Grande Campo Velo Hiko: Colorado Plateau, Sept 2007



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Snow Canyon State Park, created in 1959, lies just north of St. George and is named after Lorenzo and Erastus Snow, two prominent Utah pioneers. Its 7,400 acres are tucked amid lava flows and soaring sandstone cliffs. This park was a great kick-off to our trip into red rock country. We felt like 9-year-old boys running all over these cool, colorful sandstone mounds. Snow Canyon is a hidden gem and a knock-your-socks-off experience.


Burnt orange and creamy white Navajo sandstone are the predominant rock in the park


We hiked over these giant outcroppings of cross-bedded sandstone with no fear of slipping


White layers of sandstone interspersed in the red sandstone were dazzling	How did these basalt rocks get here?


The red "Wave" flowed across the massive outcropping like a frozen tsunami. So very cool!


Note the size of the Wave in comparison to Jay and Herb (on the right)


Potholes capture recent rains	Bonsai Utah juniper


Moqui ("Moki") Marbles are iron oxide concretions created by precipitation of iron dissolved by groundwater -- they come in sizes ranging from peas to softballs


Waiting for sunrise


Sunrise view of the sandstone cliffs


About 2.5 million years ago, and as recently as 10,000 years ago, nearby cinder cones erupted causing lava to flow into the canyon	Exposed basalt rocks form these interesting designs in the hillside


	A devil's postpile-like formation


We hiked to the top of this neat formation


Jay points to fault joint -- very interesting cross section of exposed sandstone	Jay and Herb on top of pancakes


	Our camp at Snow Canyon


Cooking is difficult when the winds are howling	Here's our solution to those pesky desert winds

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