Winds, Sands and Snows at Capitol Reef

We arrived here all excited about a week ago - the weather was beautiful and our campsite overlooked some of the prettiest red rock cliffs you ever saw! Behind these mesas are high wooded mountains, the tops of which were covered with the last of the winter snows. Beautiful.

Mom and Dad took us to some nearby BLM land by Sand Creek to run and play - we had such a great time chasing down our kong and bumper - you can't see the pretty landscape in this shot, but we're running towards the wild high desert! Next day, after (yawn... another) windy night, we loaded up the truck with lunchables and treats and stuff...

And headed out to Capitol Reef NP, which is about 10 miles away. Momz and Dadzers checked out the Visitor's Center and learned that this park also goes by the funny name, Waterpocket Fold. Even if you climb the highest peak here, you can't see this "reef/fold" - you have to almost be in outer space to see it - check it out here. It's a long, skinny park, as you can see! So... we decided to familiarize ourselves with Cap. Reef by truck - first driving the nine miles down Highway 24 and enjoying the lovely Fremont River that creates a super pretty valley full of cottonwood trees and orchards (will explain that in a bit).

Our first stop was a visit to the petroglyphs - attributed to the Fremont and ancestral Puebloans, who etched pictures with triangular shapes - can you see the sheep? Wish we could have gotten closer for a better photo!

We had a great time examining some of the beautiful qualities of the rock formations here - domes and look at this - above! It's called the Cassidy Arch and you can hike a super tough trail to get there, or check it out from a cool canyon ride down a dirt road to Capitol Gorge, which is beautiful! When we leave for Moab tomorrow, we'll explain more about arches; there are two ways that they are formed! You won't believe this, but Cassidy (named after Butch Cassidy) Arch was formed over millions of years with the erosion of a weak part of what was once a cliff - grain by GRAIN of sand! Wow!

Okay... so this was cool! Part of the park is called the Fruita Historic District, where Mormon pioneers - only about ten families - arrived in the later 1800s and planted orchards of various fruits and nuts. The park service still takes care of these beautiful orchards. Above: we loved the barn, field and horses against those red cliffs!
This is part of the road to Capitol Gorge - there are what we decided were "slot canyons" for cars - the tall, high cliffs were barely far enough apart to accomodate our truck! This was one place where there was a ginormous overhang.

Waiting for homemade vanilla ice cream at the historic Fruita store. It was charming with all old fashioned things and old canned goods!

The next day, it rained and was windy and all the roads that are not paved (which are the places we needed to get to) are basically off-limits when wet. See, they cross washes which can flood in a heartbeat and drown you, so we decided to take a road trip...

... to Lake Powell!

It was a long drive to get to warmer weather and the beach (what a red beach!), but so worth it!

Dad threw us sticks into Lake Powell and we were all enthusiastic and happy to oblige their return heheh!

Avalon has a mighty swell CORE to be able to balance on that log so well, doesn't she? Not sure I, Sammie, could do that!

Later, on the way back to windyland, Mom took this pic of the Fremont River, flowing through Capitol Reef NP.

We've really been "doing" lots of weather down here, but we're still trying to stir up that lemonade from this lemonish "weather" we're bein' dealt! Yesterday, we woke up to snow - yeah...not in the mountains even - right out our window - in the valley of Torrey! Mid-April!

The snows didn't stick very well, but we decided to go up Highway 12 to the mountains.

This was a pretty little pull-off we found with a stream and everything. Moi, Sammie, immediately put my nose to work. Mom helped me tell the story as it happened.

Yeah... so I needed to chase my sis, Avalon, to get back what was rightfully mine... but Mom put me in the truck, cause I'm a good girl and come when I'm called! (OOOOPs - my bad! Didn't catch Mom's boo boo - that second pic, top is Avalon, not me! Avalon is furry quick to steal my "sticks"!!!)

It took some time for Avalon to join me in the back seat. Mom and Dad were not pleased at what we'd been so very interested in. They thought it was a stick!

Look how pleased my sissie looks!

At the next stop, Mom and Dad made sure we were chomping or chasing the real thing...

On the way down the mountain, we saw these guys...

...and this pretty cool (and dramatically lit) view! Ciao!