I hiked the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon

Truth be told I haven’t done much hiking in Bryce this season, or last, but I asked for a project day and hiked the hoodoos in uniform.  Good reminder about the beauty of Bryce Canyon National Park and how fortunate I am to work there.  Even climbing up Wall Street.

Went to Cedar City last week to shop, which I don’t like to do, but at least the drive is pretty.  After last week’s cold snap I wondered what the Aspen would look like at the almost 10,000 foot pass.  Many were turning a tarnished bronze.  Not a good indication for the gorgeous gold that I’d like to see, especially against the black lava flow where the Aspen grows from near Navajo Lake.  Much construction on the SR89 drive south so thought I’d return on the slightly longer I15 north and SR20 east but the interstate was backed up past the entrance ramp in town, so bagged that idea.

Joann and her granddaughter visited for a couple days.  Love to see friends at the park, even if we can’t officially hug hello.  Sadly, I was working so only saw them briefly.  They joined my Rim Walk about the cultural history of Bryce Canyon along with a family and 78-year old lady who just hiked the trail I would the next day.  What an inspiration.

I’d asked by supervisor for a project day to hike the hoodoos, and Sunday was that day.  I was both excited and nervous.  The Queen/Navajo Loop is only 2.9 miles plus a 600 foot change in elevation.  That’s not much, but more than I’ve done in a while.  I figured to take about six hours as I’d be in uniform stopping to answer visitor questions, and sauntering at my typical slow pace taking lots of photos along the way.  One of my biggest concerns was carrying enough water as I use a fanny pack that’s pretty small.  My arthritic shoulders can’t handle a backpack.

Get ready for photo overload

Starting at Sunrise Point, the Queen’s Garden Trail drops rapidly into the hoodoos quickly bringing them to eye level.  It’s a harsh yet beautiful landscape with textured and crumbly limestone often layered in various shades of orange, red, pink, and whites.  The day was clear with Southwest deep blue sky at mid 70°s.

Many visitors are satisfied by only a short walk downwards into this fairyland environment.  Probably just as well as they often carry no water or wear inadequate footwear.  The downside, how impacted the nearby off-trail areas that create social trails, many chained off or with signs doesn’t seem to stop people.  Why?  It hurts me to see all the social trails and disrespect for the rules made to protect the land, the place people come to enjoy.

Continuing down trail, literally, still provides views both down and distant.

Often patches of trees appear only to thin out for the dramatic surround of more hoodoos.

PSAR Suzanne patrolling the Queen’s Garden Trail by tunnel

Queen Victoria

A hoodoo that, presumably, resembles a statue of Queen Victoria provides a “destination” for the 1.8 mile round trip down and up of the Queen’s Garden trail.  It’s a 500 foot side trail right after a human-made tunnel through a hoodoo wall.  I encourage people to name hoodoos whatever they want, then take a photo and challenge their descendants to find them in the future.

What is a hoodoo you ask?  A native word pronounced “oodoo” by the local southern Utah Paiute meaning rock people.  I certainly see shapes and faces in the hoodoo towers of weathered and eroded limestone.  The above reminded me of the Three Stooges.

Early European American settlers saw castles.

The trees are often as shapely as the rock.

Shortly after the Queen, the trail continues down into the forested base of the hoodoos and perspective changes to looking up at their towering shapes.  A stiff neck could ensue if not having to look down to keep from tripping over errant rocks and roots.

A beautiful stroll across a gentle terrain under forest shade most welcomed after the sunny exposure coming downhill.

I opted for lunch at a twisted root along the trail taking in the breathtaking surroundings.  Not far ahead a junction of trails gives options for additional mileage to the three mile Peek-a-boo trail, and two choices up the Navajo Loop, .6 miles on the Two Bridges side or our recommended .7 Wall Street side.  When advising visitors of the clockwise route on Navajo Loop Trail, either from top or bottom, many don’t know the movement of hands on a clock anymore because of digital.

I call Wall Street the icing on the hoodoo cake for a most unique experience similar to a slot canyon although not formed the same way geologically.  Traversing between two hoodoo walls provides shade at the end of a hike.  And although it’s steep, also safer because it’s easier to roll an ankle going down steep than up.  Navajo Loop trail is the shortest hoodoo hike in Bryce at 1.3 miles and also where almost one carry-out a day occurs.  This happens for a variety of reasons being short and therefore considered easy without taking into consideration the rim is at 8000 feet in elevation, the trail changes 500 feet in only a little over half a mile, it’s steep and requires footwear with good grip, and the hot arid environment means increasing water intake.  Disregarding these conditions often causes problems for unprepared visitors.

Avoiding the extra three miles I continued a bit more through forest and upward views at the rock people.  A visitor with go-pro on a selfie-stick joined me for maybe five minuets before I stopped to answer questions and he continued up the trail.

Upon reaching the base of Wall Street I heard guitar music reverberating softly against the rock walls.

A slight climb brought the musician and his photographer into view.  I tried unsuccessfully to video a bit of the unexpected entertainment.

Short switchbacks make the long climb seem less steep to me.  Yet I still stopped frequently with the excuse to take another photo.

Talked to over 100 cool folks who were mostly prepared.  Turned around four people with dogs along the way, and one wagon near the top of Wall Street.  Took 5 ½ hours but I hiked the hoodoos for three miles. Not bad for me.  And best of all, my legs didn’t hurt a bit afterwards or the next day.  Maybe next time I’ll tackle the Peek-a-boo trail.

The next day I opened the visitor center and after a couple hours answering questions the schedule sent me to the end of the scenic drive with my favorite view from Yovimpa Point, and thank goodness it wasn’t hazy enough to totally obstruct the view.  My supervisor arrived to observe my 12:30 Grand Staircase geology talk and I thought it was the worst one I ever presented.  I am usually not bothered by staff observation.

A guy blatantly went around the fence in front of me to take a photo and when I asked him to come back he at first ignored me completely, then finally did. His wife apologized for him. What an ass.

Stopped to rove at the Natural Bridge overlook, which is really an arch and not a bridge.  Always a good place to interact with visitors.  Besides, I keep on checking up on this tree.

My Friday on Tuesday included the evening program where I talk about the wildlife at Bryce Canyon.  Because it’s getting dark earlier that now happens at 8pm instead of 9pm.  No heartbreak being done a little earlier in the evening.

And today, my first of three days off, working on this post.  Then some chores to take care of and maybe a mini road trip tomorrow to have a propane tank re-certified.

Random thoughts

Will the future of our species, provided it survives into the future, wonder why we didn’t see the demise of our planet coming. We’ve bastardized our basic needs, food/GMO, water/polluted, shelter/unaffordable, and clothing (which should be optional for weather protection) becoming the higher demand by some nebulous designers. What’s happening around us is not “normal”, nor should ever be accepted as such.

Fire is good for the land but not for us, paybacks a bitch for long time fire suppression.  And then add climate change.

Sorry

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