Uploads from paulgillphoto

Tower Bridge. Bryce Canyon

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:24:10 -0800

Tower Bridge is located in a canyon 860 feet below the trail head that starts from the rim near Sunrise Point. The walk down to the bridge is about 1.5 miles along the Fairyland trail. The trail down to this stone monument is an easy walk, both ways. Not the most spectacular scenery in the park maybe, but still nice. The trail winds down through bristlecone pines scattered through coarse red and white sand gullies, with a few rock outcroppings here and there. At one point you walk alongside a tall white rock wall then pass through and continue along the other side. Looking south you can see sections of the China Wall, a wall with many windows and towers.

When you get down in the bottom of the canyon there are some trail signs that show one trail going back up the other side and continues on for the rest of the Fairyland Loop. The other a short spur along the bottom to Tower Bridge. If you go a few hundred yards up Fairyland trail you will be right across the canyon from Tower Bridge at the same height. You get a much clearer view this way, without all the trees blocking the view. Depending on the time of day though, it may not be the best for photographs because you get the same colored background through the space under the bridge and through Keyhole Window, making it hard to see them in photos. For more contrasted photos go back down to the canyon floor and take the short trail to Tower Bridge. Here you will be looking up and will see sky through the window and under the bridge. But then you also have a lot of tall trees that can block part of your view. I recommend looking at the bridge from both views.

Bryce bristlecone

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:24:00 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

The bristlecone pines are a small group of pine trees (Family Pinaceae, genus Pinus, subsection Balfourianae) that are thought to reach an age far greater than that of any other single living organism known, up to nearly 5,000 years.
There are three closely related species of bristlecone pine:
Rocky Mountains Bristlecone Pine Pinus aristata in Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona
Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Pinus longaeva in Utah, Nevada and eastern California
Foxtail Pine Pinus balfouriana in California
Bristlecone pines grow in isolated groves at and just below the tree line. Because of cold temperatures, dry soils, high winds, and short growing seasons, the trees grow very slowly. The wood is very dense and resinous, and thus resistant to invasion by insects, fungi, and other potential pests. As the tree ages, much of its vascular cambium layer may die. In very old specimens, often only a narrow strip of living tissue connects the roots to a handful of live branches.

Water Canyon Cascade

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:23:46 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

Water Canyon cascade on the Mossy Cave Trail in Bryce National Park

Water Canyon Cascade

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:23:29 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

Water Canyon cascade on the Mossy Cave Trail in Bryce National Park

Water Canyon Falls

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:23:19 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

Water Canyon Falls on the Mossy Cave Trail in Bryce National Park

Water Canyon Falls

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:23:10 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

Water Canyon Falls on the Mossy Cave Trail in Bryce National Park

Water Canyon Falls

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:23:00 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

Water Canyon Falls on the Mossy Cave Trail in Bryce National Park

Water Canyon Falls

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:22:51 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

Water Canyon Falls on the Mossy Cave Trail in Bryce National Park

Red Canyon Windows

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:22:40 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

Red Canyon is located along Scenic Byway 12, just 9 miles from Bryce Canyon. Passing through it is required to get to Bryce Canyon National Park from the west. From the east, stay on Highway 12, past the junction of highways 12 and 63 for 9 miles, to find Red Canyon. As part of Dixie National Forest, rather than a national park or monument, there are no entry fees to drive through or hike in Red Canyon.

Red Canyon Arch

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:22:30 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

Arch in Arches Trail, Red Canyon.

Bryce Point View

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:22:20 -0800

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Devils Garden Metate Arch

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:22:05 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

Although this is a small arch, it has an interesting shape. The opening has a span of 16 ft. and a height of 22 ft. It is just off the Hole-in-the-Rock road in southern Utah. On US 89 seven miles south of Panguitch, turn east on Utah 12 to the town of Escalante. Continue on through Escalante about 5 miles and turn right onto the gravel Hole-in-the-Rock road. A BLM area called The Devil's Garden (not to be confused with the one in Arches N.P.) is about 12 miles down this two-wheel-drive road (rough and washboardy). The arch is in this area and would be visible from the road were it not for the fact that the arch is down over an escarpment. This is quite a small area with interesting formations and small arches. Wander around and the arch will soon appear. The Devil's Garden sign at the entrance is quite inconspicuous.

Black Bear Cub

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:21:59 -0800

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Duck in Flowers.jpg

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:21:47 -0800

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Deer Fawn

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:21:34 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

A spotted Fawn stares off with ears up.

Great Blue Herrion

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:21:28 -0800

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Elk Grazing

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:21:16 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

A Bull Roosevelt Elk stands in a field of flowers. The Roosevelt elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti), also known as Olympic elk, is the largest of the four surviving subspecies of elk in North America.[2] They live in the rain forests of the Pacific Northwest and were introduced to Alaska's Afognak and Raspberry islands in 1928.[3][4] The desire to protect the elk was one of the primary driving forces behind the establishment of the Mount Olympus National Monument

Bull Elk

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:21:10 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

A Bull Roosevelt Elk stands in a field of flowers

Elk & Calf

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:20:51 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

Roosevelt Elk Mom and baby

Paul Gill_Grizzly Bear sitting_Zoos.tif

nobody@flickr.com (paulgillphoto) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:20:36 -0800

paulgillphoto posted a photo:

Grizzly Bear sits on a Rock near Yellowston National Park.