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Show I Times Outdoor &iheveiC3iJdat 3 Thursday, May 30 Page 20 Biryce ainiyoin) (Leaves By Kevin Young, There is no doubt that Utah's five national parks are spectacular spectacu-lar places of beauty. Each has a personality of its own. The towering tower-ing sandstone walls of Zion's Great White Throne, the orchard in the Middle of Capitol Reef. There's the knife edge ridge of , Angels Landing in Arches and the Maze district in Canyonlands. Yet for all the amazement these areas offer, nothing has the "Wow factor fac-tor of Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon National Park is in a league of its own. Other than its sandstone it shares few if any common features with its National Na-tional Park neighbors. No other park can match the unusual collection col-lection of hoodoos, formations, and sculpture that defines Bryce's character. Mormon pioneer pio-neer Ebenezer Bryce finally gave up trying to define the geology and define it as "a hell of a place to loose a cow." Even today people use metaphors to define their particular interpretation of the landscape rather than struggle to define the park in absolute terms. A Landscape in Transition Geologically speaking, Bryce Canyon really isn't a canyon but a amphitheater shaped by the forces of erosion. When the Colorado Colo-rado Plateau began to rise 16 million mil-lion years ago it created three distinct plateaus: the Markagunt (that formed Cedar Breaks), the Aquarius (that created the Table Cliffs) and the Paunsaugunt that gave birth to Bryce. Over time the Paria River gnawed its way through the Paunsaugunt exposing expos-ing the fissures, or joints, in the sandstone. As the seasons changed the freeze and melt cycle cut its maze of patterns in the sandstone creating the pillars, or hoodoos that symbolize Bryce Canyon. Even today the landscape is in transition. Over 200 temperature cycles per season etch the park's south facing aspects. An examination exami-nation of historical photos clearly shows the effects of even a decade of change, an mere fraction of a Watercotor, Roland Ue 346 N. Main St. George Quieted & Cactus Bed & Drealffasf Stay in this Historic Pioneer Home of Renowned Author, Juanita Brooks in Quiet and Comfort second in geologic time. Exploring the Park Bryce Canyon's terrain ranges from the badlands to the alpine and a well maintained road gives visitors access to nearly all the park's features. Near the North ena of the parK you'll find Fairyland Fairy-land Point, where you can use your imagination to pick shapes from the hoodoos. At the south end you can find the lofty climes of the Bristlecone Pine, a tree that began it's life as a seedling over 1,800 years ago. Between this span lies over 50 miles of hiking trails. Some trails meander along the amphitheater's amphithea-ter's lip, between scenic viewpoints. view-points. Others require a bit more effort and drop into the foundation founda-tion of the spectacular landscape. The Rim Trail is the least strenuous path in the park. Though it covers 11 miles end to end, visitors can pick up the trail at most every auto pullout. The Rim Trail's Sunrise to Sunset point section is wheelchair accessible. acces-sible. The short but strenuous Navajo Loop trail requires better conditioning condi-tioning but offers a far greater reward. Over its length the trail provides unique views of the formations for-mations that create the park's ; maze-like appearance. The trail also leads visitors down the aptly named "Wall Street" section where sheer formations rise so abruptly they nearly obscure the STOWC W Wis? 2 if. Spectacular Outdoor Musical) j Witness the Jacob Hamblin story come to life in song. music, dance, and incredible special effects in one of Americas premier amphitheaters "A story as big as the land and the pioneers who tamed it!' June 15 - Oct. 5 Monday Saturday at 8:30 pm For Ticket Information Reservations 1-800-746-9882 Cowboy Pre-show Musical Entertainment Backstage Tours Fireworks Western Style Dutch Oven Dinners Southwestern Gift Shop Family Discounts AMPHITHEATER ST GEORGE, UT sky. Hikers in search of overnight adventures will find the Under-The-Rim and Riggs Spring Loop trails to their liking. The Under-The-Rim trail covers over 22 miles of Bryce backcountry and usually takes two to three days. The Riggs Spring Loop covers nearly nine miles and works well as an extension of the Under-The-Rim trail or makes a pleasant overnight trip. Backcountry camping is limited to designated areas and requires a free back-country back-country permit, available at the Visitor Center. On any hike you should plan on carrying water. Though many hikes are short daytime temperatures tempera-tures can skyrocket during the warm summer months. Another factor visitors fre-' fre-' quently overlook is Bryce Canyon's Can-yon's altitude. Situated at the top of the plateau, Bryce's viewpoints lie between 7,700 and 9,000 feet above sea level. Visitors that keep altitude, pace, and personal limitations in mind will find their imaginations run wild in the land that will forever for-ever be in transition. Alpino District announces summer program The Alpine School District will sponsor its Summer Food Service .Program starting on June 4 at two . locations: Northridge Elementary, 1660. North 50 East, Orem; and the Alpine Life and Learning Center, Cen-ter, 1165 West 800 South, Orem. All children ages 0-18 are eligible to participate in either program. The meals are free. At the Northridge site, three meals will be served during the day: . Breakfast between 8:30-9:30 8:30-9:30 a.m.; lunch 11:40 a.m. -12:40 p.m.; and a snack 2:45-3:45 2:45-3:45 p.m. This program will serve a large number of migrant students. It will end on July 31. At the Alpine Life & Learning Learn-ing site, two meals will be served: Breakfast 8:00-9:00 a.m.; lunch 11:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. ' Further information on the program may be obtained from Alpine School District's Director of Food Service, Ilene Carter at 796-3101. Qffoe lmn the Sm ateos Newest Hotels! rtJ HBOShowtime SuitesKicthenette Pool Jacuzzi Deluxe Continental Breakfast Buffet FREE Local Phone Calls L dm J tt (DHOW OQaTQTticin) Qi ni IHStyS.(jlllitf Mill WiJ Hi FREE 24 hr. Coffee 100 Satisfaction Guaranteed St. George 53 N. River Road |