2003 Rosendahl Family Motorhome Trip

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Bryce Canyon National Park

We got an early start from Zion this morning, and let the kids stay in bed. I remember a lot of similar mornings traveling as a kid with my family in a motorhome. There is something really fun about getting to stay in bed and wake to the scenery going by. We arrived at the campground just outside Bryce at about 11am, we checked in then went up to the Visitors Center. We watched the movie, bought some souveniers and had lunch. At 1pm we headed out to tour the park.

A big difference between Zion and Bryce is that at Zion you are in the canyons looking up at the walls, while at Bryce you are on the rim looking down into the canyons. The thermometer was still pushing the high ninties and we decided not to hike down into the canyons. The vistas were incredible, for many of the images below I have included larger versions if you click on them. If you want more information about Bryce, visit www.nps.gov/bryce.

Bryce Topo Map
The map on the left shows almost the entire park. The views on the right were from Inspiration Point and Bryce Point, both near the "Bryce Canyon" mark on the map. We drove all the way to the end of the road, Rainbow Point, first and worked our way back. That way all the turnouts are on the right side - all the views are to the east. The entire road is about 18 miles long. I'm embarassed to say, we saw all the vistas in about three hours, but unless you're hiking down into it that's about as much as you can do.
 Click for Larger Image
Sunrise is the best time to see the dramatic colors of Bryce, but we got some pretty dramatic views in the late afternoon.

The spires are called "HooDoos." There are great descriptions thoughout the park about the geology and natural forces that work together to create such amazing features.
Click for Larger Image


Click for Larger Image Shane enjoyed the views as much as anybody. There is a larger version of the image available if you click on it which includes more of the view. Shane also looks like he is licking the wind.
 Kevin, Eric and Shane
Finally some shade!

Finally some shade! A welcome relief, though only momentary, these are the first clouds we have seen on the entire trip.

Stereo Pairs

Click for Stereo Image
If you like stereoscopic pictures, and you know how to cross your eyes to make them appear correct, then click on these two images for the stereo versions. A dual image will come up with the right eye's image on the left, and visa versa. I find the crosseye images easier to match up and less headache inducing than the "hidden image" dot patterns you see in the novelty books.

These are especially fun images because in 2D there is no depth and they are not interesting at all. In 3D, the image on the left has at least five distinct layers in the rocks, including a couple of spires. The image on the right is a fin jutting out with a small window through it with a spire to the right of it, and layers beyond.

Good luck!
 Click for Stereo Image

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