I spent a week in Vernal, Utah, after a long drive north from Moab. Vernal sits in the North-east corner of Utah where the Green River flows into Colorado then back into Utah in the Dinosaur National Monument. I enjoyed a number of short hikes in the Monument, and some more difficult hikes including to a Dinosaur trackway with numerous petrified prints of a Dilophosaurus (the double crested beast in the original Jurassic Park), and a hike up to the Moonshine Arch. I previously have written about the many Freemont petroglyph panels near Vernal so will not repeat here.

From Vernal I traveled on Nov. 12 to Torrey, Utah just outside Capitol Reef National Park. Capitol Reef has more stunning high rock cliff views available from roads than any other spot I have visited in the US. The color shades in the sheer cliffs and incredible rock formations absolutely pop in vibrance, with clear delineations in orange, red, maroon, grey-green, yellow and patches of snow-white, all under some of the clearest blue sky on earth. I have included a number of photos of these spectacular views, including the sunrise colors of the view from my window and front door in the Noor Inn. I went on several hikes, both for photos and to continue to strengthen my new hip, including the Chimney Rock circuit which starts with a 600-foot climb up steep switchbacks to overlook central parts of the Park. The extravagant views are due to the geologic uplift called the Water Pocket Fold, a monocline which exposes numerous different rock layers which stack to sore into sheer cliffs.

This next Wednesday, the 19^th, I plan to drive to Cortez, CO. for another week of hiking – after that I have no current plans, other than to wonder where I might get some turkey and stuffing. Later. Dave