2007 Colorado Plateau
 

Zion

Thursday 2007-03-08 Nevada to Zion After spending 3 days in Las Vegas, we leave after breakfast and head for Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks.
1
Thursday 2007-03-08 Nevada to Zion
After spending 3 days in Las Vegas, we leave after breakfast and head for Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks.
 From Thursday 8 until Saturday 10, we explore the wonders of the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado Plateau is a geologically stable area with extreme weathering; 90% of it is drained by the Colorado River and its tributaries.
2 From Thursday 8 until Saturday 10, we explore the wonders of the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado Plateau is a geologically stable area with extreme weathering; 90% of it is drained by the Colorado River and its tributaries.
 About 20 miles north of Las Vegas, we take a brief detour off I15 to visit the Valley of Fire State Park.
3 About 20 miles north of Las Vegas, we take a brief detour off I15 to visit the Valley of Fire State Park.
 It has the red stratigraphy reminiscent of Monument Valley in Northern Arizona
4 It has the red stratigraphy reminiscent of Monument Valley in Northern Arizona
It's very rugged and very attractive.
5 It's very rugged and very attractive.
 Uplift of the plateau started about 75 million years ago as the tectonic plates collided and the Pacific Plate subducted under the American Plate. In total, the Colorado Plateau uplifted 2 miles.
6 Uplift of the plateau started about 75 million years ago as the tectonic plates collided and the Pacific Plate subducted under the American Plate. In total, the Colorado Plateau uplifted 2 miles.
 We cross into Utah at St George and the scenery becomes even more spectacular. We stop for a Starbucks coffee in St George township.
7 We cross into Utah at St George and the scenery becomes even more spectacular. We stop for a Starbucks coffee in St George township.
 The Colorado Plateau has the greatest concentration of national parks in the United States: Grand Canyon NP, Zion NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Capitol Reef NP, Canyonlands NP, Arches NP, Mesa Verde NP, and Petrified Forest NP; and we've been to them all.
8 The Colorado Plateau has the greatest concentration of national parks in the United States: Grand Canyon NP, Zion NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Capitol Reef NP, Canyonlands NP, Arches NP, Mesa Verde NP, and Petrified Forest NP; and we've been to them all.
We leave I15 and take SR9 towards Zion National Park. This is Springdale just before the Park Entrance.
9 We leave I15 and take SR9 towards Zion National Park. This is Springdale just before the Park Entrance.
 In Zion National Park, you drive along the valley floor and look up at the monuments.
10 In Zion National Park, you drive along the valley floor and look up at the monuments.
 The drive is 10 kms from the park entrance to the northern end at Temple of Sinawava.
11 The drive is 10 kms from the park entrance to the northern end at Temple of Sinawava.
 The white stone is sandstone that wears quickly and the red cliffs are of a mudstone formation. Dinosaur tracks are relatively common in the mudstone.
12 The white stone is sandstone that wears quickly and the red cliffs are of a mudstone formation. Dinosaur tracks are relatively common in the mudstone.
Geologically, mudstone is either siltstone or sandstone the difference being the particle size. Sand particles range in diameter from 0.0625 mm to 2 mm while silt particles are smaller than 0.0625 mm (down to 0.004 mm). This area is called the Court of the Patriarchs.
13 Geologically, mudstone is either siltstone or sandstone the difference being the particle size. Sand particles range in diameter from 0.0625 mm to 2 mm while silt particles are smaller than 0.0625 mm (down to 0.004 mm). This area is called the Court of the Patriarchs.
 The geology of the Zion Canyon area includes nine exposed formations that represent about 150 million years of mostly Mesozoic-Era sedimentation 248-65 Mya. (Meso = middle, Zoic=animals). Mesozoic is known as the Age of Reptiles.
14 The geology of the Zion Canyon area includes nine exposed formations that represent about 150 million years of mostly Mesozoic-Era sedimentation 248-65 Mya.
(Meso = middle, Zoic=animals). Mesozoic is known as the Age of Reptiles.
 The Mesozoic Era covered the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretacious periods. Until ≈ 200 Mya all of the continents were joined in a supercontinent called Pangea surrounded by a superocean called Panthalassa. North America was on the NW side of Pangea and some of the earliest rocks visible in Zion are from that time.
15 The Mesozoic Era covered the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretacious periods. Until ≈ 200 Mya all of the continents were joined in a supercontinent called Pangea surrounded by a superocean called Panthalassa. North America was on the NW side of Pangea and some of the earliest rocks visible in Zion are from that time.
 A graphic explains, "Waterfalls in Zion plunge 1000 ft or more, mostly ephemeral, leave their tracks, desert minerals leave black streaks" and "the Virgin River's main stream cut faster than tributaries leaving hanging valleys; waterfalls are from the river's former levels".
16 A graphic explains, "Waterfalls in Zion plunge 1000 ft or more, mostly ephemeral, leave their tracks, desert minerals leave black streaks" and "the Virgin River's main stream cut faster than tributaries leaving hanging valleys; waterfalls are from the river's former levels".
It is also quite cold.
17 It is also quite cold.
 This is the weeping rock area. I climb the trail while Jenni takes movies.
18 This is the weeping rock area. I climb the trail while Jenni takes movies.
 Weeping rocks.
19 Weeping rocks.
 You can just see Jenni in the left side of the picture. Our Edsel is parked below somewhere.
20 You can just see Jenni in the left side of the picture. Our Edsel is parked below somewhere.
The sandstone on top dates from the Jurassic period about 200 - 145 MYA. The stuff underneath is (duh) older and also from the Jurassic. All of the rocks are sedimentary, sometimes from sand or mud at the bottom of the sea and other times from desert sands. So, where did the layers on top disappear to once the land started to uplift 80Mya?
21 The sandstone on top dates from the Jurassic period about 200 - 145 MYA. The stuff underneath is (duh) older and also from the Jurassic. All of the rocks are sedimentary, sometimes from sand or mud at the bottom of the sea and other times from desert sands. So, where did the layers on top disappear to once the land started to uplift 80Mya?
 Jenni holds her hand up asking permission to go to the toilet.
22 Jenni holds her hand up asking permission to go to the toilet.
 We reach the end of the trail.
23 We reach the end of the trail.
 During early Jurassic (199 to 175 Mya), Zion was situated in a climatic belt with rainy summers and dry winters at the southern edge of a great desert.
24 During early Jurassic (199 to 175 Mya), Zion was situated in a climatic belt with rainy summers and dry winters at the southern edge of a great desert.
Dobber.
25 Dobber.
 I brave the cold long enough to take this picture. I have been retired for 1 year and 3 months now.
26 I brave the cold long enough to take this picture. I have been retired for 1 year and 3 months now.
 This is the Virgin River, the waterway responsible for cutting the canyon.
27 This is the Virgin River, the waterway responsible for cutting the canyon.
 The stream gradient of the Virgin River, whose North Fork flows through Zion Canyon in the park, ranges from 50 to 80 feet per mile. It is one of the steepest stream gradients in North America.
28 The stream gradient of the Virgin River, whose North Fork flows through Zion Canyon in the park, ranges from 50 to 80 feet per mile. It is one of the steepest stream gradients in North America.
It's a very late March afternoon and the setting sun reflects off the water
29 It's a very late March afternoon and the setting sun reflects off the water
 We return to Springdale and find this delightful motel for only $59 a night
30 We return to Springdale and find this delightful motel for only $59 a night
 It's one of the best places we've stayed.
31 It's one of the best places we've stayed.
 It's in a beautiful location very near the park entrance.
32 It's in a beautiful location very near the park entrance.
The next morning, we have breakfast in Springdale township. This is where we bought the photograph of Antelope Canyon that hangs in our living room to this day. It's a shame that in all of our travels through Arizona, we never once visited Antelope Canyon.
33 The next morning, we have breakfast in Springdale township. This is where we bought the photograph of Antelope Canyon that hangs in our living room to this day. It's a shame that in all of our travels through Arizona, we never once visited Antelope Canyon.
 And yes, we did try the famous bumbleberries - in pancakes. Quite nice, a bit like mulberries (if that's not what they are), purple and sweet.
34 And yes, we did try the famous bumbleberries - in pancakes. Quite nice, a bit like mulberries (if that's not what they are), purple and sweet.
 We re-enter Zion to look at it in the early morning.
35 We re-enter Zion to look at it in the early morning.
 This area, Emerald Pools, is where the Zion Lodge is located. And it's very cold.
36 This area, Emerald Pools, is where the Zion Lodge is located. And it's very cold.
Navajo sandstone is the rounded stuff at the top of most canyon tops in the park. So where did the sand come from to make the sandstone?
37 Navajo sandstone is the rounded stuff at the top of most canyon tops in the park. So where did the sand come from to make the sandstone?
 Jenni takes a movie of the burbling stream beneath us - the burbling stream that cut this canyon
38 Jenni takes a movie of the burbling stream beneath us - the burbling stream that cut this canyon
 The sun rises in the canyon. There are many walking trails in the park but in designated areas to protect this magnificent asset. The trees beside the river are Fremont Cottonwoods planted to control erosion
39 The sun rises in the canyon. There are many walking trails in the park but in designated areas to protect this magnificent asset. The trees beside the river are Fremont Cottonwoods planted to control erosion
 The evergreens, juniper and pine, are widespread throughout Zion. Juniper has a bluish berry like fruit which takes two years to mature and the bark is fibrous and easily peels off its base. The single leaf pinion is the common pine seen on the rocky cliff sides in Zion National Park
40 The evergreens, juniper and pine, are widespread throughout Zion. Juniper has a bluish berry like fruit which takes two years to mature and the bark is fibrous and easily peels off its base. The single leaf pinion is the common pine seen on the rocky cliff sides in Zion National Park
After revisiting Zion NP, we exit the park on SR9 then take US89 to Bryce Canyon NP. Bryce Canyon is next.
41 After revisiting Zion NP, we exit the park on SR9 then take US89 to Bryce Canyon NP. Bryce Canyon is next.
    
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