A Walk Among the Ancients

Tuesday July 12, 2011
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Point Supreme Campground Site 9

 

On yesterday’s wildflower hike we
had as a member of the group, the
guy who was going to lead the two hikes today.
This was his first year, and I’m not sure why
he volunteered or they took him since he didn’t
seem to know anything and was taking copious notes.

Therefore, we determined that we’d learned about
all the wildflowers we were going to learn on this
visit and that we’d skip today’s hikes and take
our own.

We’d heard that there was a very cool hike
called The Twisted Forest in
the Dixie National Forest just adjacent to the
Monument so David got a map and we set off.

The trail was 3.5 miles down another forest service
dirt road.   This time we didn’t get stopped by snow.
We got stopped by muddy ruts.  Ruby just isn’t
a 4WD girl so we left her parked by the side of the
road and continued on foot to the trail head.

Didn’t think to get a picture of the ruts she couldn’t
handle.  They weren’t so attractive.   But here’s a shot
of the very scenic road on the dry part beyond her which
had an adjacent woodland meadow.

The meadow was gorgeous from all vantage points.

Filled with yellow Groundsel and Blue Markagunt Penstamin

 

 

Just before the trailhead, the road passed through
an aspen forest.  I’d never seen so many aspen trees.
The breeze was blowing and their leaves were singing
a wonderful song.

 

 

Here’s the map at the trail head which, if
you click to make it larger, will show you where
we are in relationship to Cedar Breaks
Here’s the test,
can you identify the trees in this “forest”?

As we started the trail, we could get a glimpse of
what we were in for but that didn’t give
us any idea of the magnitude.
What a change in landscape.

Follow the trail with us.

 

 

Parts of it were rocky and steep

  Parts of it were steep and hard to see
yes that vague line going straight up is it

Can you see the trail?

We thought the above point was the top
but nope……

Another hill to climb

 

but we did make it and here was what we found
at trail’s end

There’s Brian Head Peak in the distance

and zoomed in.   Clouds aren’t too shabby either.

 

And the Cedar Breaks Amphitheater in the
upper middle of the picture below.

The views were wonderful as you can see but
what made the hike SO special were the
amazing individual Bristlecone Pine trees with
whom we spent this afternoon.

Some of these trees are over 2000 years old
They have made and continue to make an
amazing effort at life.  Their creativity and determination
are a model for us all.

 

All shapes

 

Parts missing

 

all sizes

 

Great roots

 

Full and furry

What a variety!

There were acres of trees in this Twisted Forest.
Here are some distant views to give you an idea.
Notice the interesting arch/bridge in the rock.

The bristle cones seem to go for miles
in soil on which no other trees
will grow

 

Time to go back down.  Careful on those stones
David’s there, he can help you.  “Sometimes”  :-)

 

 

 

 

See David Hike?

 

 

Hike David, Hike

 

Almost back

End of the trail,
or beginning if you are going the other way.  :-)

 

On our way back down the road, we saw a few of
these folks.  Nothing worth a picture until this
one and I wasn’t fast enough on the draw to get
her as she went by with a tiny dog on her lap
and the big tailed one on the rear. 
Guess which one barked at us?

 

Hi Ho faithful Ruby.  We’re ready to go back to the ranch.
Have to start getting things packed up.
Tomorrow is moving day.