COLORADO PLATEAU TO THE ROCKIES

THESE IMAGES ARE FROM THE COLORADO PLATEAU A MASSIVE SERIES OF UPTO 12 DIFFERENT SANDSTONE-LIMESTONE LAYERS OF VARYING HARDNESS AND FOSSILISED SADDUNES. DEPENDING ON RAINFALL,MECHANICAL (HOT AND COLD FREEZING WATER) WEATHERING AND OR CHEMICAL WEATHERING DETERMINES THE TYPE OF FORMATION.THE FIRST ARE IN ZION NP NAMED BY THE MORMON SETTLERS IS SEARCH OF THEIR BIBLICAL SANCTUARY ESCAPING ANIMOSITY IN OHIO AND KENTUCKY WHERE THEY FIRST FORMED.MOST OF THE FORMATIONS HAVE BIBLICAL RELATED NAMES.NAMES.

FOSSILISED SANDUNES

KINGS CANYON THE MOST ACCESSIBLE RIVER.

VIEW OF THE RIVER FROM OUR BED!!

CAMP ON THE RIVER.ONE OF SEVERAL OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

BRYCE CANYON AND ITS AMAZING HOODOOS,SPIRES,ARCHES,FINS.BRYCE THE MORMON FARMER AFTER WHOM IT IS NAMED WAS ASKED WHAT HE THOUGHT OF THE CANYON COUNTRY BEHIND HIS FARM.IN TRUE PRAGMATIC FASHION SAID "IS A HORRIBLE PLACE TO LOSE A COW!!"

TO VIEW FROM THE RIM IS TREMENDOUS BUT TO EXPLORE AND WONDER THROUGH SOARING CLIFFS AND TOWERS SPRITUALLY UPLIFTING!!!

BLOGGER!!

NORTH RIM GRAND CANYON.NORTH AND SOUTH CHALK AND CHEESE.DIFFERENT FLORA AND MORE HUMANISED-LESS OF THEM AND EASIER TO GET AROUND.

THE COLORADO IS ONLY VISIBLE FROM ONE AREA ON THE NORTH SIDE.ANCIENT PUEBLONS FARMED THE LOWER FLATS IN THE WINTER-MILD AND FERTILE BUT A MEAN HIKE UP AND DOWN.

STANDING ON TOP OF THE NARCH TWO SHOTS BEFORE.

CANYOM DE CHELLY A VERY SPECIAL PLACE FOR THE NAVAJO WHO CLAIMED IT IN THE EARLY 1700'S.THIS WAS THE LOCATION WHERE THE SLAUGHTER AND CLEARANCES OF THEM BY KIT CARSON LED TO THEIR SURRENDER AND FORCED WINTER MARCH TO FORT SUMMER 400 MILES AWAY IN NEW MEXICO.

THE FERTILE VALLEY BOTTOMS.

MESA VERDE SITE OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED CAVE DWELLINGD OF THE ANCIENT PUEBLOANS. ALL WERE DESERTED AROUND 1200AD DROUGHT,DEPLETION OF RESOURCES,LESS HOSTILITY AND CHANGING FARMING METHODS ALL CONTRIBUTARY.EXCAVATED BY GREEDY EUROPEAN ARCHEOLOGISTS THE MUSEUMS IN FINLAND AND SWEDEN CONTAIN MOST ARTIFACTS. IN THE 1880'S THERE WERE NO LAWS TO PREVENT THE PILLAGE.

DESPITE SUFFERING FROM TERMINAL BRAKE DISEASE ROCINANTE MADE IT UP AND OVER THE HIGHEST PASS IN THE US PLUS MANY MORE NOT MUCH LOWER. NOW IN REMISSION AND HIS OWNERS SUFFERING FROM TERMINAL WALLET DISORDER HE HAS SET HIS SIGHTS ON CONQUERING THE HIGHEST ROAD IN THE US BEFORE TREKKING NORTHWARDS.