|
Post by nycboy on Sept 21, 2011 2:58:28 GMT
There are some superb rare cacti in this part of the world nycgirl. Wish I was there (sob).................. I love cacti, just went to the Houston Cactus and Succulent Society show while working in Houston, fascinating stuff. Bought a few succulents while there, hoping they can survive in the window of my apt in NY. Incidentally, I'm nycgirls' husband, I'd be happy to help out if anyone wants to plan a trip to the area.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Sept 21, 2011 3:20:00 GMT
Well, this is great! Hello & welcome. It's going to be really fun to have both of you here.
NYCBoy, you'll eventually find the cacti & succulent thread in the garden area of the Port, and meet up with your fellow chubby plant aficionados.
NYCGirl, thanks for the latest group of pics and the explanations. I didn't know that about natural bridges and arches being two different things.
Meant to comment earlier about what you call tubing. Geeeez! When I think tubing, I think of drifting down a lazy river, butt stuck in an inner tube and accompanied by cold beer. You were zipping along at great speed!
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Sept 22, 2011 17:14:29 GMT
Yeah, it was a little scary, but it sure was exhilarating!
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Sept 22, 2011 17:32:23 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2011 17:36:28 GMT
Oh that is beyond fabulous! I've never seen anything like it. And that cute girl who is resting looks very comfortable.
|
|
|
Post by nycboy on Sept 22, 2011 20:17:30 GMT
Oh that is beyond fabulous! I've never seen anything like it. And that cute girl who is resting looks very comfortable. She lounges around while I do all the work. ;D
|
|
|
Post by nycboy on Sept 22, 2011 20:25:54 GMT
I've been to the Southwest and didn't like it at all, but I enjoy reading the comments of people who actually love that landscape over there. The vastnes of the landscape surely impressed me, but the desert wasn't really my thing and living there I found even less enjoyable. It sure is a weird place, so I'm never surprised when people don't like it, but I didn't want this to go by without noting how commendable it is that you enjoy others enthusiasm even if the it's not your thing.
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Sept 23, 2011 3:05:19 GMT
She lounges around while I do all the work. ;D But I do all the posting work. ;D
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Sept 23, 2011 4:00:28 GMT
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Sept 23, 2011 6:21:34 GMT
I don't think deserts are my thing either, but those photos are certainly spectacular and it would be interesting to visit.
|
|
|
Post by Don Cuevas on Sept 23, 2011 15:07:40 GMT
We traveled a lot to the Am. SW in the 70s and 80s but then started traveling in Mexico.
Adios, Am. SW!
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Sept 25, 2011 0:31:54 GMT
Zion is a huge, fascinating National Park that includes four different life zones: desert, woodland, coniferous forest, and riparian (the interface between land and river). One of the most popular trails is Angel’s Landing, a 5 mile trek with a nearly 1,500 foot elevation change. Although fairly strenuous, the hike can still be easily done by inexperienced, reasonably fit hikers (like me). The majority of the trail, hikers go up a series of steep but completely safe switchbacks and enjoy sweeping views of Zion Canyon. At the end of the switchbacks is a great viewpoint, and it is here that most hikers decide to either turn around, or continue half a mile up to the summit of the towering mountain. (See the tiny people going up?) I was nervous about doing it and considered turning around (and the hike still would have been totally worth it, in my opinion). But my enthusiasm won out and I decided to go to the top. It was indeed as scary as I imagined, climbing up a narrow fin with vertigo-inducing drop-offs at either side. At certain points it’s necessary to hold onto chains nailed into the wall for support. But I felt so triumphant when I reached the top, and the view was so glorious, that it was worth it. Can you see a couple of teeny tiny dots on the sheer wall? When I zoom in... ... you can see a pair of intrepid climbers who chose a less crowded route to the top. Insane. I got goosebumps just looking at them.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Sept 25, 2011 1:18:24 GMT
Okay, I know it's an overused word, but it's "unbelievable!" is all I can think when looking at the pics in #38. (well, actually I threw a couple of extra syllables into the word).
What caused that? The mound in the first photo looks like ossified mud. Were the swirls caused by water erosion, or by the wind of the eons? Whatever ...... that 3rd picture is fabulously beautiful. And the model in the #33 photos enhances even that beauty!
You got goosebumps looking at those climbers?! My stomach turned over, & I'm only looking at the photo!
Cool detail about the four different zones in Zion park.
|
|
|
Post by nycboy on Sept 25, 2011 1:49:06 GMT
We had a couple California Condors fly over us on that hike, they had reintroduced them into the Grand Canyon some time ago and not long before that made their way up to Zion. That's the second time we lucked out with condors, having seen an Andean at Machu Picchu.
|
|
|
Post by nycboy on Sept 25, 2011 1:59:52 GMT
What caused that? The mound in the first photo looks like ossified mud. Were the swirls caused by water erosion, or by the wind of the eons? Whatever ...... that 3rd picture is fabulously beautiful. And the model in the #33 photos enhances even that beauty! For the most part it's layers and layers of sand dunes compressing the bottom and solidifying them, so you get varying hardness in the sandstone (this is very soft stuff), so when it erodes you get the grooves. What I don't understand is what's happening in the below picture, with the different crossing lines stripes. I figured it was the water table shifting leaving elements in the already hardened stone, but I asked a geologist that I work with and he wasn't sure.
|
|
|
Post by nycboy on Sept 25, 2011 2:01:23 GMT
Oh, btw, the red is iron in the rock corroding. Sandstone that's exposed to the sun for lengths of time will get bleached white, like the White Rim road in Canyonlands.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Sept 27, 2011 5:42:12 GMT
Thanks, NYCBoy. Even with the scientific explanation, it's all mind-boggling that so much beauty could come from random acts of the universe.
I wonder if the horizontal lines were caused by other organic elements that compressed at a different rate from the surrounding matter.
Just incredible!
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Sept 28, 2011 3:37:13 GMT
Some of the photos is 38 look vaguely pornographic! But all lovely. "Canyon Country" is one of our favorite parts of the US.
One explanation for the changing directions of the lines in the "petrified dunes" is "cross-bedding". Sand dunes build up, then the wind shifts and carves off the top of the dunes, later another wind shift piles more sand on top, but with the layers not necessarily parallel to those below the erosion line.
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Sept 28, 2011 15:14:07 GMT
Some of the photos is 38 look vaguely pornographic! But all lovely. "Canyon Country" is one of our favorite parts of the US. Yeah, some of the curves do look a little crotch-like. And when we saw a pair of mounds standing alone, they did resemble enormous conical boobs. Glad we're not the only ones who see it. One explanation for the changing directions of the lines in the "petrified dunes" is "cross-bedding". Sand dunes build up, then the wind shifts and carves off the top of the dunes, later another wind shift piles more sand on top, but with the layers not necessarily parallel to those below the erosion line. Thank you, I couldn't have said it better myself... because I didn't know the answer.
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Sept 28, 2011 17:41:07 GMT
Zion has many interesting backcountry trails, and one of them is the difficult but rewarding Subway hike. Tackling the 9-mile hike the “easy” way involves scrambling on boulders, criss-crossing a cold (sometimes frigid) creek, and a grueling 400-foot climb on the way out. The alternative involves rappelling and swimming in the cold water in addition to scrambling and hiking. We took the “easy” way. Along the way we were treated to the sight of these lovely little waterfalls. Close to our destination is this long crack where the water sliced its way through the rock. The Subway is a softly-lit, roofless tunnel, created by the creek waters forcing its way through the rock. The waters also carved out these emerald pools in a nice stair-step formation. It’s so peaceful in there, with no one around, listening to the sound of water. I’ve seen photos of this place in autumn, and it looks really incredible with bright-colored maple leaves scattered everywhere.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2011 17:46:53 GMT
And when we saw a pair of mounds standing alone, they did resemble enormous conical boobs. Glad we're not the only ones who see it. If more Americans knew the meaning of " Grand Teton National Park" they would probably insist that the name be changed. Grand Teton = Big Tit.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2011 17:48:14 GMT
Oh, that made me forget to gasp in awe at the fabulous water pictures. Water always looks even more fabulous in a dry setting!
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Sept 29, 2011 0:10:24 GMT
We did the Subway Canyon hike and also Orderville Canyon, another narrow canyon. We brought wet suits to wear when crossing the pools. At the bottom of stone canyons, the water never warms up and the air stays pretty cool too, even in the desert.
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Sept 29, 2011 2:34:12 GMT
If more Americans knew the meaning of " Grand Teton National Park" they would probably insist that the name be changed. Grand Teton = Big Tit. Ha, that is hilarious! I didn't know that. I think if more Americans knew the meaning, a certain demographic would flock to the park and then be disappointed.
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Sept 29, 2011 2:35:46 GMT
We did the Subway Canyon hike and also Orderville Canyon, another narrow canyon. We brought wet suits to wear when crossing the pools. At the bottom of stone canyons, the water never warms up and the air stays pretty cool too, even in the desert. No way, did you rappel too? How was Orderville? I don't know that one.
|
|
|
Post by sojoh on Sept 29, 2011 6:28:43 GMT
nycgirl & boy, Indescribably beautiful photos! I started reading this thread when you first posted and just got caught up on the most recent pictures. They're gorgeous. Every time that I think that I've seen my "favorite", I look at another one that matches or surpasses its beauty. I really like that you're in some of the photos to give some perspective to the sheer size of the formations.
I'm going to share this thread with my daughter, who is a geologist. She'll love it.
|
|
|
Post by nycboy on Sept 29, 2011 16:38:20 GMT
I have a story for her; we ran into a graduate geology student who was in the area studying an ancient river bed trying to figure out why it flowed in a certain direction. He told us about all the dinosaurs discovered right where we were, pointing to a nearby ridge saying one of the biggest T-Rex was found up there, pointing at the base of it saying there's a triceratops right there... He said bones were easy to find, just walk around and look for rocks that are shiny. This was in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument on the south end of Cottonwood Canyon Rd, a lonely dirt road in the middle of nowhere. I might have a pic.
Oh, he also told us that just East of The Wave there are some dino tracks and that the tracks are one of the first (or only) track sites showing evidence of pack hunting.
|
|
|
Post by nycboy on Sept 29, 2011 16:43:54 GMT
This is looking south on Cottonwood Canyon Rd
|
|
|
Post by nycboy on Sept 29, 2011 16:48:18 GMT
This is looking south on Cottonwood Canyon Rd
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Sept 29, 2011 17:05:52 GMT
I am drooling all over the keyboard (not a pretty sight...and quite dangerous when you think about it) but I can't help it...way beyond beautiful...I adore the voluptuousness of the sandstone...it's almost rude! I can see thighs and bosoms...do I need a psychiatrist? ;D I think that your photographs are stunning and very skillfully captured. Respect.
|
|