.00 a pair. Ouch, better help me fly up the trail for that price.  They don't.  Ed pants pictured below.

Next quest will be to catch someone with the legs actually off!  Well someone over 60 with them off.  The 30 somethings don't count.  They seem to run around in shorts most of the time anyway.  Them and Marianne.

First stop was Chimney Rock.  Stand by for photo torture.

Next up is a 3 plus mile hike up and around behind that tall rock structure behind us.

And we made it up top and there it is.  See the parking lot way down there?

Layers, upon layers.  Soft, for a rock I guess. 

And another large rock structure.  Below are faces in the dirt.  The red dirt.  It looked like rock, but is dirt.
Joe Dirt.  Perhaps too close.  Next photo please.

See them now?

Not so much like faces, eh?  Country doesn't get much moisture.  Guess that is obvious, due to the lack of vegetation.

Down the road and a quick trip into the visitor center. Then

back in the car on the road and into this canyon, which they wisely warn you with signs that you should not proceed if it looks like it is going to rain.  Good strong rain and the car is now a submersible.  Good news is if it doesn't get stuck between rocks it might eventually flush out at the highway many miles downstream.  Actually they have gates that they can lock and close.  Guess that may not be so fun if you be on the downstream side of the gate.

Cool striped rock wall.  There were a lot of these in various places.

More stripes and the toilet.  This is I think at the Cassidy trail head.  As in Butch Cassidy.  Yes that is it.  I think if you click on the photo, it will enlarge and then you can read what we read.  Nice.

Bet you can read this now.

This was one of the coolest trails I have ever hiked.  Just close enough to the edge for great views and the use of the rock that is laying about makes for nice steps.

WOW!  How did I get by Marianne so fast?  Must be magic.  There are those that say the area has magical powers.  Not wearing Ed pants, so can't be that.

A trail shot.  More coming.

Long way to the bottom. Right.

Another trail shot.  Lots of rock to work with.

Self painted rock.

And finally we get to see the arch, hole, whatever it's called that somone named after Butch Cassidy. My feet are tired by now, we're going on 5+ miles for the day.  My feet like 3 or less unless it has to do with a bike.

HEY!  Turn around!  Windy, eh.

Thats it. 

This is the view looking in almost the opposite direction.  No lack of rock, huh.

One final trail shot.  I figure they had some college kids muscle these into place.  Any of us that have built anything can appreciate this and if you've ever played with rock.  Doesn't seem like work to me, so it is fun to do on small projects, rock that is.  When you set it correctly it is a real feeling of accomplishment because it is solid and looks like it will last forever.

That's it for day one.  Did have an amusing thought about all of the tourists camped at the old polygamist mormon settlement down by the Fremont river.  What if some of these people are looking for a real mormon?  You know I can imagine a tourist walking up to someone they think is a mormon and asking them, "Hey are you a Mormon?  Cool! Can I get a photo of you?  Where are your wives?"  You know some people may not have ever seen one and want to get a photo of one.  Maybe Sunday I'll get a photo of a tourist looking for a real Mormon.  :)