Travel |
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Bette Vogel Gosule
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How does one describe the wonders of nature that lie in our national parks? If you have never been there, it's time to go. If you have, you can understand the magnficence. Recently I traveled to Zion, Bryce and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The layers of rock over millions of years have created what geologist call "The Grand Staircase" spanning all three parks. The layers are varied in color and present an amazing tableau. We started at sea level and reached 9,115 feet in Bryce. Upon approaching Zion, I was struck by the brilliance of the Navajo sandstone. Each cliff looked deliberately carved. We took nature walks, hiked the trails and learned the history of the park. Our second segment was the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Although it was late May, the temperature was cool. Walking the paths into the Canyon makes one feel insignificant in the grand scheme of the world. The Paiutes called the North Rim plateau "Kaibab" which means "mountains lying down." Words canot express the humbling feelings evoked by the plateaus and mesas. Our final destination was Bryce Canyon which is not really a canyon but a series of amphitheaters carved in stone. Ebenezer Bryce remarked about the park, "It's a hell of a place to lose a cow." Speechless and overwhelmed by the beauty of the rock formations of spires and pinnacles, we walked down to Queens Garden and were treated to a "hoodoo" called Queen Victoria. Hoodoos are irregular shaped sculptures atop the spires. We hiked the Navajo Loop - easy going down - tough climbing up. Watching the sunrise and sunset at all the parks is seeing an ever-changing landscape. Each park has its own unique call. Now is the time to answer that call!
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