Zion: The Narrows

We'd been talking a lot about going up The Narrows, which is, as the name implies, a narrow passage of river which is supposedly quite beautiful. However, we'd probably need wetsuits or something similar, at the very least some proper shoes. Additionally, none of us really had the necessary physical stamina to do something like this on such short notice. But we agreed that we would at the very least walk up from the last bus stop to the entrance of the Narrows.

Multicolored rocks bear witness to the eroding effect of water.


The path winds along the right hand side of the Virgin river for about a mile.




It then stops abruptly and you need to get your feet - at the very least - wet to proceed several miles upstream. One day... one day...


The squirrels in this part of the park are unbelievably cheeky and sadly unafraid of humans. I watched several almost get trampled in the frenzy to get some goodies off of stupid tourists.


This pic almost looks like it's a painting.

Zion: The valley floor

After Weeping rock, we crossed the road on foot and then proceeded to walk to the next bus stop, over the narrow valley floor. I took some pics here, mostly in black & white.

Lush and green.


Notice the greenish leaves at the bottom, near the trunk.


Plenty of colors.


Black and whites.

Zion: Weeping Rock

After the Emerald Pools we took the shuttle up to Weeping Rock. This is another overhang, where the water has been dripping for thousands of years. We were told that tests had confirmed the water running down the rocks to be appx. 1,200 years old; that's how long it takes to pass through the layers of sandstone.

This water is 1,200 years old.


There's a platform along the overhang where the water runs down. It's usually full of Asian tourists taking selfies.


The views in Zion are puuuurdy.


There are some nice places on the steep path up there too.


I'm no geologist, but I think what's happened here is a tree split the rock in two.


Naturally, I was skeptical of Weeping Rock.

Zion National Park: Emerald Pools

After Glacier we hurried down to Zion for the final chapter of this six week odyssey. We got there in the early morning and when I saw a sign that said they had available room up at the lodge we made a quick decision to book it, damn the budgetary consequences.

The first touristy thing we did afterwards, was to walk up to the first of three levels of the so-called "Emerald pools".

I suppose emeralds are a shade of green, but this was somewhat underwhelming.


The multicolored walls curved inwards due to the water carving out rock over the centuries.


I'm told it's quite the sight to see when there's more water coming down.




And from certain angles it still looked nice.


But as a whole, I was still skeptical of the place.

Return to Glacier

After the wildlife & scenery bonanza that was Yellowstone, we set course for Glacier National Park in Montana. Fires had closed the eastern parts of the park, but the western bit was open up to and including Logan Pass. Albie, who grew up in Switzerland felt very much at home in Glacier, as did I when I first saw it.

"The hills are aliiiiiiiive..."


I love those Alpine meadows.


All sorts of wildflowers in all colors grow here.


From the bend in the road where they stopped traffic because of the limited parking up at Logan. We waited for appx. 45 mins and were then allowed to drive up in groups.


I still want my little, red cabin placed in that clearing just above the trees.


Needless to say, I was skeptical of Glacier.

From the west entrance area

We also managed a quick trip out to the western entrance of Yellowstone, which I had not visited on any of my previous trips. It's a very pretty area and one I will see again I'm sure. Here are some pictures.

Pretty scenery.


We saw an eagle.


And a bunch of elk lying down on the other side of the river. Few things look as retarded as an elk chewing.

Blacktail Plateau

We also had time for a drive around the Blacktail Plateau of Yellowstone. Not a single animal was in sight, but some lovely scenery.

Mammoth Hot Springs in arty-farty b & w

Some black & white photos from Mammoth Hot Springs. I think they turned out fine. In a lot of them, it looks like they're wintry stuff when in reality the water holds around 80 degrees celcius. Other photos look post-apocalyptic.

After Skynet.




Surely, this must be a winter scene.


Sun on a frozen scene - frozen in dead bacteria, not water.


A fine, crisp January morning... or not.

Mammoth Hot Springs

I've been to Yellowstone several times, but never actually seen much of the hot springs that are situated right outside the tiny town of Fort Yellowstone at the northern entrance to the park. Well, I was dragged up there and I am glad I got to see it in some degree of detail, as it is a place of wonder and also of much beauty, especially when shot in black & white (later post).

The colors are caused by tiny bacteria that live in the water.







These larvae feed on the leaves of bushes standing right next to the hot springs.


This extinct cone is known as Liberty Cap.


I believe this is called the Terrace of Minerva.


It's quite purdy, ain't it?