Bryce Canyon by Horseback

Yee-Hah! What a great way to see part of this canyon. As you can see Erik is getting a little more comfortable on horseback. This tour was a 2-hour ride into the bottom of the canyon. I was surprised how much more you see while on the back of a steed. It's important to watch your footsteps as you hike through this canyon to avoid twisting your ankle: not an issue while on the back of a horse however. Also, the extra four feet in height really allows a much better view.

The past 2 days we have been interred in Edna doing school work. It has rained most of the time so this has become our wet activity.
The geology in this park is amazing! While we are between 8,000 and 9,000 feet elevation in this park, all of it was underwater some millions of years ago. There is evidence of sea life in the fossils from this area. The rock formations (called Hodo's) are created by fractures at right angles, coupled with erosion. The fractures look very much like a checkerboard if viewed from the air. Most of the rock is made up of sandstone, very porous and easily subject to erosion. There are over 200 nights a year where temperatures are below freezing (including every night we have been here). The sub-freezing temps coupled with the relatively weak sandstone, contribute to the unique geology and create the Hodo's. This is unlike anywhere I have seen before. It is truly amazing and an area I will visit again. The only way to see the park (and do it justice) is to get your rear out of the car, and hike to the floor of the canyon. Plan on a minimum of 4 days; hiking 8-10 miles per day. We also highly recommend a horseback trip. They range from 2-hours to a full day. If you have not broken in your buttocks on a horse, a 4-hour ride will be maximum for you. We are currently increasing the kids endurance on the hiking trails, trying to build them up to as much as 10 miles a day.

Tomorrow we are off to Zion.

Our best to all of you. We would love to hear from those if you keeping up on our travels. Please reply directly to my e-mail address: jamescpaton@gmail.com I do not think I am receiving comments posted to the blog.

The Paton's