Dinosaur National Monument, Part 2 Fantasy Canyon October 4

Tuesday morning we were both up really early. Ray headed out shortly before 7 am to catch the morning sunrise if there is one to be seen around here. 

Morning Mists

Morning Vistas

When he got back, after a quick rest, we headed out to Fantasy Canyon, about a hours drive from here. Wow the rock formations were really cool. We decided to do this drive today as some of it was on gravel, and then wash the car from all the mud from coming out of Antelope Canyon yesterday. lol

Fantasy Canyon is way out in the middle of the oil and gas fields which would make sense with all the dinosaur bones in the area.

FANTASY CANYON, Geologic Information: 

The sandstone layer in which the pinnacles, pillars, arches, and knobs of Fantasy Canyon are formed consists of ancient river channel sediments. The underlying and overlying rock layers sandwiching the sandstone layer, and creating scenic badland topography around the canyon, are finer grained floodplain deposits.

During the Eocene Epoch, 55 to 34 million years ago, the Fantasy Canyon area was at the fringe of a vast subtropical lake – Lake Uinta – that at peak level stretched from the Wasatch Plateau to western Colorado. The lake was in a drying phase and retreating westward by the end of the Eocene.

Rivers en route to the dwindling lake deposited sand, silt, and clay shed from nearby mountains. Once buried, these sediments eventually solidified into layers of sandstone, mudstone, and claystone. Collectively these rocks are a part of the Uinta Formation that spans extensive areas of the Uinta Basin and nearby Colorado.

Differences in the rate of weathering and erosion between dissimilar rock types ultimately shaped Fantasy Canyon. The mudstone and claystone have been stripped away by water and wind, leaving the slightly more durable sandstone to be carved into bizarre, melted wax-like forms.

Although the sandstone is more resistant to erosion relative to adjacent rocks, it is in fact extremely fragile. The sandstone is fine grained, porous, soft, poorly cemented, brittle, and crumbly. When touched, grains of sand dislodge from the rock surface.

This delicacy was underscored in September 2006 when “Teapot,” the centerpiece of Fantasy Canyon and the site’s most recognized and photographed stone figure, toppled from its base and shattered at the bottom of the canyon floor. The cause of Teapot’s fall remains a mystery.

One happy guy being able to take pictures of all these amazing things.

Looks like a dragon face with his body stretched out. lol

This looks like a face to me.

They seem to rise out of lump of sand.

Looks like a snail to me.

There were so many interesting shapes it's hard to pick which ones of the 175 to post. lol

These next pictures show the sedimentary layers of the rock around here.

On the way out of the gas fields we saw this guy on the side of the road.

After about an hours wandering around through the "sculptures" we headed back into Vernal for lunch at a Brew Pub, called Vernal Brewing Company. We both had the most amazing brisket burgers and choice of beers is excellent. Delicious.

Next up was getting the car washed. Ray pressured washed it down in a stall first before we went through the car wash to get rid of all the mud in the undercarriage as well. They have this dinosaur to greet you. lol Back to camp about 2:30 pm to relax for the rest of the afternoon.

After sitting a bit, Ray decided to go back out and drive the short distance to the  Historic Josie Morris Cabin while I puttered around in the coach and then sat outside enjoying the day.

The complex is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. It is where Josie Bassett Morris, a small-time rancher and occasional accused stock thief, lived until 1963. The ranch, located in Browns Park, Colorado, was established by the Bassett family in the 1870s. Josie grew up there, and through her family came to know a number of outlaws, including Butch Cassidy, who frequented the area. Morris established her own homestead on Cub Creek in Utah in 1914 with help from friends Fred McKnight and the Chew family. (Wikipedia)

Driving up to the cabin site.

Turtle Rock

Another early night. Ray is thoroughly enjoying himself and his back has been behaving. I think it's because he is not walking very far and is using his tripod a lot so no bending over. :)