Awake: 5:33am Temp 44 Some clouds Overnight @ Kanarraville, Utah
Leave @ 8:38am …drive the Suzuki North on I-15 to Hwy 20, then East on 20
to Hwy 89, then South on 89 to Hwy 12 to Red Canyon…then Bryce Canyon.
This chosen route was the long way around but our travel was mostly in the
high plains vs. the shorter way thru canyons & trees on Hwy 14.
Arrive @ the Bryce Canyon visitor’s center @ 10:15(1.6 hrs). Our
introduction to Bryce Canyon was actually the Red Canyon scene on Hwy 12.
As we rounded a curve fairly close to our destination, our attention was
quickly garnered by a display of tall, red, vertical columns, some square
with concave rings, others like spires with concave rings; an unexpected
view of the wonders of Mother Nature.
@ the visitor’s center, we self tour a small museum, then watch a short
movie on the history & what to expect when doing a self tour of Bryce
Canyon by auto.
Bryce Canyon has been accurately described as one of the world’s geologic
masterpieces. Pinnacles, spires & eroded stone stand in galleries of
bizarre statuary that never appear quite the same way twice. The Nat’l
Park service recommends driving to the South rim(9 miles) then start the
self tour as all of the turn offs, parking & paved walkways to the
amphitheater are facing East. Unfortunately today, the sun is blocked with
low dark clouds so the amphitheater will not be looking its best. The
elevation here @ Rainbow Point (9,115 ft) is above the snow level & we are
now walking in snow. Even without sunshine, the view is still
breathtaking. We do 10 of 13 stops along the amphitheater as we head back
towards the visitors center. At our last stop (Sunrise Point), we walk
over ½ mile from our car, then visit the lodge built in 1920 to
accommodate the many visitors who were discovering the Bryce Canyon area.
Throughout this self tour, light snow had been falling but this was no big
deal, we are from Alaska you know! In our walk back to our car, that light
snow turned to heavy snow & we were covered with the white stuff by the
time we reached our Suzuki.
We leave Bryce Canyon visitors center @ 4:15pm. On our return trip, we
take the short cut through the high mountains of Hwy 14. When just
beginning our climb, there is a sign to use caution, road elevation gain
up to 10,000 ft, road closure possible, icing possible & a chain-up area.
It took us an extra hour to get back to our campground due to “heavy snow
& whiteout conditions.” It was something we hadn’t counted on…Alaska in
Utah!
9:00pm Dinner: Leftover chili with Tostitos.
High temp today=50 Lights out: 12:16am
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