Grand Staircase-Escalante, part 4

[low_delta]

On May 16th I had set out to see Zebra Slot Canyon. Partway down Hole-in-the-Rock Road, I got a flat tire, and had to call it off. After getting the tire fixed, I decided I would stay on pavement and drive around the northern part of the Monument.


This is leading down towards the Escalante River.

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After going up the other side of the canyon, the road ends up on the top of a ridge. It was a long way down on both sides.

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Note the sign: 14% grade, next 4 miles. That's a steep hill.

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After going back down, I wandered through the Escalante River Canyon.

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After a while, I wandered off the trail and back toward the canyon wall.

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I found biological soil crust. I had learned about it at the visitor center in Escalante. It's a combination of biological, um, things that live in the top half-inch to inch of the soil. It binds it together and help prevent erosion, and also makes it easier for plants to get established. You're not supposed to walk on it. Of course I did. I didn't realize I was on it until it was too late.

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Comments

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

I fell in love with the varying perspectives of the landscape caused by so many ups and downs and ridges and contours. I amazes me where plants can grow and flower even in the dryness.

And don't you love the tree skeletons that cling to the rocks?
:)