Bryce canyon Day 3

Today we just went on up on the Bryce Canyon rim and let ourselves be awed by the beauty.

Here are some examples:

100 year old tree.

Because of the really tough growing conditions it's not very big. The roots are exposed because of the erosion of the cliff over that 100 years.



Really old tree.

From the bottom up.

These fantastic formations are the result of the erosion by wind and rain of ancient volcanic material, mostly ash. The colors come from different elements in the ash. In some places in the immediate area, the lava which was expelled shortly after the ash still covers it all.

The spires, or hoodoos, are the result of harder materials on top eroding at a slower pace than the surrounding soft material. These formations are not soft -- they definitely are rock hard, but they have been here a long time allowing the wind and rain to work their magic.

More tomorrow!

MMG and DDG