Capitol Reef National Park

This became a national park in 1971.  It's name was derived from two different characteristics.  The use of the term "reef" is in reference to the nautical designation of anything that obstructs navigation as this 100 mile long ridge made it very hard to cross.  The white Navajo sandstone "domes" look like those on state capitol buildings.  The formation itself was formed deep underground as part of the large block uplift of Utah/Colorado/Arizona/New Mexico, then was exposed as the land above it eroded (one mile in depth).

We drove to the park and stopped at Panorama Point.  It was directly across from Chimney Rock that we thought we may hike.  After photos, we went to the visitor center and saw the welcome movie on the region.  We decided to change our hike to the Cahab Canyon trail.  It climbed from the road into a "hidden canyon".  It appeared to include the moraine deposits of an ancient glacier, as large rounded basalt boulders where everywhere.

We had a nice "Western Cookout" at the RV park, but it was really just dinner served on a picnic table under a shelter roof.  Terri and I both had BBQ ribs.  We had hoped that there would be a larger crowd, but there was only one other family from California.  Food was good  but a little overpriced.  We ordered muffins for the morning.

In Glacier NP it was much colder at night, down to 38 degrees.  We ran the electric fireplace all night and then used the LP gas furnace twice in the morning.  Here in Capitol Reef, it is only getting down to 60 degrees at night so we don't even need the fireplace.  Highs in the 80's.  Terri looked up Moab where we will go tomorrow and it is supposed to get over 100 every day.

32 new photos posted at http://picasaweb.google.com/rosser.tom/RVVacation2010#