KODACHROME BASIN STATE PARK ON A RAINY DAY

It started raining Monday night and rained all night and most of the early morning.  We were unsure as to whether to do our hike or not.  Mr. W kept looking at weather reports and different weather services were giving different forecasts. Don't you hate it when that happens?  We had discovered that there was a road that continued for 18 miles after the last shuttle bus stop in Bryce and you couple drive up to the highest point which is Rainbow Point.  Rainbow Point is at 9116 ft, There were about 6 other stops along the way.  So, we decided to drive into the park and make a decision about our hike after we reached the park.  If we decided that it was too risky to hike, we would ride up the 18 miles and look at the other stops in the park.  Sounds like a plan.

So, we started through the park and about the time we got to the trailhead for the hike, it started raining and sleeting.  Mr. W just kept driving.  Actually, we had to pass up about 3 of the stops on the road because it was raining and sleeting so hard and the wind was blowing so hard.  Everytime we would stop to get out and take pictures, I would start shivering and couldn't wait to get back in the truck.  The temperature had dropped to 40 degrees.  Brrr!  It was very overcast and no sun at all.  I wasn't sure how my pictures would turn out, but they turned out OK.

This is called Natural Bridge.  Technically, in the geological world, this is an arch and not a bridge.  They have it in some literature that it was misnamed.  I don't really care what it is, I think it is pretty.

This is Agua Canyon.  I'm not sure why because I did not see any water.

This is Rainbow Point.  It had just finished raining and I was hoping to see a real rainbow. Alas, it did not happen. 

An antelope we saw.

It did rain and sleet while we were driving but when we got back down closer to the Visitor's Center, it decided to stop.  We wanted to go to another place that is called Mossy Point.  They say it is a cave that has greenery growing in it from the water in the area.  There is also a waterfall there.  You say waterfall and I'm going to be there.

 

 

Our trail

These are berries that look like they were on a spruce tree.  If it wasn't a spruce tree, it was some kind of cypress tree? Does anyone know what kind of berry?

About the time we got back from this hike, it started raining again.  Mr. W wanted to go to Kodachrome Basin State Park.  What better time to take a ride than in the rain, right? 

 In 1948 the National Geographic Society explored and photographed the area for a story that appeared in the September 1949 issue of National Geographic. They named the area Kodachrome Flat, after the then relatively new brand of Kodak film they used. In 1962 the area was designated a state park. Fearing repercussions from the Kodak film company for using the name Kodachrome, the name was changed to Chimney Rock State Park, but renamed Kodachrome Basin a few years later with Kodak's permission.

Differing geological explanations of the features in the park exist. One explanation is that the area was once similar to Yellowstone National Park with hot springs and geysers, which eventually filled up with sediment and solidified. Through time, the Entrada sandstone surrounding the solidified geysers eroded, leaving large sand pipes. Sixty-seven sand pipes ranging from two to 52 meters have been identified in the park. The Rangers actually call them chimneys.  ( I'm not going to tell you what the other geological explanations are because you would fall asleep and never read my blog again.  It is way too technical and boring.)

The Ranger had told us to take one particular hike, so we headed out.  I put on my rain poncho before we left.  The skies were looking ominous again.  About the time we turned the first bend, there was a very loud rumble of thunder.  We turned around.  Right across the street was the Nature Trail and it was short and not up high, so we decided to walk it and get a few pictures.

This is a chimney.

Another chimney

One of the cactus flowers in bloom

The chimneys are formed by the rock eroding away and leaving spires.

As soon as we got back in the truck, guess what happened? Yep, it started raining.  I did have Mr. W stop the truck on the road back to the highway so I could take a couple of pictures.  FYI - It rained and the wind blew really hard at about 8:00 last night.  We are hoping for better weather tomorrow so we can do our original hike.  We are leaving here Friday.  So that only leaves Wednesday to do the hike and Thursday to drive to Capitol Reef National Park and check it out.