G.A.S.P.

(Great Adventures to Scenic Places)

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June 16, 1999

I spent the day of June 16 exploring the North Unit of the Park. I rode the scenic drive to the end of the Park (about 20 miles round trip from the campground) and stopped at all the overlooks and other marked spots of interest. I also stopped at a lot of unmarked spots – something that the cars are not allowed to do. Nah, nah - nah, nah, nah. I saw a number of buffalo in the distance (they have a herd of 150 – 200) and one pretty close to the road. On one of the trails, a coyote crossed in front of me by 100 feet or so. I didn’t think he saw me, so I went to the spot where he crossed and waited, camera in hand, for him to come up out of the gully on the other side. Alas, he never showed.

I did clear up one animal mystery, however. During a walk down by the river, I came upon a young couple who had with them an Audubon Bird Identification Book. I had just taken a photo

Click on thumbnail to see full photograph

of more of the "pelicans" as they floated down the river. I had waited in the weeds for them to get close, but they saw me at the last moment and took flight. I got their photo anyway.I asked about the birds, and was told that indeed they are pelicans – to be specific they are White American Pelicans that winter in Baja California and summer in the upper mid west. It turns out the couple were both off-duty rangers at the Park.

This is a park that’s all about erosion. First the river started cutting a path through the park, then over time wind and rain - in a process geologists call "hillside rivulet erosion" - eroded and are still eroding the hillsides. Much of the color and interesting patterns here are due to softer materials have eroded at faster rates that the harder materials.

Click on thumbnails to see full photographs

I am leaving. Tomorrow I’m heading for the South Unit, and get to go up the three-mile long hill I came down yesterday to reach the river valley and the Park. Great way to start the day – I’ll let you know if I make it. You can see some of my other favorite photos of the North Unit by clicking on this button: