12 of 22 – 2024 Fall Trip West Series. 9/29/24 Sunday. On our last day staying at Panguitch we visited Cedar Breaks National Monument. At over 10,000′ elevation this was the highest place we drove to (the Pikes Peak Cog Rail Train took us to over 14,000′). The scenery on the drive was spectacular with aspens in full yellow glory.
On the way we saw these young Pronghorns. I don’t think any of us had seen these before so we had to look them up to figure out what they were. Trivia: They are not antelopes or even related to them although sometimes they are called pronghorn antelopes. They are the fastest mammals in the Americas and can run 55 mph for long distances. Cheetahs are the only thing faster but for only short distances.
Cedar Breaks is a giant eroded amphitheater shaped wonderland. It is 3 miles wide and 2,000′ deep. Geologically it is at the very top height of “The Grand Staircase”. Cedar Breaks was not on the trip plan but Jennie suggested it. Not knowing anything about it made this unexpected view at the first overlook a very dramatic surprise!
Our group who traveled together from Kansas. This was our last group photo as Jennie and Roni would head back home tomorrow.
The photos just look so small. It’s sad they can’t convey the awesome magnitude of the scale and majesty of this place…
Leaving Cedar Breaks National Monument we headed down the mountain to Cedar City to get gas and find some place to eat. We had used a lot of gas getting up the mountain to Cedar Breaks and the warning light was on when we headed down. We coasted downhill so much that by the time we got to the gas station we had more ‘miles to empty’ than when we started down.
Last photo of our drive back to camp from visiting Cedar Breaks. Sorry to leave this beautiful part of the country behind as we travel to the more treeless desert of Zion tomorrow.
Becky’s Birthday flowers traveled in the RV sink on the next day’s drive from Panguitch to Hurricane.
The RV and rental car when we arrived in Hurricane, UT at the very nice WillowWind RV Park. We stayed here 5 nights.
DADart Photography 