US Tour- Bryce Canyon, postcard perfect

We were greeted to a magnificent blue sky and a covering of snow in the morning. As we drove up to Bryce Canyon the temperature in the car thermometer kept dropping. The place looked like a cross country ski centre on the last weekend of the season, as most of the lodges and restaurants were closing for the winter. Also the road was closed after Bryce Point which cut out many of the potential lookouts and trails. But still this place did little to disappoint. In fact I'm not sure if I've ever been to a place that looked so extraordinary. Every photo looked like a postcard, if you ignored the pained expressions on our faces due to the extreme cold. The contrasting red landscapes, with a covering of white snow, scattered green pine trees and deep blue sky was simply stunning. Yes the Grand Canyon is grander, but Bryce Canyon was far more picturesque.

From a geological standpoint, good old Wikipedia offers some background knowledge on the region.

Where is Bryce Canyon?

My plan for a long run was impacted by the lack of open trails, and the fact that the open ones had a lot of snow and were quite steep. But the 12km in 90mins was through an amazing landscape that looks even better when you are beneath looking up than it is when viewed from the lookouts.

We left in the afternoon to Zion National Park knowing that it would be hard to top the last few days. Wow there are some great places in USA, despite mid-winter temperatures!

 

 

2012 US Tour- Route 12 to Bryce Canyon

After a quick tour of the Navajo Indian reserve at Monument Valley we headed to North on highway 261 to the Natural Bridges National Monument. The driving route around the park was broken up by quick dashes from the car to see the natural bridges carved out of the sandstone by the river, and trying to evade to flurries of snow.

The route was even more scenic after that, on Route 95, with classic buttes and mesas everywhere. Apparently the cleanest air in America is around here and there were plenty of good views.

We drove through Capital Reef National Park but didn't have much time to look around, besides the ancient petrograghs left on the cliffs.

When we turned onto Route 12 and into Dixie National Forest the day got even more interesting. Climbing up through the mountain range to 9600 feet the snow was even more prevalent and the temperature dropped down to 16 degrees. Still it added to the experience, and the views were incredible.

After a long day in the car we got out for a run at Kodachrome State Park as the sun set. We stayed the night at Cannonville in a motel, a bit before Bryce Canyon as I was a bit soft and didn't want to spend the -16C night in a tent.

 

 

 

US Tour- The Grand Canyon, Monument Valley

We left Vegas and headed to the Southern Rim of the Grand Canyon. The northern rim had already closed for the winter so there was no alternative. First we stopped at Hoover Dam for a couple of pics.

Grand Canyon has a compulsory shuttle bus service for most of the year with a pick up/drop off at all the lookouts, lodges etc. We set up camp and headed on the bus for Hermit's Rest on the far West Rim. The 12km run back to The visitors centre was amazing. It was cold and windy and with many storms in view as the serious cold front headed south but the views cannot be surpassed.

The next morning we ran down to the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon via the Kaibab Track, and back via the Angel Bright track. Both tracks are used by mule trains so fat, lazy tourists can experience the canyon, so the trails are a pretty good gradient with lots of switchbacks. The run was 27km and 1400m drop from top to bottom. The legs were certainly tired the next day!

After a great chilli for lunch at the lodge we headed off from GC for Monument Valley. This is the site of many Western films and is in the middle of Navajo Indian Reservation. While it was warmer here, it was in the middle of a dust storm and not a particularly enjoyable night camping.