Handlebars
March 31st, 2008, 10:23
A National Park and Monument that were made for Jeeps! Long distances to cover with lots of breathtaking scenery outside the window here. A map showing several possible routes through this area follows. Note that I have not done the southern portion of Smokey Mountain Road, I got that one in a track swap from Steve on ExPo.
http://www.fototime.com/F915016E7707439/orig.gif
Starting from Capitol Reef... the Burr Trail switchbacks. This is one of only 2 roads that cross the 100 mile long Waterpocket Fold. Note the vehicle far below:
http://www.fototime.com/486DFB78C0634A2/orig.jpg
Driving along the Waterpocket Fold. This is a long way from anywhere!
http://www.fototime.com/805574F883B2CD1/orig.jpg
Looking south from the Strike Valley overlook at the tortured rock of the Waterpocket Fold. This continues south all of the way to Lake Powell.
http://www.fototime.com/09F416C25C04B19/orig.jpg
A wicked looking arch in Muley Twist Canyon
http://www.fototime.com/79FDEF310A84054/orig.jpg
Dropping off the Kaiparowits Plateau on Left Hand Collet Road. This is a shortcut between Smokey Mountain Road and the Hole in the Rock Road. These rocks had a bunch of marine fossils.
http://www.fototime.com/D3EFBAF979CE07F/orig.jpg
Checking out the Twentyfivemile Wash Dinosaur Trackway... there were birdlike carnivore tracks:
http://www.fototime.com/49B7F9B5A837635/orig.jpg
Herbivorous sauropods left their elephant-like tracks, and a tail drag mark! At the time this was wet sand on the shore of a long inland sea that ran up through this part of America.
http://www.fototime.com/5EEF3FD5F765E2B/orig.jpg
Heading towards Lake Powell on Smokey Mountain road
http://www.fototime.com/8DE0378B27A84F7/orig.jpg
Gunsight Bay as seen from Alstrom Point on Lake Powell, one of the most dramatic overlooks anywhere!
http://www.fototime.com/0D8BC9F028ADD6D/orig.jpg
The attached .gpx file has tracks for the routes shown, as well as all of the points of interest I mentioned here.
http://www.fototime.com/F915016E7707439/orig.gif
Starting from Capitol Reef... the Burr Trail switchbacks. This is one of only 2 roads that cross the 100 mile long Waterpocket Fold. Note the vehicle far below:
http://www.fototime.com/486DFB78C0634A2/orig.jpg
Driving along the Waterpocket Fold. This is a long way from anywhere!
http://www.fototime.com/805574F883B2CD1/orig.jpg
Looking south from the Strike Valley overlook at the tortured rock of the Waterpocket Fold. This continues south all of the way to Lake Powell.
http://www.fototime.com/09F416C25C04B19/orig.jpg
A wicked looking arch in Muley Twist Canyon
http://www.fototime.com/79FDEF310A84054/orig.jpg
Dropping off the Kaiparowits Plateau on Left Hand Collet Road. This is a shortcut between Smokey Mountain Road and the Hole in the Rock Road. These rocks had a bunch of marine fossils.
http://www.fototime.com/D3EFBAF979CE07F/orig.jpg
Checking out the Twentyfivemile Wash Dinosaur Trackway... there were birdlike carnivore tracks:
http://www.fototime.com/49B7F9B5A837635/orig.jpg
Herbivorous sauropods left their elephant-like tracks, and a tail drag mark! At the time this was wet sand on the shore of a long inland sea that ran up through this part of America.
http://www.fototime.com/5EEF3FD5F765E2B/orig.jpg
Heading towards Lake Powell on Smokey Mountain road
http://www.fototime.com/8DE0378B27A84F7/orig.jpg
Gunsight Bay as seen from Alstrom Point on Lake Powell, one of the most dramatic overlooks anywhere!
http://www.fototime.com/0D8BC9F028ADD6D/orig.jpg
The attached .gpx file has tracks for the routes shown, as well as all of the points of interest I mentioned here.