We left Tropic at 1:00 Tuesday and mountain-biked around Navajo Lake, a long, narrow, azure gem nestled among emerald evergreens. The trail from the parking lot at the western end of the lake follows the rolling shoreline through the forest and then out into a lava field. The main difficulty the trail presented was to not look at the lovely wildflowers and breath-taking scenery.
Having lost the trail description (my specialty), we couldn't find the trail on the south side of the lake so we rode the gravel road back to the parking lot.
We wanted to see Cascade Falls, created by water that seeps through the limestone beneath Navajo Lake then gushes from a small opening in the vertical cliff and tumbles several hundred feet down the mountainside. Although it's only a mile round-trip, dark clouds, crashes of thunder and advancing sheets of rain persuaded us to return to the Jeep and get off the mountain.
On the way to our hotel, we stopped by the Renaissance Faire in a Cedar City park. The theme wasn't very well implemented or enforced. The connection between 'Renaissance' and 'pirates,' 'camels,' 'Mexican baskets' and 'cheap Chinese crap' was indiscernable. Nevertheless, it was interesting to see so many overweight women in too little clothing and too much make-up, men in tights and vendors of swords, chain mail, balloon animals, etc.
Tired, dirty and hungry, our dinner destination was selected on proximity--there was a Denny's across the street from our motel. Dinner was adequate, dessert was ooey-gooey and good!
Wednesday morning we set out for Cedar Breaks National Monument early enough to participate in the naturalist-led wildflower hike. While waiting for the hike to begin, we talked with a work-camper couple volunteering at CBNM for the summer. They used to live in Highlands, NC, about 35 miles from our house! They love CB's vistas, low visitiation numbers and its cool temps but don't have internet access at their site and have to take their RV to Cedar City to refill the propane tanks frequently. (The high for Wed. was 53* and overnight temps still dip below freezing.)
The hike, conducted by a retired Park Sevrvice ranger, provided interesting information but fewer than hoped for wildflowers. After an hour with the group we opted to hike the Ramparts Trail on our own. In a two mile out-and-back, we saw wonderful wildflowers, a momma marmot and her baby, a photogenic chipmunk (who posed for pictures), stunning vistas and 1700 year-old bristlecone trees. Although narrow in several places and steep for short stretches, the route would have been easy but for the elevation: 10, 300 feet!
In the afternoon we drove to several overlooks and wandered along the Alpine Pond trail. It's a pretty walk though woods, across a small meadow and along a very small pond but none of these settings contained wildflowers that we hadn't seen earlier in the day. Worn out by the elevation and the cold, we went down the mountain to Cedar City and motel #2. After cleaning up, we ventured out on the town--found a very good Mexican restaurant, a bladder for Fred's CamelBak and a tee shirt in the exact shade I needed to match my skirt!
First on the agenda for Thursday morning was stocking up at Walmart, then up Cedar Mountain again. With no thunderstorms in the forecast, it was safe to go to Cascade Falls. The hike was enjoyable and the falls were impressive but nigh impossible to photograph well or accurately.
Mammoth Cave was the last stop before returning to Stone Canyon. This is a lava tube about 10' below ground level. Entry is via a pit partially filled with large chunks of lava which make it possible to scramble down fairly easily. In one direction, the floor is very smooth but the ceiling becomes lower and lower every few feet. A person who wanted to explore further than we did has to be willing to crawl then belly-wriggle. In the other direction, the floor is littered with large, rough lava chunks that would be difficult to cross especially in the dark. Interesting and enough spelunking for our tastes!
With that, our fun came to an end; yesterday was back to work. Some time ago and for some reason we can't recall, we volunteered to help with the Bryce Canyon Half-Marathon, held the 3rd Saturday in July. Our assignment was to cut up fruit beginning at 6 AM in the little town 5 miles east of Tropic. After enough oranges and bananas had been prepared we picked up the results sheets from the timekeepers and posted them on large bulletin boards. We were finished by 9, in time to start our cleaning duties. Only three more work days 'til our next getaway!
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| Navajo Loop Trail through Lava Fields |
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| Jan on Navajo Loop Trail |
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| Approaching Storm at Cascade Falls |
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| Trail to Cascade Falls |
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| One of Entrances to Mammoth Cave |
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Jan Enjoying Mammoth Cave |
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| View of Zion From Cascade Falls |
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| Momma Marmot |
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| Cute, huh? |
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| Obligatory Tree Picture [1700 year-old Bristlecone Pine] |
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| Fred on the Ramparts Trail, Cedar Breaks National Monument |
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| Ruby, the Brave Little Jeep |
