Forth day in Capital reef National Park

It was an overcast cool day in the park. Jason and I drove to Torry for some groceries and Elbert and Janice watched Ella. Then we walked to the visitor center to meet up with them. 

On our way back we stopped at the Nature center. They had a ton of activities for kids and Ella loved the wall full of stuffed animals. For some odd reason she did not like the raven. She kept throwing him aside. 

We pretty much just hung out all afternoon. I cleaned the trailer while Ella napped and in the evening gordo got a much needed bath. He is happier to be clean. 

If we come back in the fall we want to stay in loop c which is in an apple orchard and I learned today that field 2 has eight varieties of apples, so it's one of the best to pick fruit. $1 per pound to collect and whatever you eat while in the orchard is free. 

Third day in Capital Reef National Park

We went for our morning hike. This is the Fremont River Trail. It was a hot morning but the temperature did cool off as clouds formed. 

We took a nice break at the top. Ella played in the shade. She can be very serious when she is in deep thought. 

Then in the afternoon Elbert and Janice joined us. We went for a drive through the park and on a little walk. The host of the campground got mad at us for reserving a spot for them! He was a bit overwhelmed with all the people wanting a camping spot. This place fills up quickly. 

Walking on an original road. 

In the evening we had dinner together and ella played in their big camper trailer. 

At night, Jason stepped on a turd that fell out of Ella's diaper. It was the funniest thing that has happened in a long time!!! :) 

Second day in Capital Reef National Park

  First thing in the morning, we walked over to the little store to buy coffee and a cinnamon roll. They sell local arts and crafts and baked goods from the nearby town of Torry in the style of the Mormon settlers that were first here. The orchard provides fruit for the baked goods. 

Eating apple, banana and cheese for breakfast. I think she is going through another growth spurt because she had been very hungry. 

Morning hike to Hickman Bridge 3 miles

Dome shaped mountains, like this one, gives this national park its first part of its name, Capital. The early explorers thought it resembled the capital building in Washington, D.C.  

Jason is taking a 360 photo

We hung out under the bridge in the shade. It's hot and dry! 

Ella says "Oooo" or "ewww" when she finds something new to touch and play with lately. It's really cute. 

Then she found these natural shelves in the rock work and began collecting things to put on them. She was having so much fun! 

It's beautiful here 

The hike back next to the Fremont River. 

The early natives here are refered too as the Fremont People. They drew different rock art, had different style homes, and different pottery and basket styles than the puebloen people (Anasazi) that we recently learned about in the other parks. Here they dug large but shallow pits for homes that they covered with juniper logs and leaves. (Instead of mud and rock buildings on the sides of cliffs) Their pots were plainly decorated and used for carrying seeds not water. They built baskets out of willow and lined it with a material that made it impermeable which they used to carry water. Small clay dolls have also been found in the area which is unique to the Fremont People. They also used an alata to kill animals until the bow and arrow was introduced. From the bones collected scientist believe that the Fremont people died of anemia. No one today is really sure what happened to them but they hypothesize that they killed all the prey in the area quickly when the bow and arrow was introduced. Today the bighorn sheep has been reintroduced and there are deer living in the park. 

After our walk to the school house and to the petroglyphs where we heard a ranger talk we walked back to the camper to let Ella play. After dinner we went to another talk to learn more about the area. Ella loved being around so many people. She talked and play hide and seek with the people behind us. Gordo slept in the stroller! 

Capital Reef National Park, Utah - Day 20

We left our Goblin Valley BLM spot early in the morning. We ran out of water last night and we are running very low of food supplies. We had left over meatloaf and beans last night for dinner! The meatloaf was great though, I had added blue cheese and mushrooms to it. 

We showed up to the visitor center and the "campground full" sign was up. We have never had this problem. We often get the last spot so I decided to run in and make sure. Well, a new group of rangers and hosts are on duty and they forgot to switch the sign. So I ran out and switched it for them and we grabbed one of the few slots left. The campground filled up quickly behind us! What luck we have! 

I love it here! It's still a desert but the river and the snow melt off provides for enough life and more greenness. I really would love to see the orchards in the fall and pick fresh fruit. The Mormon pioneers planted a beautiful orchard and heirloom varieties of apples, pears, peach, and other fruits still grow. 

Walking to the visitor center from campground. 

Marmots! 

Afternoon snack with my 11 month almost 3 week old. She also says banana now. Her molar is almost all the way out. 

Showing me her oso. She is still not walking but can stand easily. 

Little Wild Horse Canyon, Goblin Valley Utah

Today we drove down the road from our BLM camping spot to go hiking in the canyon.  Wild Horse Canyon. The entire trail is over 8 miles but we only did a small portion. It's a slow walk through the canyon. It's mostly a sandy bottom and there were several areas where we had to climb and scamper on rocks. 

Big water hole

The Canyon was very narrow in spots 

Lots of curves and turns through the canyon

Water has formed some interesting rock formations. 

I hiked an hour and a half in before I stopped and turned around. Ella and Jason went a bit further. I was tired, Ella woke up often last night screaming in pain. She has a lower molar coming out and today her gums are bloody. I'm sure she will feel pain again tonight. 

After our morning hike we relaxed at the camper and cleaned it while Ella napped. There is dust and sand every where from the wind. 

Goblin Valley State Park

BLM camping right outside the park. Free! 

Hiking in the Goblin Valley

66* and it felt hot

Then we drove out to Muddy River 

For a swim! Ella's first time skinny dipping. Gordo loved cooling off in the water. 

The water felt great!