Torrey, UT to Capitol Reef National Park, UT
It's a very short day today, only 20km or so, all downhill, to Capitol Reef National Park, a place that isn't really mentioned much as far as Utah destinations go, so we A) don't know what we're in for and B) have little to no expectations.
Well, it's incredible.
The descent into the park is breathtakingly good, past the red and gray rocky backbone that forms the waterpocket fold of Capitol Reef. It almost looks excavated, at least hardly natural, how the earth and rock is mounded and crumbled at random. Towering sandstone cliffs, part and parcel of anywhere in Utah, rise roadside.
We pitch a tent in a former Mormon settlement, Fruita, which is now part of the Park. Fruit trees and golden autumn colours line the Fremont River. It's as nice a campground as we've stayed. We spend the afternoon hiking through a rocky, sandy weathered gorge to a viewpoint over it all, and on the return leg stop at some Native American Petroglyphs of Bighorn Sheep and Demi-God creatures, dating from roughly the 1500's. We can't believe the comparative little-rap Capitol Reef gets, it's quiet and it's stunning.
Well, it's incredible.
The descent into the park is breathtakingly good, past the red and gray rocky backbone that forms the waterpocket fold of Capitol Reef. It almost looks excavated, at least hardly natural, how the earth and rock is mounded and crumbled at random. Towering sandstone cliffs, part and parcel of anywhere in Utah, rise roadside.
We pitch a tent in a former Mormon settlement, Fruita, which is now part of the Park. Fruit trees and golden autumn colours line the Fremont River. It's as nice a campground as we've stayed. We spend the afternoon hiking through a rocky, sandy weathered gorge to a viewpoint over it all, and on the return leg stop at some Native American Petroglyphs of Bighorn Sheep and Demi-God creatures, dating from roughly the 1500's. We can't believe the comparative little-rap Capitol Reef gets, it's quiet and it's stunning.
Sidenote: Ada completes a child's activity book to earn her Junior Park Ranger Paleontologist Badge, which is fastened proudly to one of her front panniers for the world to see. You have to complete as many activities in the book as how many years old you are. There are a maximum of 12 activites.... but the badge rules!
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