Keith's travelogue

Well,

Week 3 Canyonlands to Yellowstone

After the Western Ranch we had three days in a place called Moab, where we went hiking in Canynlands and Arches National Parks. This is what I wanted to do, get out in the parks and do some long-ish walks. I was not disappointed. The Canyonlands hike was about 10 miles, and went through lots of different scenery as it wound in and out oif two different canyons. We stopped for lunch at a rock ledge with stunning views over the differnt levels of the edge of the Colorado plateau that gives all these National Parks we have been visiting since the Grand Canyon their special beauty.

The plateau covers a vast area across four states (Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada) and is being eroded at the edges. So around the edge, there are many areas where the rock layers can be seen in cliffs or canyons. If only I hadn´t dropped/broke my camera on the hike into Lower Calf Creek falls at the Western Racnh, and I would have been able to take some pictures.

We also wnet on a hummer trip here, that´s the vehile the US military use after they replaced the Jeep. If you want to know what "go anywhere" means then wait until you´ve driven up and down a 60 egree slope with the driver standing up with no hands on the wheel! We saw the sunset from way up on high above Moab before returning to earth and civilisation (after which our ouring van just didn´t quite seem the same).

Then it was on to Dinosaur ANtional Monument where in the 1920s a lot of complete skeletons of whole dinosaurs were found. Most fossils were excavated and are nowe at places like the Smithsonian Institue, but there are many left in the rock for all to see. It´s ironic these fossils have been found in Utah and in the US which have such strong creationist tendencies when the evidence appears to show otherwise.

After that we went to the Grand Tetons. This was special as the autumn (Fall) colours on the aspen trees were going madly yellow, gold, orange, red and brown. The Tetons looked like proper new mountains such as the Southern Alsps. Jutting jagged rocks high into the sky, and with snow, and even galciers. Here I found there was a Jenny Lake so a postcard should be arriving soon at Warren Cres to this effect. We stayed at a place called Jackson and did some more walking here. As it was cold and snowing to lower altitudes, we were able to stay in cabins so we were nice and snug at night.

After tha we headed off to Yellowstone Natl Park, saw Old Faithful at sunset, ran around amongst the geyers and hot pools, saw Bison, and elk (no bears or wolves though!) and had a great old time. Yellowstone is one of a number of active volcanic areas caused by the North American Tectomnic plate being slammed into the Pacific plate, the Rocky Mountains being the result of this geological activty as well. No sunrises/sunsets in Yellowstone as the weather was getting quite cool.

Week 4 Yellowstone, Yosemite and San Francisco

After two days in this Yellowstone wonderland, including a big hike along the rime of the canyon where we saw the famous Yellowstome falls, we headed off through Montana and Idaho to Caters of the Moon National Park.

This time we were a few hundred miles further south, and at a lower altitude, so we did do the sunset-sunrise thing. This park is part of an ancient lava filed that last was active only a couple of thousnad years ago and goes off very 3000 years or so. It is so recent that appearently some of the Apollo astronauts undertook some of their geologivcal training at the site, as it has such a variety of volcanic features. It was reasoned that by training there, they´d know what to look for when on the moon. We went for a hike around the field after a glorious sunrise, and walked through a couple of the lava caves left behind by molten lava. Then it was off for a long drive to Yosemite.

There was nothing of note of the next day except the camp site we stayed at in Ely which had the softest, greenest grass for us to camp on. After weeks of stony ground it was heaven on a stick. Another long drive got us to Yosemite, appraoaching from the east, and via a road that would be closed in a week or so due to the onset of the winter snows. We stopped for luch at a glacier lake and then went on to see El Capitan and Half Dome stone formations.

Yosemite is another galcial landscapte where the fratures have been carved out by glaciers and rivers. So the walls of the Yosemite Valley are very sheer, and about 1000-2000 ft high. It is a mecca for rock climbing and we saw quite a few hanging on the walls. It takes 3 days toi climb up & down El Capitan so they have to sleep on a sling secured by a few pins to the side of the canyn wall. Not for me! On our last full day of the trip we had another glorious hike for 8 milkes along the canyin rim, and then down into the Yosemite Valley. We hiked frm Glacier oint a viewpoint with a stunning view, down to Nevavda falls, and then down to Sierra Falls. All up about 8 miles, the last 2 of which were very steep stairs. I was glad we were hiking down, as many people were hiking up!

So after a night¨"out" at a bar near Yellowstne, we headed off to San Francisco for the crossing of the Golden Gate Bridge, which I´ve already described. We had a lovely Indian meal and then the group adjourned to a bar and I made my way to the airport for what turned out to be an eventful trip.