Another masterpiece. All of these places are affected by the same elements. But the composition of the earth makes all the difference. Bryce Canyon is at the northern most and highest elevation of the Colorado plateau. Again, sedimentary remains and the uplift of the plateau set the table for the earthquake instability from Ruby's Inn Overthrust Fault. The fractures produced a checkerboard pattern. The 200 days/year of freezing temperatures produce expansion/contraction that cracks the rock. Bryce is famous for its "hoo doos", spires that have a hardened rock top (eroding more slowly) than the sandstone below it. The result is a fairly spectacular mix of spires that are magical to the eyes. Once again the rangers are wonderful (recommend you attend one of their lectures if you ever get out this way). These parks offer wonderul hikes from easy to strenuous, and the stars at night are amazing.
A great shot of Bryce, reminds me of a giant natural pipe organ.
Another shot of what they call "differential erosion"
A shot at sunrise point at, you guessed it, sunrise. Lot's of people there, taking pictures.
Took a 5 mile hike down to the base of the hoodoos; quite a bit of up and down; a full 1785 feet down from the top; this is a picture from below, looking up at the hoodoos. Did this early in the morning w/plenty of water. Felt good doing it.
After the hike had to climb back up to the top via a trail called "Navajo Loop", about 1200 feet, almost straight up. In order to get back up you have to go through this slot canyon (notice the steps on the right). As evidence of the instability of the rock, this boulder was part of a landslide in summer, 2006 that closed off the slot for awhile (no one hurt). As I was down among the hoodoos I wondered where I would hide if one of these things collapsed. Probably only saw 10 people along the entire 5 mile hike.
Going up the slot
View from the top of the slot; those little specks at the bottom are hikers who have zigzagged their way down to the Navajo loop (1200 ft down). Don't mind telling you I was a little pooped coming up this thing at the end of an already strenuous 5 mile up/down hike on peekabo loop.
Don't know if you can see it; our last day at camp leaving Bryce had a thunderstorm with a double rainbow; never seen that in my life. Pretty neat. 
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