Capitol Reef was named after white-domed capitol buildings that its rock features resemble and the 100-miles of rock formations that hindered progress as a reef does in the ocean. The “reef” is actually Waterpocket Fold, a buckle in the earth’s surface where rocks have been pushed upwards and then eroded. It created stunning scenery.
This formation is the Egyptian TempleIndian PaintbrushThe walls of Capitol Gorge contain many inscriptions made by settlers, prospectors, and surveyors. This is one of the clearest–and highest–of them. It turns out that a surveying crew with student interns was working in the canyon in 1912. The students were told that erosion in the gorge was very fast. That night two surveyors climbed to the top of the gorge and one, lowered on a rope chair, chiseled these names with last year’s date, making it appear that the canyon had eroded 40 feet in one year.This is one of the most elegant inscriptions.European-Americans weren’t the first to mark their passage through Capitol Gorge as these two carvings show.
Fruita is a historic community where up to 10 Mormon families lived from about 1890 until 1937. They planted fruit and nut trees in an area that was difficult to reach but provided moderated temperatures. Fruita didn’t get its first tractor until 1940 nor electricity until 1948.
Jane’s brother Jon and Dave in front of the blacksmith shopJane’s sister-in-law Nancy and Dave walk into the Gifford House which serves as a museum and gift shop. We can attest that the mixed-berry and apple pies are incredible.
Our final stop in Capitol Reef was Goosenecks Overlook–where the curves (goosenecks) of Sulphur Creek carved a gorgeous landscape.
We finished our day in Capitol Reef and our visit with Jon and Nancy with a delicious dinner at Hunt and Gather in Torrey, Utah.
August 4, 2022 Vermont’s oldest geocache was closer to our campground near Albany, New York than our campground near Montpelier, Vermont so we treated it separately from other Vermont geocaches. Besides, it was harder to Read more…
3 Comments
Laura · May 10, 2021 at 3:59 pm
What spectacular photos! I’m jealous.
Susan · May 27, 2021 at 3:31 pm
Looks like you have had wonderful weather. Has it been. hot?
Jane Appel · May 27, 2021 at 9:27 pm
It’s expected to get above 90 next week but generally jeans have felt good and we’ve kept light jackets handy. Lots of wind!