Capitol Reef N P

Located at 5530’ elevation in old fruit orchards, Fruita Campground is one of the loveliest spots imaginable.  It’s surrounded by sheer red rock cliffs on 3 sides, sage brush covered hills on the 4^th.  Deer wander through camp and graze on fallen fruit.  As anticipated, there was no cell phone service or wifi; how did we survive without it for 3 nights?

The view from our patio

 

The Castle

 

The Goosenecks, looking straight down at the Fremont River, the

modest little stream that carved a masterpiece.

 The area was farmed from 1880 through 1962.  The orchards still produce apples, pears, peaches and cherries.  Trish sliced and cooked up some of the apples with cinnamon and brown sugar, a delicious side dish to accompany the pork chops I cooked over a wood fire a couple nights back.

 

Magnificent colors abound

 

Abstract art by Mother, mineral water on sandstone.
 

 

Hickman Bridge spans 133’.
It's a little difficult to see; double tap to enlarge.

 The Reef, aka Waterpocket Fold, was formed 65 million years ago, give or take a few days.  Since then, erosion has exposed multicolored rock layers and carved numerous sundry formations.  The Fold is a 90-mile long ridge with smaller, parallel ridges here and there, and valleys in between.  The scope is so vast that you have to be in a plane high above the area to grasp the layout.  Trish said while we were on the Scenic Drive that it was like driving on the floor of the Grand Canyon, which is a good description although the GC is a much deeper cut.

 

Fern’s Nipple in center distance

Those Portland women would have surely renamed it had they been around.  
Let's see: how about Pimple Point?  Beanie Butte?  Conical Crest?