Bryce Point

Bryce Point (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

Mike couldn't leave without a sunrise visit to Bryce Point. His last visit featured some great clouds, as did this visit. After photos he returned to his motel, packed up and ventured forth towards Escalante.

Bryce Canyon City

Road Leaving Bryce (Bryce Canyon City) - Utah  2016

Playground (Bryce Canyon City) - Utah  2016

Bryce Canyon City consists mainly of a gas station, two Best Western motels and a nice intersection with a traffic light. Mike had fun ambling around taking photos of the depopulated wintry scene.

Doubtless it looks much different in summer. Also: Google Street View.

Bryce Canyon Hike - 5

Bryce Canyon National Park - Queen's Garden Hike from Mike Mundy on Vimeo.


Taken with a Canon G5X using a tripod at beginning and end.

Bryce Canyon Hike - 4

Pine Tree, Spires (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

Juniper Trunk (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

Neat stuff! Not 100% sure of the juniper trunk identification.

Bryce Canyon Hike - 3

Spires (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

Hikers (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

This particular trail switchbacked down, down, down. Very tricky in spots . . . Mike managed to slip and perform a butt-slide on a particularly icy section. Sad!

Bryce Canyon Hike - 2

Trail #1 (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

Trail #2 (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

Mike was juggling all three cameras (plus an iPhone) during the hike. Above photos taken with an Olympus E-PL5 with a 9-18mm wide-angle zoom lens.

Monday Horse Blogging

Horses (Tropic) - Utah  2016

Mike was lucky in that he was able to take lots of horse pix on this trip. This photo was taken near Tropic, just on the other side of Bryce Canyon.

Bryce Canyon Hike - 1

Spires, Clouds, Snow (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

This was a fairly short dayhike that Mike took: along the rim, then down into the area known as the "Queen's Garden." As usual he got to the trailhead pretty early, not that many cars at the parking lot.

Bryce: Plateau, Snow - 2

Trees, Snow, Clouds (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

Burnt Trees (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

All the views in Bryce Canyon seem to be to the east. However, driving though the park there were some tantalizing glimpses of scenery to the west. But no viewpoints, alas.

Bryce: Plateau, Snow - 1

Manzanita (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

Grass, Snow, Pines (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

One arrives at the various outlooks in Bryce by driving along the upper plateau, then following spur roads to the east. Mike enjoyed the scenery in this higher elevation section almost as much as the more spectacular views. Both the above shots were taken using an Olympus wide angle zoom lens, below with a Canon G5X.

Outhouse (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

Bryce: Sunset

Spires (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

Spires, Snow, Clouds (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

First time I've seen the spires at sunset. Amazing view, especially with the snow and setting sun giving relief to the features.

Certainly more spectacular than Zion. Might be interesting to see using VR.

By the way, I have to note that officially, the spires are known as "hoodoos."

Monday Raven Blogging

Raven (Bryce Canyon NP) - Utah  2016

Very large bird wanting handouts. He didn't get anything from me.

Monday Donkey Blogging

Donkey (Hwy 89) - Utah  2016

As one drives from Zion to Bryce on Highway 89 one passes through the small towns of Orderville, Glendale, Alton and Hatch. Great names, and visually very interesting!

Mike's procedure was to have the Canon G5X laying on the passenger seat ready for a photo op. Pulling over to the side of the road, rolling down the window and taking the shot turned into a regular routine.

For some reason, this animal decided to lay down just as Mike pulled up. Maybe something to do with Mike's California license plates.

Road to Bryce

Highway 9 - Utah  2016

In Utah, leaving Zion heading east on Highway 9 towards Highway 89 in early March.

Monday Horse Blogging

Horses - Utah  2012

How pastoral! Up above, the glimmerings of Bryce Canyon's spires, down below in the meadow, horses grazing. At least they were ignoring the photographer . . . usually they walk over to see if there's an apple, or carrot available.

In fact, the horses were to be found on the far edge of a little cemetery, which is why Mike had stopped in the first place.

Cemetery - Utah  2012

Bryce Canyon

Bryce Point (vertical) - Utah  2012

Bryce Point (merge) - Utah  2012

Based on some pre-trip research, Mike had decided to head straight for Bryce Point, "famous for its extraordinary sunrises." The park entrance station wasn't open yet, so no delay there. Then, whizzing along, monitoring the various signs, until finally a left turn onto the road to Bryce Point.

Admittedly, the sunrise did look great. And finally, some nice clouds!

Of course, there were 10 or so photographers already there with their hefty Nikons and Canons and their bulky tripods. Mike had to sneak into their midst with his teeny Olympus.

By the time he left two tour buses had pulled into the parking lot with a third waiting impatiently, and the viewpoint was suddenly getting crowded.

NPS: Bryce Point.

Bryce Point - Utah  2012

Red Canyon

Red Canyon, Moon - Utah  2012

Juniper, Snow (Red Canyon) - Utah  1996

Red Canyon is a highly scenic area, overshadowed by its proximity to Bryce Canyon. Mike stopped at a scenic pulloff to take a few snaps. He realized that he had camped here before, in 1996.

That was the time that he clambered out of the camper shell in the morning to encounter a fresh layer of snow. A more detailed story has already been posted.