Utah Rocks! The Mighty Five - #2 Bryce Canyon
- Deb
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
May 29th we worked our way to North Campground in Bryce Canyon National Park. No hookups at this place which was a bit of a pain since our coach batteries are not holding a charge. But it was a stone’s throw from the visitor center and bike trail. We decided to hop on the shuttle and take a look at the viewpoints. Wow what a sight to behold.
The science behind these strange columns goes back oh about 50 million years. An ancient lake that once stood there helped form the stone for these spires called hoodoos. More tectonic plate activity happened which elevated the land. Bryce stands around 8,000 feet in elevation and that elevation brings ice freezing and melting which carved the hoodoos over the millions of years.
Escalante!
After Bryce we ventured to Escalante, Utah and stayed at a campground there. We also visited the Heritage and Wild Potato Festival! The story behind wild potatoes is interesting. Some archaeologists at the University of Utah found some fossils of ancient times and came across seeds. They also found some wild potatoes growing in the area. They planted the ancient seeds and they were the same little potatoes! One potato is no bigger than the pad of your index finger! Native Americans would carry these potatoes in a satchel and eat them during their day for nutrition. There is more nutrition in one little wild potato than in one jumbo Idaho potato!! The potatoes seem to thrive in the dry Utah climate. Tom asked if they would grow in CT and the woman reached into a bag and gave him a handful and said “here try it.”
We decided to go out to eat in Escalante and found a little pub that was great!
Bryce Canyon and Escalante were great! Going forward we stayed in area campgrounds and not inside the National Parks. The next stop will be Green River State Park and Dead Horse State Park!
Happy Trails!
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