tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190320212024-03-17T08:44:35.761-07:00Earthly Musings - My Travel and Geology BlogAdventure and foreign travel, philosophical and scientific musings, geology and landscapes, photography and earthly explorations.Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.comBlogger666125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-43391384049479306202024-03-17T08:33:00.004-07:002024-03-17T08:43:35.932-07:00Around the World in 24 Days - A Story of Stone - Part 4 - Luxor and Giza, Egypt<p>I'm so sorry for the delay in posting – I've actually been to Antarctica on a two-week trip and was unable to upload photos on the weak internet signal. I'm back to share these images and thoughts on visiting some of the best preserved ancient wonders anywhere on the globe!</p><p>Here I continue the story of my Around the World trip completed in January. We left the Serengeti in Tanzania and took an interesting route up to Egypt. The flight was about four hours long as Tanzania is located in east-central Africa. For some reason (and unlike other times that I've done this flight) we did not take a straight line north to fly directly over Khartoum the capital of Sudan. I was looking forward to this as Khartoum is located at the confluence of the White and Blue Nile rivers. Instead we tracked curiously to the northeast over Kenya, western Somalia, eastern Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea, then straight up the gut of the Red Sea. Yep, this is the area where the Houthi rebels are presently firing rockets at ships (none were sighted). (I found out later in asking the captain of our jet that the reason for our detour was security - apparently flying over Sudan today is deemed "risky". The detour was not unwelcome as it provided a highlight for me - flying over the <a href="Afar triangle" target="_blank">Afar triangle</a>. This is where the Arabian plate has pulled away from the African plate to form the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Afar Triangle Flyover</span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7luDJyJTH5esESxBU7sh-XQ_HdOOemK4E1n28M985B-8ArfCRqztmeRUckfDNJz1vSwrUMUyyl6rnwxLFyx95-uU6fweqM5qb89ikSjeVPjTENbN_hzCZFFtBAnq2TmRGqwvu6V8qyUIbN4ZeCoKGu26cljWjWF57SHkqAWmq5F_gIOx_Svr4dw/s1892/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20at%2011.52.58%E2%80%AFAM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1886" data-original-width="1892" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7luDJyJTH5esESxBU7sh-XQ_HdOOemK4E1n28M985B-8ArfCRqztmeRUckfDNJz1vSwrUMUyyl6rnwxLFyx95-uU6fweqM5qb89ikSjeVPjTENbN_hzCZFFtBAnq2TmRGqwvu6V8qyUIbN4ZeCoKGu26cljWjWF57SHkqAWmq5F_gIOx_Svr4dw/w640-h640/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20at%2011.52.58%E2%80%AFAM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The red line marks our flight route from Kilimanjaro to Luxor - the geology annotations are by me. Note how the<br />shape of the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula (where our red colored jet route takes a jog to the left) perfectly <br />matches the shape of the inset of the Afar triangle. This is where the Arabian plate use to attach to the African plate <br />prior to 5 Ma. Therefore, all of the solid ground shown in Afar is post-5 Ma volcanic rock that has "filled in" the <br />depression since Arabia jetted away to the </i><i>northeast </i><i>from Africa. </i>Map in the public domain and by DEMIS Mapserver.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNOLuSX6UuP7jMQM2ni7VZtNZLEzj1zCrZoRIAgO-q7yCH89ig_k5itWwBs2yxctQRX-C5AOMzpkw_NrRx5cUH3xfcYxVM9UmmL8V-r0hyphenhyphenbfv01Q1mA7Phff9BdPNwypUv4ZMmetWPdnp3pmvSUHYh28Bpd5JulJKpEuDajSKh1YuA7c9eAog_g/s4032/IMG_6346%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNOLuSX6UuP7jMQM2ni7VZtNZLEzj1zCrZoRIAgO-q7yCH89ig_k5itWwBs2yxctQRX-C5AOMzpkw_NrRx5cUH3xfcYxVM9UmmL8V-r0hyphenhyphenbfv01Q1mA7Phff9BdPNwypUv4ZMmetWPdnp3pmvSUHYh28Bpd5JulJKpEuDajSKh1YuA7c9eAog_g/w640-h360/IMG_6346%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We obtained a peek at the top of Kilimanjaro, elevation 19,341 feet and the 'Roof of Africa'<br />See my images from a trek to the top from 2014 <a href="https://earthly-musings.blogspot.com/search?q=Kilimanjaro&updated-max=2014-08-27T08:00:00-07:00&max-results=20&start=1&by-date=false" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>For all of you geography geeks I include some screen captures from an app I use called<a href="https://flyovercountry.io" target="_blank"> Flyover Country</a>. It shows your location while flying, your altitude, speed, etc. Most importantly, it shows the general geology below you on the ground. Here are three screen captures from my flight over the Afar triangle - the blue dot marks our jets location at the moment I snapped the screen capture. I was seated on the left side of the jet during this flight segment and so I could see things to the left of the blue dot - a perfect venue to observe an active tectonic landscape from 37,000 feet up! This is why I still love to fly.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpK7FijlJZwPXj89fKp7mKhKMdJuh6j8p3BQiTuneuauzxpFzn_VQLDI4Ipe0UQq-oyhWTwCr0WwdLhIlvJit39OfUh7xlAMH3pEYV3OB0vdOolEn3F9kRQXNmQI3kM4o1HQKuE9WQD9OBultuSYaQyxFFLFnW37YWuVO-uBSk8QW-alluaxCcQ/s1080/IMG_6358.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="726" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpK7FijlJZwPXj89fKp7mKhKMdJuh6j8p3BQiTuneuauzxpFzn_VQLDI4Ipe0UQq-oyhWTwCr0WwdLhIlvJit39OfUh7xlAMH3pEYV3OB0vdOolEn3F9kRQXNmQI3kM4o1HQKuE9WQD9OBultuSYaQyxFFLFnW37YWuVO-uBSk8QW-alluaxCcQ/w430-h640/IMG_6358.PNG" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKrBlJmKkYrokej3J8FPnu8ORf0rlRhrto3BcjoypidmjpidkyMYimIiM87tT6P3B_vj8_3dQfs5rDNilKGJBfAH5QuPTw7q6ntMz7EqAP_AuWgp7zfGR4DKeXgO3_w2fj_Cit7FvrhWcEl4LtZrWqMOojL6fODDEhqyQU1OFbYehBVn1mvU86A/s1440/IMG_6375.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="948" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKrBlJmKkYrokej3J8FPnu8ORf0rlRhrto3BcjoypidmjpidkyMYimIiM87tT6P3B_vj8_3dQfs5rDNilKGJBfAH5QuPTw7q6ntMz7EqAP_AuWgp7zfGR4DKeXgO3_w2fj_Cit7FvrhWcEl4LtZrWqMOojL6fODDEhqyQU1OFbYehBVn1mvU86A/w424-h640/IMG_6375.PNG" width="424" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I include (five photo's </i><i>below) a shot </i><i>of the sinuous dark gray lava flows <br />that are evident on the app here</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuC18VC4SZ4WFvifUVydHjoJDSU8yJljserh82QDx-yVnNPLJE17O0Ih2Xs9iYiLUMpvwvY2gNnDiFFdk-bWiPI0mFPCrK9-5K09okk-8uMyi0VAPBIzV5bxjbU2LPL5QK1A5G7ls4eeACX8ingoA9WaUo-06_hdo8rmprr2clASs4SIANQWpWBw/s3270/IMG_6353%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3270" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuC18VC4SZ4WFvifUVydHjoJDSU8yJljserh82QDx-yVnNPLJE17O0Ih2Xs9iYiLUMpvwvY2gNnDiFFdk-bWiPI0mFPCrK9-5K09okk-8uMyi0VAPBIzV5bxjbU2LPL5QK1A5G7ls4eeACX8ingoA9WaUo-06_hdo8rmprr2clASs4SIANQWpWBw/w640-h440/IMG_6353%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A canyon system in eastern Ethiopia</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfwUc7foAK5gwOjhpPK1s-RfbQ5IinJcY5k2Ceq3io5Yh4dNYMhcxi-yJfr4awVpdlayIFJmIwWvkl78CTZv8O1w76bEYM1Aau-n4RFkceZW3Qi2jMye2Zg_oUIz3h9kO4iymLJYQ95rMOg4XJGpUweXNKi_x5WhDvltEJYuijOkuZtxxE8gucg/s4032/IMG_6365%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfwUc7foAK5gwOjhpPK1s-RfbQ5IinJcY5k2Ceq3io5Yh4dNYMhcxi-yJfr4awVpdlayIFJmIwWvkl78CTZv8O1w76bEYM1Aau-n4RFkceZW3Qi2jMye2Zg_oUIz3h9kO4iymLJYQ95rMOg4XJGpUweXNKi_x5WhDvltEJYuijOkuZtxxE8gucg/w360-h640/IMG_6365%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Note the en echelon fault blocks of volcanic rocks on the<br />northwest edge of the Afar triangle</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTOustAKG6vpPEJvvCCA3BhWX7TSvLHHMWkbgK60TPyW05cyEu5-RsooLgB1xRoRhz3svoHJoyOtjWFIPnGSmcCOREREJYkIeNd6LFt0umAxmpuxDvEIgkKGOvUMZGOR5nMZL0r83zghMFPcQ8-EsPaEE4YyDDWgoVPZ6Oa0w2cR0PKX7r_V4rA/s5119/IMG_6368%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="5119" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTOustAKG6vpPEJvvCCA3BhWX7TSvLHHMWkbgK60TPyW05cyEu5-RsooLgB1xRoRhz3svoHJoyOtjWFIPnGSmcCOREREJYkIeNd6LFt0umAxmpuxDvEIgkKGOvUMZGOR5nMZL0r83zghMFPcQ8-EsPaEE4YyDDWgoVPZ6Oa0w2cR0PKX7r_V4rA/w640-h386/IMG_6368%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>As the Arabian plate began to pull away from Africa 5 million years ago, these blocks were faulted down and rotated</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6sceMhyphenhypheneoX8jAhYNywM69uSqiNesSVMiEPpadCBhadydGWP9Kzz6k_9YOCSCcLK5QzSqhCXL50kvwg7ZiCkrBv3M0jrXdCr-3hNzjB7iDJE-si5HHAuULRgyO4z1pfOFFDbNcT12-UMbtQUZdRiGRMYVFEaN3Lx0WWXSC-GdRLFn4OUqpMSDHg/s4032/IMG_6373%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6sceMhyphenhypheneoX8jAhYNywM69uSqiNesSVMiEPpadCBhadydGWP9Kzz6k_9YOCSCcLK5QzSqhCXL50kvwg7ZiCkrBv3M0jrXdCr-3hNzjB7iDJE-si5HHAuULRgyO4z1pfOFFDbNcT12-UMbtQUZdRiGRMYVFEaN3Lx0WWXSC-GdRLFn4OUqpMSDHg/w640-h360/IMG_6373%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Here is the volcano center and associated lava flows depicted in the </i>Flyover Country<i> app above - awesome! <br />Note the high-standing volcanic center and dark lave flows radiating out from there</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUpQn5XPm_aX-3Lw8c6SfqqeEQBnx8CYue80G74-PKSWrlYh7bMvvE0fyt2aErdSgwzwRMs4sNG5ysuY0eTfIEBk3Nvy3soltzWeHR53XhM7EwK5E_Ed03PlqGEFv_c0cyJiRHwfNL6pZKI9-QMe0HobU6IL9I039BQC-ZMeFE0n3KNUCZ-1pBQ/s3228/IMG_6381%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3228" data-original-width="2253" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUpQn5XPm_aX-3Lw8c6SfqqeEQBnx8CYue80G74-PKSWrlYh7bMvvE0fyt2aErdSgwzwRMs4sNG5ysuY0eTfIEBk3Nvy3soltzWeHR53XhM7EwK5E_Ed03PlqGEFv_c0cyJiRHwfNL6pZKI9-QMe0HobU6IL9I039BQC-ZMeFE0n3KNUCZ-1pBQ/w446-h640/IMG_6381%20copy.heic" width="446" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A lone tanker ship cruises north in the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Egypt</span></b><div><br /></div><div>Finally, on the ground in Luxor Egypt!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ys83RPr3kmlhbelQzdOCcXsyB-IwsZRdE5BPUEHyUd3SJ28yjDaqOhMTCgs9Smb7DhLa58YquC9JlliGhTrTOlBQaAJu9PIxh_Kyv4r89JkH360lvr8mYW83iyql9MZAkmLWx59Q-kLPWPTsDhbYqDSIW4t1WuGUuQ9wlBzcEci-A__g4uqVZQ/s3235/IMG_6389%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1864" data-original-width="3235" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ys83RPr3kmlhbelQzdOCcXsyB-IwsZRdE5BPUEHyUd3SJ28yjDaqOhMTCgs9Smb7DhLa58YquC9JlliGhTrTOlBQaAJu9PIxh_Kyv4r89JkH360lvr8mYW83iyql9MZAkmLWx59Q-kLPWPTsDhbYqDSIW4t1WuGUuQ9wlBzcEci-A__g4uqVZQ/w640-h370/IMG_6389%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is the Pharonic-era road to Luxor Temple excavated from beneath millennia of Nile River sedimentation.<br />The ancient road is located at least 5 meters (16 feet) below the modern city seen on the far left</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMhPmMFS4yfluAnnfRnYjPoOr-4tEQHj2LyaC7s8CkfTpMmAIocF6g4-JyiSjUP4he6nm4oYLFi2nC5Od_ucnsSWGArFqysRNPok_z-B0NA7Ro5i7zc2TZrwCV-sCJb9r16K9NxCIRd3wnRBicezIjdduZTa21IVywTNy02_7cJByunCxR-wP0A/s3172/IMG_6405%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3172" data-original-width="2041" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMhPmMFS4yfluAnnfRnYjPoOr-4tEQHj2LyaC7s8CkfTpMmAIocF6g4-JyiSjUP4he6nm4oYLFi2nC5Od_ucnsSWGArFqysRNPok_z-B0NA7Ro5i7zc2TZrwCV-sCJb9r16K9NxCIRd3wnRBicezIjdduZTa21IVywTNy02_7cJByunCxR-wP0A/w412-h640/IMG_6405%20copy.heic" width="412" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Inside the temple area, the Pharonic-era foundation was buried to the<br />bottom of the small windows. Then in the 8th century a mosque was <br />built </i><i>on top of this foundation. 20th century excavations have re-<br />exposed the ancient Egyptian foundations. This is why when <br />visiting Luxor, visitors walk below the present-day surface that sits<br />on Nile River recent sediment.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoB6PK9f2qGbsMG-F4-fiS4LChfUzO-BUK21-wwPrzi27IXNz3HVpDowl-i0wxXDMhYjavy5rQiHvceW7vlmJE5JN0ZYvdYvFZ3e_9VmVhenr_dqH13AGtRICVOuTQLE2tdRvnMXFWOeaq3CRefuwoDSiWBDzsvuggf33aKUU8JJBapoXD62Ixg/s4032/IMG_6396%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoB6PK9f2qGbsMG-F4-fiS4LChfUzO-BUK21-wwPrzi27IXNz3HVpDowl-i0wxXDMhYjavy5rQiHvceW7vlmJE5JN0ZYvdYvFZ3e_9VmVhenr_dqH13AGtRICVOuTQLE2tdRvnMXFWOeaq3CRefuwoDSiWBDzsvuggf33aKUU8JJBapoXD62Ixg/w640-h360/IMG_6396%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The entrance to Luxor Temple at sunset on January 16, 2024</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Karnak Temple in Luxor</b></span><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyMWRZFK0TAOPs6-llffX7cfmDM2OmycMxuZOafVxzZ5JINTMX-Eyb9FqAcYRJaFj-iVlGwEBWagbi8BnizL6hJ0_47QRtRwxXD1lLFyixDO46Dv1mZcxFXZtyN9EtPxTk3QwFNRXzfNEoGKq0M_T8S_765F6t7jo0alghuY7H-Ytl7B89P_WNw/s4032/IMG_6421%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyMWRZFK0TAOPs6-llffX7cfmDM2OmycMxuZOafVxzZ5JINTMX-Eyb9FqAcYRJaFj-iVlGwEBWagbi8BnizL6hJ0_47QRtRwxXD1lLFyixDO46Dv1mZcxFXZtyN9EtPxTk3QwFNRXzfNEoGKq0M_T8S_765F6t7jo0alghuY7H-Ytl7B89P_WNw/w640-h360/IMG_6421%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Statues at the entrance to Karnak Temple</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuWPuC5JziQycZ7Bsp3RzkdZFeIuatnCRXn_inQiUpxAPGkSny93ut-VMo9rFr16X296RvmtpoJiJ4qwdpXiL2rq7bbbzcdSC8PzNVo1fp02b3qbyfmiei6EKu67fzBsDTi-K_VrfclbymW_3hlYcAvO9e8Q6FoulglVE9oyo4W0Rc1Kr8pczSA/s4032/IMG_6449%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuWPuC5JziQycZ7Bsp3RzkdZFeIuatnCRXn_inQiUpxAPGkSny93ut-VMo9rFr16X296RvmtpoJiJ4qwdpXiL2rq7bbbzcdSC8PzNVo1fp02b3qbyfmiei6EKu67fzBsDTi-K_VrfclbymW_3hlYcAvO9e8Q6FoulglVE9oyo4W0Rc1Kr8pczSA/w360-h640/IMG_6449%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The obelisk at Karnak carved from Aswan Granite</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyxUIaUWgv9hea6p6rdwuqlHifW5kBlKFN0WVVu-bB_DGfePvqIm98SPBJhpDo7pmi0iqZUi6hO9eFqgn36TgSXJ_WldwPXFAGP5On59ceK2ZlGOtPKQejrZ-F9DiFt6qTEeguCchnTxeQw-12JYm7a6VqKUnJjFvr5COOdLqYB6Nvrf1rjtKZg/s3600/IMG_6451%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyxUIaUWgv9hea6p6rdwuqlHifW5kBlKFN0WVVu-bB_DGfePvqIm98SPBJhpDo7pmi0iqZUi6hO9eFqgn36TgSXJ_WldwPXFAGP5On59ceK2ZlGOtPKQejrZ-F9DiFt6qTEeguCchnTxeQw-12JYm7a6VqKUnJjFvr5COOdLqYB6Nvrf1rjtKZg/w640-h360/IMG_6451%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The granite was quarried hundreds of miles away near Aswan and transported by boat down the river. The age of the<br /> red granite is constrain to between 700 and 575 Ma, the older age representing the age of emplacement within an <br />Archean craton and the younger age as its cooling age. See a paper on this granite <a href="https://qspace.qu.edu.qa:8443/bitstream/handle/10576/9984/079010-0026-fulltext.pdf?sequence=10" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbFLEVkLDbIZt53G9Z8JL4B6jZhBN2vT7ZxZIB2UC2t-xMaLuor5oWEHt8Y4teeOuB_P8TQF_Yt6rVSrg-j7_jfGgTzIVm8zuPZ3FljfflRjkSF1xU2zFSvnz298MSuHijsd7V0iPzl2-2m10y_W5LG-clmN2a_l4Ov_pB0PkJMx0RAIq1HucAg/s5712/IMG_6466%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3213" data-original-width="5712" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbFLEVkLDbIZt53G9Z8JL4B6jZhBN2vT7ZxZIB2UC2t-xMaLuor5oWEHt8Y4teeOuB_P8TQF_Yt6rVSrg-j7_jfGgTzIVm8zuPZ3FljfflRjkSF1xU2zFSvnz298MSuHijsd7V0iPzl2-2m10y_W5LG-clmN2a_l4Ov_pB0PkJMx0RAIq1HucAg/w640-h360/IMG_6466%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A special chamber was open to us this day that held spectacular art frescoes</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwmvBLpB7-TC7Dfzh_8HuzZf9HMn8ACXaVoC0Xr9NZeMUP5ezvT1GdNYQHLlJVBp3nSoup62udn0tCNJ8d-dY7b2-woq9h9H-b8QeGlsV7YRnxX0Rz28vWzyc237FdOlz4SyMplY4r8wSwqeuRDujdLgYFPIO55e5UTQ1GQU8sfRJOKZ2qTZHWw/s3600/IMG_6473%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwmvBLpB7-TC7Dfzh_8HuzZf9HMn8ACXaVoC0Xr9NZeMUP5ezvT1GdNYQHLlJVBp3nSoup62udn0tCNJ8d-dY7b2-woq9h9H-b8QeGlsV7YRnxX0Rz28vWzyc237FdOlz4SyMplY4r8wSwqeuRDujdLgYFPIO55e5UTQ1GQU8sfRJOKZ2qTZHWw/w640-h360/IMG_6473%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The colors have survived through the millennia </i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Valley of the Kings and King Tutankhamun's Tomb</b></span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZsXo6g5EN-TXQXLjj2wu9I_umcN1fFLWhyphenhyphenquOqbKcTPLzZRGuwuTpsrg-uHmRhaaVcBwdqYzA_wHDgEydgOtk-LK0PXFxxfTE4VzeDrwjYqj4FipM2ACIvLf9t_S3eKvqq2EwOTHdeOuW8-hIuGh3tcTPM9n6QtNneY38I5m6cLNtG4-xJ798g/s3600/IMG_6492%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZsXo6g5EN-TXQXLjj2wu9I_umcN1fFLWhyphenhyphenquOqbKcTPLzZRGuwuTpsrg-uHmRhaaVcBwdqYzA_wHDgEydgOtk-LK0PXFxxfTE4VzeDrwjYqj4FipM2ACIvLf9t_S3eKvqq2EwOTHdeOuW8-hIuGh3tcTPM9n6QtNneY38I5m6cLNtG4-xJ798g/w640-h360/IMG_6492%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>On the West Bank of the Nile River, tributary streams have carved canyons called wadi's into the limestone and <br />shale rocks of the <a href="https://thebanmappingproject.com/articles/geography-and-geology-valley-kings" target="_blank">Theban Formation.</a> It is Eocene in age, about 50 Ma, and was deposited during the final stages of <br />the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tethys_Ocean#Cenozoic" target="_blank">Tethy's Sea</a>. It was in this wadi that Egyptian kings were buried in tombs cut into the limestone. Members of<br />our jet group were allowed to visit the Valley of the Kings after hours at sunset, after the throngs of tourists had <br />returned to their hotels in Luxor. We had the valley all to ourselves! I snapped this photo of the Theban Formation on <br />the drive into the valley.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn03sZMxiiImCxNDWR4aFqsZ2NJbc7DfzGXR0ZdZabkSZjzwgXR4yk-oy_DjMAgcdbfAzgP0PfjdvV582fnGj5p_FJAOmwPW1DusUnwsoK47B0dwbDnIHICHHhqa88kxLg59Ef7izmvJjx1SoSt0wXjZr4cWta7z732zg_dT39e18yCL96qW2IdQ/s4320/IMG_6493%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2430" data-original-width="4320" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn03sZMxiiImCxNDWR4aFqsZ2NJbc7DfzGXR0ZdZabkSZjzwgXR4yk-oy_DjMAgcdbfAzgP0PfjdvV582fnGj5p_FJAOmwPW1DusUnwsoK47B0dwbDnIHICHHhqa88kxLg59Ef7izmvJjx1SoSt0wXjZr4cWta7z732zg_dT39e18yCL96qW2IdQ/w640-h360/IMG_6493%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The authorities open and close various tombs at staggered intervals, to allow for a reduction in outside air in the<br />tombs. This is the entrance to one of the other tombs in the Valley of the Kings. </i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yvyZRxFYuqS6-1lAfpz8Fam2lZbxtKdxaIEqnSURud-5MuWkk6UyUfYnaY6qLPPoOYFuzImGECnDtaUWhT4KMl_Op0wmIkjBFQs_sZN2EQWbZo8WCAt8OcSRFwnCdPeIFXUdyawiLTQzfCSi3SxPmG4F0h2MFMyVO0c4Ye_4MFXP5b5AYiDAcQ/s2880/IMG_6494%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2880" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yvyZRxFYuqS6-1lAfpz8Fam2lZbxtKdxaIEqnSURud-5MuWkk6UyUfYnaY6qLPPoOYFuzImGECnDtaUWhT4KMl_Op0wmIkjBFQs_sZN2EQWbZo8WCAt8OcSRFwnCdPeIFXUdyawiLTQzfCSi3SxPmG4F0h2MFMyVO0c4Ye_4MFXP5b5AYiDAcQ/w640-h360/IMG_6494%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A painted hieroglyph inside this tomb showing a Nile River boat</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAio2m-1fUpDWd-ecIRg25UU88MhHK6uSdjzk3qYCmyKg6KX2G23G3AW-t7W5JrHmKAUpAlnKU6FupxhMMU13V5vwl1hbqYNKRpdhr9aZ4N6B_dHNrVooCWd9aElkIE0pgmji0evzoC8YEY25oXKbd_cU8Jq-5mUMl0RsN-ShfvlS4-KefyAT-A/s2638/IMG_6495%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2638" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAio2m-1fUpDWd-ecIRg25UU88MhHK6uSdjzk3qYCmyKg6KX2G23G3AW-t7W5JrHmKAUpAlnKU6FupxhMMU13V5vwl1hbqYNKRpdhr9aZ4N6B_dHNrVooCWd9aElkIE0pgmji0evzoC8YEY25oXKbd_cU8Jq-5mUMl0RsN-ShfvlS4-KefyAT-A/w640-h414/IMG_6495%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is where the king's mummy would have been, along with all of the funerary objects. Some of the tombs were<br />raided in Egyptian times, some during the time of Alexander the Great, others during the Napoleonic era.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1U_21hEkjYYC7wfYbPzCuIkP-UA7DmaTQNYIciQGuDK-fC-7cktx9DAxi6WA_-IYqaBoyZB1rnbPfVWZjFJATCTlx0sWd4hYSQza5bDs_mkItC3jRDLtEHvx3ON0Jc_zrqhMSjvztq_EQ0SdTsIsyhjozrlYhZGG-CBTdNAEK-3OfSB5j1zC7g/s4889/IMG_6500%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2987" data-original-width="4889" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1U_21hEkjYYC7wfYbPzCuIkP-UA7DmaTQNYIciQGuDK-fC-7cktx9DAxi6WA_-IYqaBoyZB1rnbPfVWZjFJATCTlx0sWd4hYSQza5bDs_mkItC3jRDLtEHvx3ON0Jc_zrqhMSjvztq_EQ0SdTsIsyhjozrlYhZGG-CBTdNAEK-3OfSB5j1zC7g/w640-h392/IMG_6500%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Entrance to Tomb KV62, the archaeological name for King Tut's tomb. Wikipedia has a great write-up of the tomb <br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_Tutankhamun" target="_blank">here</a>, explaining how the tomb was robbed twice shortly after the young king's death but then repaired with many<br /> funerary objects replaced. The tombs for Ramesses V and VI were later built just to the west of this and spoil from <br />these excavations further hid the entrance to KV62. It was not discovered in modern times by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Carter" target="_blank">Howard Carter</a> <br />until 1922! </i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs99ZbtBUTZuFb6JaumE5Ua4xpokBdwPuv-4gbEvsGvljMgxyuFjngRi9UIscdTEkTEtyxZ3mN1fvpaPlwgh4IzxB12FNQ_FB55-CC3Cnsb4_X6Cv1RkRVOQPdnByY-3G8BFCv9kkI6l3KGiRKJf0vEgOyfM0UROJHRj-9UN1_iS6TaonDAAJO_A/s5040/IMG_6501%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="5040" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs99ZbtBUTZuFb6JaumE5Ua4xpokBdwPuv-4gbEvsGvljMgxyuFjngRi9UIscdTEkTEtyxZ3mN1fvpaPlwgh4IzxB12FNQ_FB55-CC3Cnsb4_X6Cv1RkRVOQPdnByY-3G8BFCv9kkI6l3KGiRKJf0vEgOyfM0UROJHRj-9UN1_iS6TaonDAAJO_A/w640-h360/IMG_6501%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is the real King Tut, close-up and personal, still lying inside his tomb. I was actually shocked to see the young <br />king present here - he must have been "on tour" in an exhibit the last time I was in here. I do not recall seeing <br />this before.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_ttN08dAfpxqM51R9P9Jni2zWWU4xYqgrdBo8V5YWLsNbWNG9Tszrxbgg4B_UaErVHE3S6a9IJOlj08oQVPZ-UQM2JnmmdMWlGvb8VQsx_zpqcdZIc4aadP6MTLt1i6jKSrto80N1-Tihb5MWhaBCl0bhjpucxPp9wJ-m_dCLxVIr1p6-M1EGg/s5712/IMG_6507%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5712" data-original-width="3213" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_ttN08dAfpxqM51R9P9Jni2zWWU4xYqgrdBo8V5YWLsNbWNG9Tszrxbgg4B_UaErVHE3S6a9IJOlj08oQVPZ-UQM2JnmmdMWlGvb8VQsx_zpqcdZIc4aadP6MTLt1i6jKSrto80N1-Tihb5MWhaBCl0bhjpucxPp9wJ-m_dCLxVIr1p6-M1EGg/w360-h640/IMG_6507%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I did not tickle his feet but was tempted...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0YWjMOMFm1GBHsxg_QYQJxdzqpWVHkKqu7NNl75fq9ongJIEvfwNMrvTs9qxY2uGtBu_xkKodN8pSpEsE4azh0bmalJtbNH7ExTwD-Gcyaf_5gZgHIVKT86Xe5cg5ADmMcgrF_z3pO8a8o0xDkq7WFlQ2LK35yMSBSgDblClxtsC1LMIqa7Opw/s4032/IMG_6510%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0YWjMOMFm1GBHsxg_QYQJxdzqpWVHkKqu7NNl75fq9ongJIEvfwNMrvTs9qxY2uGtBu_xkKodN8pSpEsE4azh0bmalJtbNH7ExTwD-Gcyaf_5gZgHIVKT86Xe5cg5ADmMcgrF_z3pO8a8o0xDkq7WFlQ2LK35yMSBSgDblClxtsC1LMIqa7Opw/w640-h360/IMG_6510%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Self portrait inside the tomb</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXogI8rbwNgoIOFRZGS_VcideqD-HytZjC2lIGzRuApl-n06w7pC0FvqCkJBttlMSz2gwexwr49YlC-enJfDFueyVC7cusPN-vcU5fKnpRSb-AOw0HbCEoC1uNMRmYuS-4KMnBoHtecujUHMOs6BoT-2Z7nY3CrQzPmH3SdZJLhyphenhyphenZaAM5ykqueMQ/s4032/IMG_6518%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXogI8rbwNgoIOFRZGS_VcideqD-HytZjC2lIGzRuApl-n06w7pC0FvqCkJBttlMSz2gwexwr49YlC-enJfDFueyVC7cusPN-vcU5fKnpRSb-AOw0HbCEoC1uNMRmYuS-4KMnBoHtecujUHMOs6BoT-2Z7nY3CrQzPmH3SdZJLhyphenhyphenZaAM5ykqueMQ/w640-h360/IMG_6518%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The east wall of the tomb. This was an excellent visit to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>What a fantastic visit this was to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings. But we were not done with Egypt just yet. After two nights in Luxor, we rebounded our jet and made a day stop in Cairo to visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. That's right - a 90-minute flight to Cairo, then seven hours on the ground in Cairo, then our six hour flight to Morocco, which will be the last posting for this trip.<div><br /><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Giza and the Sphinx</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Again, seated on the left side of the jet, I was able to obtain some great views of the Nile River valley from the air. It was a perfect morning for flying!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M69xryh9DH6ML1W23x-1f6zm7RLkV7Xs4AI1b9CayWJ_47_v5urUR8S1oqL3SSreBq0j2Di442mTWeOCAS48HY1nbvPK6sx-aSqZz_MA22XYhYE0OvohZ4cEQkwkD2Y7xaDQBoNHK9DSyiiBwVCu9E5ksyZl8VMT_bsNGlDiU0CL29MWMvcDGA/s4032/IMG_6547%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M69xryh9DH6ML1W23x-1f6zm7RLkV7Xs4AI1b9CayWJ_47_v5urUR8S1oqL3SSreBq0j2Di442mTWeOCAS48HY1nbvPK6sx-aSqZz_MA22XYhYE0OvohZ4cEQkwkD2Y7xaDQBoNHK9DSyiiBwVCu9E5ksyZl8VMT_bsNGlDiU0CL29MWMvcDGA/w640-h360/IMG_6547%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>View to the southwest rising out of Luxor. The plateau of Egypt's Western Desert is on the horizon and the wadi's that<br />hold the tombs in the Valley of the Kings can bee seen slicing back into the plateau. In the Eocene, this part of Africa<br />was inundated in the final stages of the Tethy's Ocean.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqyeoID1CdMa2O052fJsqjS1dDm4-RHiCT1EKCkvoMHICzgzXXa7-MHnFHpx26PePxxu5n_mh5HH-ZCP6V-lRbyqdQmPScuIhaml-Rgf88mWpC49B-0VtcNHT50Q65hGpnemXxku1UKyAYqquDEY4Byy0LT4lY0qeSgsEquZV0T0BhaqKJXcs1g/s3886/IMG_6549%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2186" data-original-width="3886" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqyeoID1CdMa2O052fJsqjS1dDm4-RHiCT1EKCkvoMHICzgzXXa7-MHnFHpx26PePxxu5n_mh5HH-ZCP6V-lRbyqdQmPScuIhaml-Rgf88mWpC49B-0VtcNHT50Q65hGpnemXxku1UKyAYqquDEY4Byy0LT4lY0qeSgsEquZV0T0BhaqKJXcs1g/w640-h360/IMG_6549%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>View to the south toward Luxor of the Nile River valley</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigg_8XNK4jB35BuxFuw6aaVFatFrjIe4LGoqJlh8_Wfh4JYIkL5oEoiSlXMGU7b0vOWKPZbVMWNpGzaazfo4AF7IKlZaJTLkAbh2CxF96SjUFaLhrswUbiA55clT37vscOkUgjcmoR1Hk8V9m1Wc2VhW-vMK7pJyZ-qoqeTmypBms1WbxfvgJdPQ/s5712/IMG_6553%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3213" data-original-width="5712" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigg_8XNK4jB35BuxFuw6aaVFatFrjIe4LGoqJlh8_Wfh4JYIkL5oEoiSlXMGU7b0vOWKPZbVMWNpGzaazfo4AF7IKlZaJTLkAbh2CxF96SjUFaLhrswUbiA55clT37vscOkUgjcmoR1Hk8V9m1Wc2VhW-vMK7pJyZ-qoqeTmypBms1WbxfvgJdPQ/w640-h360/IMG_6553%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Prior to 1964, when the High Aswan Dam was completed on the Nile River, everything you see in green was subject<br />to the annual flood of the Nile River. These floods are what nourished Egyptian high culture as the fertile silt of the <br />Nile refreshed the growing area of the floodplain. The source of these floods was an enigma to the Egyptians as<br />the floods came in June and lasted until August - a typically very dry time in Egypt. However, it was the snow melt<br />from the Ruwenzori Mountains in Ethiopia that were the source of these floods. <a href="https://archive.aramcoworld.com/issue/200603/the.last.nile.flood.htm" target="_blank">Check out this article</a> from Saudi <br />Aramco Magazine (May/June, 2006) by John Feeney that describes the very last flood in 1964 to inundate the Nile. <br />I developed a short lecture for our guests on the jet about this final flood. </i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYdQ7qHp_DeAeM1e28CXpGG05wLzUIhuW532DX5i2qX7HgqXxRf4dsjzlszBo67REVSvwKVhlSX9wRLLfvUm4qhjeJ3VYBy5RKOWaVbypOO7rS1QPf-erHDvd3paPGMV8KBPXNVAHQ6BFdEP325S0D2bWsTne3AP7o0KQ8RUG5TKK7J3cyhPfSQ/s4032/IMG_6560%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYdQ7qHp_DeAeM1e28CXpGG05wLzUIhuW532DX5i2qX7HgqXxRf4dsjzlszBo67REVSvwKVhlSX9wRLLfvUm4qhjeJ3VYBy5RKOWaVbypOO7rS1QPf-erHDvd3paPGMV8KBPXNVAHQ6BFdEP325S0D2bWsTne3AP7o0KQ8RUG5TKK7J3cyhPfSQ/w640-h360/IMG_6560%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Landing in smoggy Cairo - nearly 23 million people and growing like a weed! In 1950, its population was 2.5 million.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso8dtTmXT3HHqAsulRrvbnPosmZtwfYbVwMrvFA99rFYeiy7o-MQHIPRgRuyuTpNglwSWNXTNN0rGV-LOBAWn5NLokN6esE4X-Vp5U2r82wfXO_UYaRmbFzKVWKLXnfVdIax_s098YqFHn2SBok0f-9rYyZk1PheV-ekPfAdRvag9d9bupLZ1Eg/s3550/IMG_6561%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2189" data-original-width="3550" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso8dtTmXT3HHqAsulRrvbnPosmZtwfYbVwMrvFA99rFYeiy7o-MQHIPRgRuyuTpNglwSWNXTNN0rGV-LOBAWn5NLokN6esE4X-Vp5U2r82wfXO_UYaRmbFzKVWKLXnfVdIax_s098YqFHn2SBok0f-9rYyZk1PheV-ekPfAdRvag9d9bupLZ1Eg/w640-h396/IMG_6561%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We hardly ever pull into a jetway at airports since our jet will be grounded for our typical stay of two or three <br />nights. Even for the seven hour stop, we got to disembark on the tarmac and bus to the terminal.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqZSgC7zmozlm8BXu6K10P36fX2tGgvNHyqhnf0nAdykL-eBEEcL43-UwFt_LiyV-dahtSB7g_Zv4ZhAvc5Jy0Jr-wSj35XruUOA7JAFt2bzidlygUO9amJ48WUh4PwvIopih4spelJYejvz5Va-flETp1L0Qe9V6sybJvRZ2iLRxJJeGqIzzeg/s5712/IMG_6565%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3213" data-original-width="5712" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqZSgC7zmozlm8BXu6K10P36fX2tGgvNHyqhnf0nAdykL-eBEEcL43-UwFt_LiyV-dahtSB7g_Zv4ZhAvc5Jy0Jr-wSj35XruUOA7JAFt2bzidlygUO9amJ48WUh4PwvIopih4spelJYejvz5Va-flETp1L0Qe9V6sybJvRZ2iLRxJJeGqIzzeg/w640-h360/IMG_6565%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Egypt's GDP is 10% related to international tourism and so the government is proactive to insure the safety of<br />visitors. many of our guests wondered if it was safe to visit since we had armed guards following us on the one hour<br />drive from the airport on Cairos far east side to Giza on the far west side. I snapped this photo from our van.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUE_0g5hO_nMl5DnBH91DsGd4gaAdVeLYqj-attnvUHTGIfLoUOdeO55TB0V7zZ7hwXPl-Yv8zMjCgp97pCH1MoLod9qXO0hD_MZ8_m1c3k5GSteZ2wMpupvFWQzF6AZCiUzrJak7C810vXKmUyMf0ZAoGzT-xV85w2TM7yq5X6xslrRmOYyczQ/s4032/IMG_6573%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUE_0g5hO_nMl5DnBH91DsGd4gaAdVeLYqj-attnvUHTGIfLoUOdeO55TB0V7zZ7hwXPl-Yv8zMjCgp97pCH1MoLod9qXO0hD_MZ8_m1c3k5GSteZ2wMpupvFWQzF6AZCiUzrJak7C810vXKmUyMf0ZAoGzT-xV85w2TM7yq5X6xslrRmOYyczQ/w640-h360/IMG_6573%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>On the ground at the Great Pyramids of Giza! They are truly astounding.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3x0y7LfiHBvKoU9BzjkRS_83WwkHw4H1av2dXj8kMV-Zk2gHb_64pzEHs-YP4R7GBn_HgLlnHsDkUWDEXF4hC8enGHb0brKbCOPhvQK0tjiXm4utNF36P3tVUqNLrOGd4cCyrdHiPhsO5-bFVHn_V1Q-GoavY0yp8zM9pHAF2RO5fXm9c0QDoGA/s4032/IMG_6596%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3x0y7LfiHBvKoU9BzjkRS_83WwkHw4H1av2dXj8kMV-Zk2gHb_64pzEHs-YP4R7GBn_HgLlnHsDkUWDEXF4hC8enGHb0brKbCOPhvQK0tjiXm4utNF36P3tVUqNLrOGd4cCyrdHiPhsO5-bFVHn_V1Q-GoavY0yp8zM9pHAF2RO5fXm9c0QDoGA/w640-h360/IMG_6596%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>But the highlight of this particular visit for me would be our visit to the Sphinx, which I have seen many times before<br />but never like we did on this day, January 18. Note the platform to the left of the Sphinx - this is where visitors <br />typicallyview the monumental statue. However, we were able to utilize the walkway shown on the right to descend <br />right down to the giant figure.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4oTdRPlhqo4TPCi78pRiMtmMykiYYiJep3tSyX9ZJiELsObq65oRmkhyphenhyphenGOmOCZBUJHyWt6I7e4ga8SCVHKNod7KAZHfxSFOvVik5dhe4kBl69f5WLONukwHFSv7U2njb81_7N45T4l8BZShGVmN8aIUXQ6NaIN30PAJ6Li04k9ZQeBcPjg1vpg/s4032/IMG_6600%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4oTdRPlhqo4TPCi78pRiMtmMykiYYiJep3tSyX9ZJiELsObq65oRmkhyphenhyphenGOmOCZBUJHyWt6I7e4ga8SCVHKNod7KAZHfxSFOvVik5dhe4kBl69f5WLONukwHFSv7U2njb81_7N45T4l8BZShGVmN8aIUXQ6NaIN30PAJ6Li04k9ZQeBcPjg1vpg/w640-h360/IMG_6600%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Close-up of the Sphinx, the oldest known monumental structure in all of Egypt, dating to about 2500 BCE (Before<br />the Common Era or what used to be called BC - Before Christ). The Sphinx therefore is about 4500 years old!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2Qgcx8MWKGs0R3F8tzsu5ugTpft1idSa6G43wc8_Pm2NnuTQl2hIR4d-ZtA0rMqKs5TXCSN0sCv-YR2BeJvDVkQSP944QTCVB8m4ha2WlqeoFkbVZ7H-xcW1UYg0zDkXtgD2B9o6iIg_9gHcO1W76v8OtFHhhM8QR8-_HKUbtTxh7mAaBBU7ig/s5712/IMG_6603%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3213" data-original-width="5712" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2Qgcx8MWKGs0R3F8tzsu5ugTpft1idSa6G43wc8_Pm2NnuTQl2hIR4d-ZtA0rMqKs5TXCSN0sCv-YR2BeJvDVkQSP944QTCVB8m4ha2WlqeoFkbVZ7H-xcW1UYg0zDkXtgD2B9o6iIg_9gHcO1W76v8OtFHhhM8QR8-_HKUbtTxh7mAaBBU7ig/w640-h360/IMG_6603%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our visit included a lecture </i><u>between the paws of the Sphinx</u><i> from famed Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass. What a treat!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLns15cDtk2KO-wKQnpTzqcuh2EJmYTaeNV5elaX3df-cpJGDJ1DYFTuJtC8-9trdN3eUEqA7j5SHko4R7GsC7de_2Jumk6aAqwpuAP14kugEIbYMfqkNzcbfjBz6OnyYhOe5lQ8FXbfTjEolm8tKjF-T9eM9F7AiXmHlmIu8hcobagSvlpvWyHQ/s5712/IMG_6606%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3213" data-original-width="5712" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLns15cDtk2KO-wKQnpTzqcuh2EJmYTaeNV5elaX3df-cpJGDJ1DYFTuJtC8-9trdN3eUEqA7j5SHko4R7GsC7de_2Jumk6aAqwpuAP14kugEIbYMfqkNzcbfjBz6OnyYhOe5lQ8FXbfTjEolm8tKjF-T9eM9F7AiXmHlmIu8hcobagSvlpvWyHQ/w640-h360/IMG_6606%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Views like this are not normally obtained, unless one is with a special group</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPO20s7pLm6HsplkwTUCJOZtJ64ciAk5tSMj9pwHaow8N1m2KwgtbB1N2JVV4rE2xzPenNEithgsPPG0wcJ1VjhzHC93j0kV9QsuRErg-MFXDLIHzzGM4DgowI_FOMBgHQSyh-3T5ve6cVaqGNQeu250UJiWtEKnS0r2Jvu1V2UH6mUnulAHlyw/s3434/IMG_6608%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2083" data-original-width="3434" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPO20s7pLm6HsplkwTUCJOZtJ64ciAk5tSMj9pwHaow8N1m2KwgtbB1N2JVV4rE2xzPenNEithgsPPG0wcJ1VjhzHC93j0kV9QsuRErg-MFXDLIHzzGM4DgowI_FOMBgHQSyh-3T5ve6cVaqGNQeu250UJiWtEKnS0r2Jvu1V2UH6mUnulAHlyw/w640-h388/IMG_6608%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The lecture venue</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VL9r3W4MeMGzL8T7Pz1Smfq0w6ST01K68yYB7xbeRETqJbnAHLdi1jvsQEMgG-GQgKfQH7uvmOG_vG63cwjaoilTW41QGhEyd64anonNJWSbDN92DU-iRUxdGNrf1bdjbC5F4dkjbFjdfOXnV1o52kfkXiJltjRGziLx-BMiOqA_WNDn5jjDgw/s4032/IMG_6633%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VL9r3W4MeMGzL8T7Pz1Smfq0w6ST01K68yYB7xbeRETqJbnAHLdi1jvsQEMgG-GQgKfQH7uvmOG_vG63cwjaoilTW41QGhEyd64anonNJWSbDN92DU-iRUxdGNrf1bdjbC5F4dkjbFjdfOXnV1o52kfkXiJltjRGziLx-BMiOqA_WNDn5jjDgw/w640-h360/IMG_6633%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rare view of the Sphinx - what a special day to experience this. After the lecture, I approached Dr. Hawass and told<br />him I was from Flagstaff. His eyes light up and he smiled - "Oh, I gave a lecture in Flagstaff and loved that place!" <br />Of course, I knew this because 18 months earlier I had attended his lecture as the Keynote Address of the Flagstaff <br />Festival of Science.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFHBJl18FpHS00z5ZdUHgnqLS_9EavjgSH0EZ6FvJk8tIYME6A3IdeR92ZCiKsbNcItfDG-0C4z8H4Md0ZtiijSMyYz9P2Mk8L6Ev2MY1DOdXzEoTENq6zFZ1hD5TtQ3Ez2trJmaSLhWBKvD7gYXaBu56CkEzA-7BwX9PYualvt-DISx7kfJW9w/s4032/IMG_6641%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFHBJl18FpHS00z5ZdUHgnqLS_9EavjgSH0EZ6FvJk8tIYME6A3IdeR92ZCiKsbNcItfDG-0C4z8H4Md0ZtiijSMyYz9P2Mk8L6Ev2MY1DOdXzEoTENq6zFZ1hD5TtQ3Ez2trJmaSLhWBKvD7gYXaBu56CkEzA-7BwX9PYualvt-DISx7kfJW9w/w640-h360/IMG_6641%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A view from the southwest of the Great Pyramids of Giza</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagJ4LhUd4_XWFuSiqTFbKgG_Bx8IAnOmfv5iX_zDC6vpkH271LEIbbfKdgJUR75eQtzSTCRDDvHCPma5NU5zfHmyWVpKcZfGa07yVopPTUNb2SxEvnLunUR_i9Uo-kzpRDp5pOMdrl4Lkpk3QUs4lAAFivTXoTUc-uL47nCUEXlAyms-JF6s4Cg/s3503/IMG_6648%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1994" data-original-width="3503" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagJ4LhUd4_XWFuSiqTFbKgG_Bx8IAnOmfv5iX_zDC6vpkH271LEIbbfKdgJUR75eQtzSTCRDDvHCPma5NU5zfHmyWVpKcZfGa07yVopPTUNb2SxEvnLunUR_i9Uo-kzpRDp5pOMdrl4Lkpk3QUs4lAAFivTXoTUc-uL47nCUEXlAyms-JF6s4Cg/w640-h364/IMG_6648%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>View to the northwest</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYN3IMK9ILgqDFTGmncVjoaqJnt_GdRECKS2cPCJaBCRhp6mHPe2SYaVNsx5zVnQoAb3elPWx_VbLdGFhm7L73wy3qZp1mVIu4RTvf1G_bpVnyDp7Ga8MJv8iIsqzOLOlQlXRnL8jyQNp1ZgMYAQu2ORUcGirSz1OC2ep1aS_3YpIbiVNnXZSDmw/s4315/IMG_6652%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3029" data-original-width="4315" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYN3IMK9ILgqDFTGmncVjoaqJnt_GdRECKS2cPCJaBCRhp6mHPe2SYaVNsx5zVnQoAb3elPWx_VbLdGFhm7L73wy3qZp1mVIu4RTvf1G_bpVnyDp7Ga8MJv8iIsqzOLOlQlXRnL8jyQNp1ZgMYAQu2ORUcGirSz1OC2ep1aS_3YpIbiVNnXZSDmw/w640-h452/IMG_6652%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Desert skies, even on the edge of 23 million people, are magical!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZe-aJZSyJLeIeHKoAZ3SjI-LJ5UWa1k6sEsyXPejsmladGYqdIZjfgEWvBNWL1JGg4O7WZGgMcGT3wuNUz8RDrkyrPnKf8PFYqISKsIzBq69hQOX0Z4r_tlh0A0fNcfEWrlU32lUW3QLaQWQ-XJjf3r7VrAMdYqFkXsKiP5TxblPI4i_JiwvftQ/s2957/IMG_6664%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1953" data-original-width="2957" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZe-aJZSyJLeIeHKoAZ3SjI-LJ5UWa1k6sEsyXPejsmladGYqdIZjfgEWvBNWL1JGg4O7WZGgMcGT3wuNUz8RDrkyrPnKf8PFYqISKsIzBq69hQOX0Z4r_tlh0A0fNcfEWrlU32lUW3QLaQWQ-XJjf3r7VrAMdYqFkXsKiP5TxblPI4i_JiwvftQ/w640-h424/IMG_6664%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leaving Egypt after our day in Giza, a day I will not soon forget! Join me next week as I do my final post from this <br />Around the World trip, this time from Marrakech Morocco! Thanks for reading this far!</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-57823814613722156312024-02-25T16:24:00.010-07:002024-02-27T08:20:50.984-07:00Around the World in 24 Days - A Story of Stone - Part 3 - The Serengeti<p>Leaving India, we flew right over the Mumbai megapolis and a much large expanse of the Indian Ocean. Many hours later, the east coast of the African continent came into our view. We were on our way to the marvelous Serengeti National Park in Tanzania</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupcyyoB9-WXLxmm2yVGTD3j-SBeezzDct6MIZ_c7ZrZN3rvYtoOHVXatpZlI0Yrll-JBTNZ1Pfg-S8p5W4DlI2I4zlga6XtTScGpNu3_2KJR7H_TK-kRqtvUSLV4Zcjg3mScTFdPpvY_DF0fKb9ZaR30idGdkxt3jU-KNO6S5xjgAqE4w5ywIJg/s5712/IMG_6091%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3213" data-original-width="5712" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupcyyoB9-WXLxmm2yVGTD3j-SBeezzDct6MIZ_c7ZrZN3rvYtoOHVXatpZlI0Yrll-JBTNZ1Pfg-S8p5W4DlI2I4zlga6XtTScGpNu3_2KJR7H_TK-kRqtvUSLV4Zcjg3mScTFdPpvY_DF0fKb9ZaR30idGdkxt3jU-KNO6S5xjgAqE4w5ywIJg/w640-h360/IMG_6091%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the east coast of Somalia just north of Mogadishu. It is quite arid. It's always fun to walk up and down the aisle <br />of the jet and tell folks what can be seen out the window. Whenever mention "Cuba" <br />"Somalia" or "Iran", they gasp and wonder if it is safe.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvZAgWJ7Y0ej-bFVHA6VHnhnU3VSc06esi2qMpifuKM3CyH_ksyubZWxhR7QR5uK5_UFX2eJVR84K14L1fLnDWVcrgX2I6LDiEl_yotY5h-PpKSmOVAJW_IdFAtnhy9MyOKxhRfSCJFY4fqcbwpstuDeIaTNr-HF15gvcfqb2VuHbAFx69SrEjw/s4032/IMG_6345%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvZAgWJ7Y0ej-bFVHA6VHnhnU3VSc06esi2qMpifuKM3CyH_ksyubZWxhR7QR5uK5_UFX2eJVR84K14L1fLnDWVcrgX2I6LDiEl_yotY5h-PpKSmOVAJW_IdFAtnhy9MyOKxhRfSCJFY4fqcbwpstuDeIaTNr-HF15gvcfqb2VuHbAFx69SrEjw/w640-h360/IMG_6345%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top of Mount Kilimanjaro! See my postings of a trek we did in 2014 <a href="https://earthly-musings.blogspot.com/2014/08/running-out-of-ground-trekking-to-roof_9.html" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPu3a45bo6Ua_Xcj7ed66oa2LaDFMuvfZYn4pJpLIbYKaO3wNse4XRsbIBepLuVKb4kpbs21KwpnbiEiieXyiAwCxmCwuXLbBwE4wBVg_m76ZUkurzKcA5h0S81ae8w22-OnL1IsMODnMjbItmp_F4FeRqaIT0gj4B63XB7iWiidCNRb8Azrug7g/s4032/IMG_6104%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPu3a45bo6Ua_Xcj7ed66oa2LaDFMuvfZYn4pJpLIbYKaO3wNse4XRsbIBepLuVKb4kpbs21KwpnbiEiieXyiAwCxmCwuXLbBwE4wBVg_m76ZUkurzKcA5h0S81ae8w22-OnL1IsMODnMjbItmp_F4FeRqaIT0gj4B63XB7iWiidCNRb8Azrug7g/w640-h360/IMG_6104%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was exceptionally rainy in the Serengeti on this visit - usually this happens during an El Niño event</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9QSweZcvSq2p48smeHbbb-2Gvq7saZpAOtdxC8X54s4IhIMO8JIsuHCknPnj9RhWjY8YTXKO_37nK3p35oijAZkUyNKhrHWLcib0DdW99F0s_EVRvnkaWzCczqdCSgf9tMmE2dEb7cbWAAzEERcWu59Q6m9IlH2XI-RnEbcyA4FlDVueTjTLlg/s4032/IMG_6100%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9QSweZcvSq2p48smeHbbb-2Gvq7saZpAOtdxC8X54s4IhIMO8JIsuHCknPnj9RhWjY8YTXKO_37nK3p35oijAZkUyNKhrHWLcib0DdW99F0s_EVRvnkaWzCczqdCSgf9tMmE2dEb7cbWAAzEERcWu59Q6m9IlH2XI-RnEbcyA4FlDVueTjTLlg/w640-h360/IMG_6100%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giraffes! Called "twiga" in the Swahili language, they are graceful creatures </td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl_I9HviAafQPXu_L4LwWb0kj6yCB10R2dVuBBXeihSS_aiR8yvC-z-fRMXBBlnIE28kbCtnfVvs7K6TRDLp0s-JWU9dqBmNkNpDtimr2qkIq6GokT35QOaVjgyxETaf4qRxtWeTFpWAjf2jDP1GUEnELkpHEoKi6PWEWz5faAeBkkCBjEFsaBA/s2309/IMG_6113%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2309" data-original-width="2071" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl_I9HviAafQPXu_L4LwWb0kj6yCB10R2dVuBBXeihSS_aiR8yvC-z-fRMXBBlnIE28kbCtnfVvs7K6TRDLp0s-JWU9dqBmNkNpDtimr2qkIq6GokT35QOaVjgyxETaf4qRxtWeTFpWAjf2jDP1GUEnELkpHEoKi6PWEWz5faAeBkkCBjEFsaBA/w574-h640/IMG_6113%20copy.heic" width="574" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've never seen so many on one trip as we did this time</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLijLzpTbKmKyp2IqjzpbztQ1k2XY40TdQSmHXFw-AA7i9SDnWyUGE9CrgEHCG0ki9rsNSbmH10PvBzkhDZo2d7imXbO9locigbxTO0J1yAQ_BXzjOA_cMKe7bB7czVC_tVwlI0zxAysvEFX-5TzgnPoH8NMXKjOAAH5BZ4q1LcjQLdD9bZ8coA/s4032/IMG_6129%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLijLzpTbKmKyp2IqjzpbztQ1k2XY40TdQSmHXFw-AA7i9SDnWyUGE9CrgEHCG0ki9rsNSbmH10PvBzkhDZo2d7imXbO9locigbxTO0J1yAQ_BXzjOA_cMKe7bB7czVC_tVwlI0zxAysvEFX-5TzgnPoH8NMXKjOAAH5BZ4q1LcjQLdD9bZ8coA/w640-h360/IMG_6129%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stones! This is an example of a kopje, granite knobs that rise out of the plain. Kopje is a Dutch word that means <br />"little heads". These rocks are part of the craton (ancient core) of East Africa and are Archean in<br />age- about 2.5 to 3.0 billion years in age.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UCS17s2sWSCz5dopQk1HOYgWjgDhWDPcLqpCV6JTDSGzcYWSbc9_7fNLimcaQMP81MuDc7lDKfuI9rVHKOWwJVz-BTVBP0Lyzq5Maq_iHpFTj-SHbSeijfKLzPV8ev6UMUUbTrME34sS9ZRaoZHceVyGrxiOp_gQVK_yI_dDZTs0q-n4Ha9dSA/w640-h360/IMG_6284%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stones! The granite was intruded in to pre-existing rocks called schist and gneiss</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3nJ4Ph2zrTLFfBWbj1Tt9dJBPO9S-65DoVc7ZH9z3fMzP0nfU77eWE9GbwJyQ3d4Q8tKE5u0-daKHIg76KpRATGwpFS65fSlkMaufvAy7c2aYIUhUiqSS06aOD8WsKfZ3y5xswFMCdVvNEhGFvYd7oWDoQvG-x8VzJOZojQ00Kico4XxTNBNLw/s1690/IMG_6328%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1690" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3nJ4Ph2zrTLFfBWbj1Tt9dJBPO9S-65DoVc7ZH9z3fMzP0nfU77eWE9GbwJyQ3d4Q8tKE5u0-daKHIg76KpRATGwpFS65fSlkMaufvAy7c2aYIUhUiqSS06aOD8WsKfZ3y5xswFMCdVvNEhGFvYd7oWDoQvG-x8VzJOZojQ00Kico4XxTNBNLw/w640-h384/IMG_6328%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of courser, Tanzania is known for its Tanzanite gems, mined at a small quarry near Arusha</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9TYxaXTpRfOz1IT0Pu_YAaDIZQ6j1oHZa9DxY4OlYVI5siffV7OSQwDXq-03oe2LsfHo0Vzd3GGz9c_ax4zz5LJ_GL9h5RqJ84qbuCovpa-FB6IR_1x-qcNa32Cm0Rvh2E2f9dpFdZPGwVMdleYJYeh72yIMm0_CBALTa9vgNvRU-pn3mijnAw/s2035/IMG_6133%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2035" data-original-width="1359" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9TYxaXTpRfOz1IT0Pu_YAaDIZQ6j1oHZa9DxY4OlYVI5siffV7OSQwDXq-03oe2LsfHo0Vzd3GGz9c_ax4zz5LJ_GL9h5RqJ84qbuCovpa-FB6IR_1x-qcNa32Cm0Rvh2E2f9dpFdZPGwVMdleYJYeh72yIMm0_CBALTa9vgNvRU-pn3mijnAw/w428-h640/IMG_6133%20copy.heic" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not all of the wildlife here is large. This is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrax" target="_blank">Hyrax</a>, a relative of elephants!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7w25eF3zT1PkOSsXhmj_h49mhe4Zubq4-7kpd9GqG_G-SHbaOlK-LFI1JhodUlo7GMF0D6c8mCuI_gkdxTXqS6iJ8xrmHS-wFJCTwnn6traFb3-UEEzMnE9DlZ5nIYcelq4PSv0t0kooaJJMHIwQbK99rDFgn9R5NCgIK6lEiVS2I1ELfPqCryA/s2288/IMG_6148%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1294" data-original-width="2288" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7w25eF3zT1PkOSsXhmj_h49mhe4Zubq4-7kpd9GqG_G-SHbaOlK-LFI1JhodUlo7GMF0D6c8mCuI_gkdxTXqS6iJ8xrmHS-wFJCTwnn6traFb3-UEEzMnE9DlZ5nIYcelq4PSv0t0kooaJJMHIwQbK99rDFgn9R5NCgIK6lEiVS2I1ELfPqCryA/w640-h362/IMG_6148%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did not see many lions on this trip - the rains had caused the grass to grow tall. But this was a pride<br />of about 8 animals</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDr8Owal8-qP9Or1B2By6_-nZEIXjY3UZhLR7NgzeAyZrq37HIy1KTatNEtGJbKL-7eFYntRrtMQ7PzXPWjGxhE8BdUmA-DFf4MAus_rITf7bb34Yg9EoOvSQ_a0Hd3y0aTreH5m_1ZZ-jLu09UqFCuVSt-x3pD-YTb0ZHYZDoaniBiKVWqeCgRQ/s5712/IMG_6164%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3213" data-original-width="5712" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDr8Owal8-qP9Or1B2By6_-nZEIXjY3UZhLR7NgzeAyZrq37HIy1KTatNEtGJbKL-7eFYntRrtMQ7PzXPWjGxhE8BdUmA-DFf4MAus_rITf7bb34Yg9EoOvSQ_a0Hd3y0aTreH5m_1ZZ-jLu09UqFCuVSt-x3pD-YTb0ZHYZDoaniBiKVWqeCgRQ/w640-h360/IMG_6164%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahh, the acacia! Symbol of the Serengeti. I never tire of seeing them.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniLbMfbINfS-LSlCcUGk98wRhVdReIjGOmOYgFuaIYmmA0RHpyuCNM-WdK6XgxiKu9vLiMco7O3rteS7f2inYyqtumheHNkh3oDO74CETA9QEy4us4vAzvxap5cRwrj855leCkkDavsWVg3MIXbq19Hm487xsUQzdGqc-xv5hnzz8DwwE23XtjA/s4032/IMG_6175%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniLbMfbINfS-LSlCcUGk98wRhVdReIjGOmOYgFuaIYmmA0RHpyuCNM-WdK6XgxiKu9vLiMco7O3rteS7f2inYyqtumheHNkh3oDO74CETA9QEy4us4vAzvxap5cRwrj855leCkkDavsWVg3MIXbq19Hm487xsUQzdGqc-xv5hnzz8DwwE23XtjA/w640-h360/IMG_6175%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomson%27s_gazelle" target="_blank">Thompson's gazelle</a> (thanks to reader Jim D. for correcting my mislabeling as "Impala!)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZc8O011QOzIoEEL7xaqESYPfsxQwQxMwvVAyd1v_tTYx4C5koyRAa7Iku-oP-Ke-KjMGkVw8cPuDdpYrKNywN7P9vKK3XyIyQK2_ILUzUDRebiZgZLdAJgrF2Z6BZ4biTlOva9xfFAKs1FUzIw90kVByRMkDZOocQ-KTnMeJgHKovrOwCEiT5dA/s4032/IMG_6186%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZc8O011QOzIoEEL7xaqESYPfsxQwQxMwvVAyd1v_tTYx4C5koyRAa7Iku-oP-Ke-KjMGkVw8cPuDdpYrKNywN7P9vKK3XyIyQK2_ILUzUDRebiZgZLdAJgrF2Z6BZ4biTlOva9xfFAKs1FUzIw90kVByRMkDZOocQ-KTnMeJgHKovrOwCEiT5dA/w360-h640/IMG_6186%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rain had cancelled our balloon flights one morning so we got up<br />again at 4:30 AM and tried again. This time - success!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TE44wiDD1zBcmcmzxG5hGldAQsb5wF6qS_Ih2ggjylLS5924ovr_xJvBORWdCG1PWQPilsz6InKQrdGUZEXWnP2NbFRgBuuuTrwXo_c-CLYUDb9gFbiiS7MAsSMgJfXu1N2QidQhQGhWfsYT6kfuXP7a8Tl6sPIwYNOqU9Uny9ioOWypIvlXuA/s4032/IMG_6227%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TE44wiDD1zBcmcmzxG5hGldAQsb5wF6qS_Ih2ggjylLS5924ovr_xJvBORWdCG1PWQPilsz6InKQrdGUZEXWnP2NbFRgBuuuTrwXo_c-CLYUDb9gFbiiS7MAsSMgJfXu1N2QidQhQGhWfsYT6kfuXP7a8Tl6sPIwYNOqU9Uny9ioOWypIvlXuA/w640-h360/IMG_6227%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were in thr air about 90 minutes and most of the time we flew just a few feet off of the ground. The<br />altitude determines the wind direction and the pilots know where to place the balloon.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepuwa_E2udiUhvMtXEllr5WxcvjXlgR7FmoDlov-BnMA2rhB2pAG0s0WbzklfJAKSMeueKiMKlugjlQ6uZ174Ik8yCLTgBjVVm3bdIopYQ_u3euqeBgr3xtS51L0ijQQxnR-qgOjoJkD2DrQOr3duLfPnQmiP0PsQhIPrEKYVm1p5inN8D0PJTA/s4032/IMG_6232%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepuwa_E2udiUhvMtXEllr5WxcvjXlgR7FmoDlov-BnMA2rhB2pAG0s0WbzklfJAKSMeueKiMKlugjlQ6uZ174Ik8yCLTgBjVVm3bdIopYQ_u3euqeBgr3xtS51L0ijQQxnR-qgOjoJkD2DrQOr3duLfPnQmiP0PsQhIPrEKYVm1p5inN8D0PJTA/w640-h360/IMG_6232%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken from the balloon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRidaRs9Orm76VuyIqTS4YTzzjQ9fxIQk6SxVJU7RBBZ-cn_aFBi2dbj_4wtJqFlXyEOjF1vIiSejDqeElursk8vi4giogcyX5T1ZaddDawR5AZGg4Q7fZve_EW-uRpxW5xGWVZ8Orrm8sFugCU6cJ9F4ctVMRbXxVQ24Ir-d12UQjRMOLpOZfcw/s4032/IMG_6250%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRidaRs9Orm76VuyIqTS4YTzzjQ9fxIQk6SxVJU7RBBZ-cn_aFBi2dbj_4wtJqFlXyEOjF1vIiSejDqeElursk8vi4giogcyX5T1ZaddDawR5AZGg4Q7fZve_EW-uRpxW5xGWVZ8Orrm8sFugCU6cJ9F4ctVMRbXxVQ24Ir-d12UQjRMOLpOZfcw/w640-h360/IMG_6250%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our group filled three balloons</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-zTHjIc1nmuFWbpLIL_SNrkqZZvnI5kRscL5RA54yLMgrYoHQgQNr4m8MeYxcBgKhpeRlNsvsdAt-G9AJ1KwZTgeV3PVgp-sgYBh7o2IkL_BdNop6i3VyLAi24E8Gctv2YP6T91qyk8EHhLftBjn8lqEPaAw72GiSlBXfOaxkZkem4YNAVKOgA/s4032/IMG_6264%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-zTHjIc1nmuFWbpLIL_SNrkqZZvnI5kRscL5RA54yLMgrYoHQgQNr4m8MeYxcBgKhpeRlNsvsdAt-G9AJ1KwZTgeV3PVgp-sgYBh7o2IkL_BdNop6i3VyLAi24E8Gctv2YP6T91qyk8EHhLftBjn8lqEPaAw72GiSlBXfOaxkZkem4YNAVKOgA/w640-h360/IMG_6264%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We saw many hippopotami while flying overhead</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxvXkmL0tEAv8ECkM8aycYhz2r4-nxPJqgaIIxqlZPrRhGL1pYdu30D08PFxj0UrZUkwnmpTVwgqmiQhyphenhyphenYYyjmFkrYheTdwG0sTo84q0yQH5lFD0pcl3Rp0Zl4ZKlkYpGmRPoaW6Euob1MSr_s1wI0f52VkWunKWI0R_lT1uR0XCC-hjEunVszQ/s4032/IMG_6269%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxvXkmL0tEAv8ECkM8aycYhz2r4-nxPJqgaIIxqlZPrRhGL1pYdu30D08PFxj0UrZUkwnmpTVwgqmiQhyphenhyphenYYyjmFkrYheTdwG0sTo84q0yQH5lFD0pcl3Rp0Zl4ZKlkYpGmRPoaW6Euob1MSr_s1wI0f52VkWunKWI0R_lT1uR0XCC-hjEunVszQ/w640-h360/IMG_6269%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Special champagne, er, sparkling wine, for the morning landing and breakfast</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLA4TjLCIxxoshnSl1WCMF9l4ButHHFfeTD8aB-xz9v3KiEuBFBUq9sutliowchYpT8wQDLvLWQ0uV_m0dC9amgXCZPfteApZSjl9K2ZJjruvrvVjYISVk6TqbiUmqEGH7lM1xECvv92bwZNAPAHlsx1jGzIK0UN9tyAqvDjXY3G03LgrnT8pQg/s1963/IMG_6286%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1963" data-original-width="1377" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLA4TjLCIxxoshnSl1WCMF9l4ButHHFfeTD8aB-xz9v3KiEuBFBUq9sutliowchYpT8wQDLvLWQ0uV_m0dC9amgXCZPfteApZSjl9K2ZJjruvrvVjYISVk6TqbiUmqEGH7lM1xECvv92bwZNAPAHlsx1jGzIK0UN9tyAqvDjXY3G03LgrnT8pQg/w450-h640/IMG_6286%20copy.heic" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a short posting this time from Serengeti. Next up, Luxor and Giza, Egypt!</td></tr></tbody></table>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-51839792139826717612024-02-19T16:09:00.037-07:002024-02-25T15:53:31.412-07:00Around the World in 24 Days - A Story of Stone - Part 2 The Taj Mahal<p>Continuing on our trip around the globe was a one-day stop at the Taj Mahal, the ultimate monument to love and built between 1631 and 1648. We enjoyed a most pleasant visit on this relatively cold day in Agra. India is famous for its gemstone and old rock layers.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwf-afjj2nUA2f-wkeYrOM9vjua0QGS_uFVgDxNL6oBTGrE9Dq80wOvJwtBZ1UxOXJbgMj4RmGiOPGvNCf-56I1hbQw48qIz1ASRbufQavjNK_3kGXVwLPudr_re5hd1jxq5YzccWD2vbNaUfHjQCNvrlgGrEpf65L2FukhQ9FIu52IegzpfY1mQ/s4998/IMG_5820.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4998" data-original-width="3108" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwf-afjj2nUA2f-wkeYrOM9vjua0QGS_uFVgDxNL6oBTGrE9Dq80wOvJwtBZ1UxOXJbgMj4RmGiOPGvNCf-56I1hbQw48qIz1ASRbufQavjNK_3kGXVwLPudr_re5hd1jxq5YzccWD2vbNaUfHjQCNvrlgGrEpf65L2FukhQ9FIu52IegzpfY1mQ/w400-h640/IMG_5820.heic" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before one gets a view of the mausoleum, they pass through other exquisite <br />buildings made from red sandstone and white marble </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRS-JZABmxUyx6wMXB-W1FGDoDl_xcNPKbG4_KC7OdcD6q0vxCID4dCOUlWItE8CfOQd1rJSjtXBw5pPKzEfGvn7siDtYngAkossWUg9LStFEsDhoBuzCWHQQl37j7L1loHSYS9oF_xf6MUF7m27daRDGlLUNGU9Pj4Iou9td54Nlsc8RaR-L23w/s3286/IMG_5823.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3286" data-original-width="2125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRS-JZABmxUyx6wMXB-W1FGDoDl_xcNPKbG4_KC7OdcD6q0vxCID4dCOUlWItE8CfOQd1rJSjtXBw5pPKzEfGvn7siDtYngAkossWUg9LStFEsDhoBuzCWHQQl37j7L1loHSYS9oF_xf6MUF7m27daRDGlLUNGU9Pj4Iou9td54Nlsc8RaR-L23w/w414-h640/IMG_5823.heic" width="414" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That is the Taj Mahal frame by the entrance gate</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvHZBANNb4i4rrhsdIFHoSlql3byJoXhKcpR_k2eOnuCbc5mEc2snznnZIU-rvVr1lejkIpXBYwo6O7yhd0zlEn07CfF844W_QXwY-HmAh5-WMktKclgELV7AKxseDukNSAkgBnBFdbq0xB7CwMbV-K9a8kTUGw9COd2bTbEWDhWi4Xwcaf3ukA/s4032/IMG_5826.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvHZBANNb4i4rrhsdIFHoSlql3byJoXhKcpR_k2eOnuCbc5mEc2snznnZIU-rvVr1lejkIpXBYwo6O7yhd0zlEn07CfF844W_QXwY-HmAh5-WMktKclgELV7AKxseDukNSAkgBnBFdbq0xB7CwMbV-K9a8kTUGw9COd2bTbEWDhWi4Xwcaf3ukA/w360-h640/IMG_5826.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closer view of the same</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8P1qhFGzL9ZI3Z8Xj8Aov0sXzKqlMq6e2v1gGHy_AgtVII4rAJvp3opYKT9svr4XPbnzucijcjihVIIu51li0dfa4wd9UdfB5DYQJ5N7uKiKnKBoQjgiSknf8EbfMKNOc4rLvjroj2ESaeab4JiBFrL0VVmi9tsSOnycOa3nhlz6E3zKte2fk_g/s3909/IMG_5827.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3909" data-original-width="3068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8P1qhFGzL9ZI3Z8Xj8Aov0sXzKqlMq6e2v1gGHy_AgtVII4rAJvp3opYKT9svr4XPbnzucijcjihVIIu51li0dfa4wd9UdfB5DYQJ5N7uKiKnKBoQjgiSknf8EbfMKNOc4rLvjroj2ESaeab4JiBFrL0VVmi9tsSOnycOa3nhlz6E3zKte2fk_g/w504-h640/IMG_5827.heic" width="504" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer still....</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhNRlWF0Ae8FXP8EyJAwuZo2nFe61FtL_U2rq5G82t1DjPoeHl4sXnYbvtBFr6hoBMSd6fx3YDUX1oG72NEWzi8kgYZp8WCtSbYpvW4OY_P8wgfPQCIPUAnsvnZEleP_fuHqkrKSCu2vn6QRphhjmyJMtBba9cOYYPHzBb0MfHTvwpxb7gNaMmg/s5347/IMG_5831.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2801" data-original-width="5347" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhNRlWF0Ae8FXP8EyJAwuZo2nFe61FtL_U2rq5G82t1DjPoeHl4sXnYbvtBFr6hoBMSd6fx3YDUX1oG72NEWzi8kgYZp8WCtSbYpvW4OY_P8wgfPQCIPUAnsvnZEleP_fuHqkrKSCu2vn6QRphhjmyJMtBba9cOYYPHzBb0MfHTvwpxb7gNaMmg/w640-h336/IMG_5831.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Framed in flowers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYF4G8KohHQI8thJBvZzn_0fjIxfxqb4YdPbzW9Ibgek8izI2qlG2Jb3QYEbUAOI0aJYLKF3AJ9SieDc5ZcCEh2H8JmTf2-FKSZWJbcXYdpvdeX9Ld9GBna_F1YkVwCyjukxgHBYnP6r_kj0Rgd3DYdDx9Z48TeDJlHr9Ypw4IaTDceDsR7iU1w/s4032/IMG_5833.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYF4G8KohHQI8thJBvZzn_0fjIxfxqb4YdPbzW9Ibgek8izI2qlG2Jb3QYEbUAOI0aJYLKF3AJ9SieDc5ZcCEh2H8JmTf2-FKSZWJbcXYdpvdeX9Ld9GBna_F1YkVwCyjukxgHBYnP6r_kj0Rgd3DYdDx9Z48TeDJlHr9Ypw4IaTDceDsR7iU1w/w640-h360/IMG_5833.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was foggy when we landed but it cleared up by 2 PM</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCurIk6lyz1UZ2Wf4nI3ZifejXWG4yTObdT3h5GthtxD2O-FMSNE6sjrv6M3NSRrLqJYHxesKaQ7omr8aH_jjzQuRhTiaraT4czcqLXB5E1CBS44kqHZMNAqx8IbsOxY4FdLJ81UJJ5n5EV8HkiQRnA_g45w4zC4uQKGRweWgVUSjTgjjlENbYrw/s4032/IMG_5839.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCurIk6lyz1UZ2Wf4nI3ZifejXWG4yTObdT3h5GthtxD2O-FMSNE6sjrv6M3NSRrLqJYHxesKaQ7omr8aH_jjzQuRhTiaraT4czcqLXB5E1CBS44kqHZMNAqx8IbsOxY4FdLJ81UJJ5n5EV8HkiQRnA_g45w4zC4uQKGRweWgVUSjTgjjlENbYrw/w360-h640/IMG_5839.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pool leading to the mausoleum</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8D3j9QI4sNcUfG14h5euTZUcswkAnSEgctSJvAaRNqUiF1na95oJWBYOW6FYWW_F8t5ewAXVe4jMTRFXhVy8EYUVwJqKisrWRg7HbgipGayqBPT1Tqm5F0ao3zONgXMQjQXQQDQjTsOBtWoBvmD7Zsn9UJJbBKE2U-WCFClUL_zItxITcUj81Gw/s2730/IMG_5841.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2730" data-original-width="2253" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8D3j9QI4sNcUfG14h5euTZUcswkAnSEgctSJvAaRNqUiF1na95oJWBYOW6FYWW_F8t5ewAXVe4jMTRFXhVy8EYUVwJqKisrWRg7HbgipGayqBPT1Tqm5F0ao3zONgXMQjQXQQDQjTsOBtWoBvmD7Zsn9UJJbBKE2U-WCFClUL_zItxITcUj81Gw/w530-h640/IMG_5841.heic" width="530" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bride and groom</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_v3Z_rVbEH1Q4LqHf4V3HprFEIOrubonJsVcwx5KDphVT9y6rvesiBz2-PRjujJNRbLHoNZzRywWCVl6zB774qqhaZ9RjDJn7TLNd7pu5NMmgGe0UZxDW7mrVbfXnYvV5z4L42O-ggBUZvrfbfPTUGUziR7T56PJHJkQ_jg2vunoM-CEefV-4oA/s1285/IMG_0591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="1026" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_v3Z_rVbEH1Q4LqHf4V3HprFEIOrubonJsVcwx5KDphVT9y6rvesiBz2-PRjujJNRbLHoNZzRywWCVl6zB774qqhaZ9RjDJn7TLNd7pu5NMmgGe0UZxDW7mrVbfXnYvV5z4L42O-ggBUZvrfbfPTUGUziR7T56PJHJkQ_jg2vunoM-CEefV-4oA/w512-h640/IMG_0591.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ADDENDUM: After posting the photo above, reader Louise M. sent me this photo of her <br />as young girl in 1954. She wrote: <i>"As a kid, we lived in India 1953-54. This photo (I’m next<br />to my Dad’s right shoulder) was taken around 5:00 in the morning. He hustled us out <br />of bed to get the shot before all the crowds". Thank you Louise!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEin1xkfn9EoB1E7qH9GZwDLz2Ch-9v9hAqvdN3iUlGSwyHR7J2NXPuYQlhXLSchVeqN3DpLelhuqL_4FaNo56hnOQunvned90jMfE7ipB0PEnsSLQwtcD9VRCOtcC6KpPrO8JJy5qfimiZZ1bZxE942fm_dGfxD5ow2vUTqU9HNAF3y_ehnzyA/s4032/IMG_5849.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEin1xkfn9EoB1E7qH9GZwDLz2Ch-9v9hAqvdN3iUlGSwyHR7J2NXPuYQlhXLSchVeqN3DpLelhuqL_4FaNo56hnOQunvned90jMfE7ipB0PEnsSLQwtcD9VRCOtcC6KpPrO8JJy5qfimiZZ1bZxE942fm_dGfxD5ow2vUTqU9HNAF3y_ehnzyA/w640-h360/IMG_5849.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red sandstone building on the west side of the Taj</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KidfjkAeISEHfH3Ji-SAl2z4scatqlOWp0WrZSc1H19l8IPWQDNr5W1FRNtYGe8sO9rh-BzCDJwCCC0sjn_B4UNMMtfZZu31zCqXYRSP4FM8kigOJMtQJLLb-gTlUxKIOMUkPp7RRzFF12VXSLo9u2-FFWWJBry3QyndvKkw20pXbzmcgU3jTg/s5712/IMG_5856.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3213" data-original-width="5712" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KidfjkAeISEHfH3Ji-SAl2z4scatqlOWp0WrZSc1H19l8IPWQDNr5W1FRNtYGe8sO9rh-BzCDJwCCC0sjn_B4UNMMtfZZu31zCqXYRSP4FM8kigOJMtQJLLb-gTlUxKIOMUkPp7RRzFF12VXSLo9u2-FFWWJBry3QyndvKkw20pXbzmcgU3jTg/w640-h360/IMG_5856.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makrana_marble" target="_blank">Markana marble</a> was mined in the state of Rajasthan about 200 miles away. It is part<br />of the Ajmer Formation of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tectonic_evolution_of_the_Aravalli_Mountains" target="_blank">Delhi Supergroup</a>, about 1450 Ma.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4pCrsTb_CHpza-JEYeXaq5kp2HkAnXpw7ZE730taJRjrOVfwj-8Mj8j-uCWsBts4QmpqCmyRvHZYLQxnh8-7R73pDEoHnbpqg8dLRYeeuZoOkJnZ4mXzPaeN1ro_ET_fCqAXWAN7t_tcN33JpjXMrxsM1ryyTpUmC9W1BhMeg3aZsS_V-37bMg/s5712/IMG_5857.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5712" data-original-width="3213" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4pCrsTb_CHpza-JEYeXaq5kp2HkAnXpw7ZE730taJRjrOVfwj-8Mj8j-uCWsBts4QmpqCmyRvHZYLQxnh8-7R73pDEoHnbpqg8dLRYeeuZoOkJnZ4mXzPaeN1ro_ET_fCqAXWAN7t_tcN33JpjXMrxsM1ryyTpUmC9W1BhMeg3aZsS_V-37bMg/w360-h640/IMG_5857.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is a beautiful stone and marvelously inlaid</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNIDDSf9tUj3G1PwNnFtFpx9fGrQ29qh3YP_JqsNuKS1WjGTudQH7fPaFVhWe4qLyZ5FX5pJMzN9hEy5hDlqeyD5FQ4UKSF0mLfN9fnE5A3gCrFcmtKpGIBvH2wsfx_YqntwpRqL-pPYLGWWtijLXO7KGUoYvYEnLYWJVU7NqLJf7gsk8G__DkA/s5712/IMG_5862.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3213" data-original-width="5712" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNIDDSf9tUj3G1PwNnFtFpx9fGrQ29qh3YP_JqsNuKS1WjGTudQH7fPaFVhWe4qLyZ5FX5pJMzN9hEy5hDlqeyD5FQ4UKSF0mLfN9fnE5A3gCrFcmtKpGIBvH2wsfx_YqntwpRqL-pPYLGWWtijLXO7KGUoYvYEnLYWJVU7NqLJf7gsk8G__DkA/w640-h360/IMG_5862.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red jasper semi-precious stones in a wall of the mausoleum</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCHMqWfBzm_EeCx3kGd8pXbw_yisi5oo9BiwxViewljx_NpbfJ3RQciURQ7KGQi3My8li-swJa2o68mCc7lxqY543OHwu_6pRXmgyQ0cYqzukWY95KVeExv8A463Gfz57oc6UPBhqg6_Ten4W5kWPxoIdA30lNi1hQGIgT_jb_oD0E_Llo4OjlQ/s4032/IMG_5863.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCHMqWfBzm_EeCx3kGd8pXbw_yisi5oo9BiwxViewljx_NpbfJ3RQciURQ7KGQi3My8li-swJa2o68mCc7lxqY543OHwu_6pRXmgyQ0cYqzukWY95KVeExv8A463Gfz57oc6UPBhqg6_Ten4W5kWPxoIdA30lNi1hQGIgT_jb_oD0E_Llo4OjlQ/w360-h640/IMG_5863.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exquisitely carved marble</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-64979516856122203482024-02-11T13:08:00.007-07:002024-02-11T13:10:13.706-07:00Around the World in 24 Days - A Story of Stone - Part 1 Southeast Asia<p>After flying around the globe and stopping at world-class destinations, I recognized that that the one connecting "fabric" that weaves these varied locations together was stone. Whether it be the chiseled Mesozoic sandstone of Angkor Wat, or the Neoproterozoic marble of the Taj Mahal, the Archean granite popping upon the Serengeti plain, or Eocene limestone at Egypt's temples and tombs, stone is the most elemental material - shaping structures, allowing civilization to advance. Barely anyone came on this exotic trip to learn about stone, yet nearly every stop was in one way or another shaped by it. I pick up this whirlwind of a story in Cambodia and its stone temples.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfztHKCeVtLekeZkJ7XxvkrIaOBSFuTIlbjkvMQH6causs6phmIDKnogxrz0LsxQoGhxKqx9KVJGOLGi_nSvUHhyphenhyphenPZMIz4NonD2EJQn3vlism2yDyDOqFTFdiw6zQJGpihhlVfqojbxCJkfqn6SRXBI_LmfIVQmslqTUIXj-WyFiABCQ4VFJulPA/s1975/IMG_5640.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1413" data-original-width="1975" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfztHKCeVtLekeZkJ7XxvkrIaOBSFuTIlbjkvMQH6causs6phmIDKnogxrz0LsxQoGhxKqx9KVJGOLGi_nSvUHhyphenhyphenPZMIz4NonD2EJQn3vlism2yDyDOqFTFdiw6zQJGpihhlVfqojbxCJkfqn6SRXBI_LmfIVQmslqTUIXj-WyFiABCQ4VFJulPA/w640-h458/IMG_5640.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French poster announcing the splendor of Angkor Wat in Indochina (poster hanging in the Raffles Hotel)</td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Cambodia - Siem Reap</b></p><p>Half way around the world in Southeast Asia (but much father away in terms of culture, economics and cuisine) is the temple complex at Angkor Wat. The approach city is Siem Reap with over one million inhabitants. It is a lively city near to Angkor Wat and Tonle Sap, the largest lake in Southeast Asia.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1I3CRYY-zy3D7Niq0zWAKd4rVR_M07NBATxK2xJIVemc5vM0RogsG4wjmXpee394ZtvjzZe_dS-LzAXPIdPzq_OR6y8rVYVTBLbn0aiofcokvE03rE3Sqg4BjgLdMVyqiFcX2d_wHfubZ5vsncbO_jg1VY5us3dePIzoTcNtWJJdryHU8Jn4BA/s3394/IMG_5620%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1946" data-original-width="3394" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1I3CRYY-zy3D7Niq0zWAKd4rVR_M07NBATxK2xJIVemc5vM0RogsG4wjmXpee394ZtvjzZe_dS-LzAXPIdPzq_OR6y8rVYVTBLbn0aiofcokvE03rE3Sqg4BjgLdMVyqiFcX2d_wHfubZ5vsncbO_jg1VY5us3dePIzoTcNtWJJdryHU8Jn4BA/w640-h366/IMG_5620%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new airport opened in October, financed by the Chinese government<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiV33LoZwmYL5EYbwc7rnG2bWPW6UHUX7E3mCmkZCYd2CBu-phHlmgniSsJ6BW5a60bmtO6NxCPz0ksLB1Bfu_vv7hlg2Uo67GT3tGMumV-uBCHWq6QdO0BhAPntGkx_rRE-dCgGjvyFYEbM0k3dl_Xn6uCn9HnQ_jyaotNZOPncE-g9T6K29JA/s3092/IMG_5759.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2124" data-original-width="3092" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiV33LoZwmYL5EYbwc7rnG2bWPW6UHUX7E3mCmkZCYd2CBu-phHlmgniSsJ6BW5a60bmtO6NxCPz0ksLB1Bfu_vv7hlg2Uo67GT3tGMumV-uBCHWq6QdO0BhAPntGkx_rRE-dCgGjvyFYEbM0k3dl_Xn6uCn9HnQ_jyaotNZOPncE-g9T6K29JA/w640-h440/IMG_5759.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuk-tuks on the streets of Siem Reap are a popular manner of travel and are inexpensive</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sSKv-7-O95qKJT-_hda-42XYhsMC-pQ-5Pni2jTZyaMpiEZZeI4-c5ljrz8Wj5c4WhZ9_uTaDvn3mXVezDUNrcF6T7vcAP3kGGba8gQfS8iEvbPYQ3p06NI0orjbzKSXvE-mgm3_DMsP3JcWIl7cYN4yLrmKYRRcaT8Sl9KMQUsBCBMCKNcg5w/s4032/IMG_5641.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sSKv-7-O95qKJT-_hda-42XYhsMC-pQ-5Pni2jTZyaMpiEZZeI4-c5ljrz8Wj5c4WhZ9_uTaDvn3mXVezDUNrcF6T7vcAP3kGGba8gQfS8iEvbPYQ3p06NI0orjbzKSXvE-mgm3_DMsP3JcWIl7cYN4yLrmKYRRcaT8Sl9KMQUsBCBMCKNcg5w/w640-h360/IMG_5641.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stayed three nights at the Raffles Hotel in Siem Reap, a classic colonial era masterpiece</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div><b>Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom</b><div><br /></div><div>Angkor Wat was constructed in the 12th century as a religious complex by King Suryavarman II. It covers over 400 acres and is the world's largest religious complex. It took twenty-eight years to build (from 1122 to 1150 CE) and the stone for the complex was quarried from the Kulun Mountains 25 miles away. The rocks were transported by rafts in canals and oxen carts over roads to the site (see the 2nd photo below). The monument contains between 5 and 10 <i><u>million</u></i> blocks of stone, using far greater amounts than all of the Egyptian pyramids combined. Its outer wall measures 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) long by 4/5ths of a kilometer wide (one half mile). It is a truly stunning monument to the Khmer dynasty.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL33TMyU-XqMWP4Ls3itsBzedRk3fdTS7Pke6KGuvJ5BWNsZIqDlCXKPl-AfkPft5KF01bfDzUnhUO5cL04J7I8dxMrAydhthUSs2s5w_OgDanWJhvJmi9L1dhntCGyThzXiv2EY-mgfnVdRdeEOd9Ks2JOZhf3ZWPtTAwKpVkvohkOVw12QJv_A/s3553/IMG_5697%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2036" data-original-width="3553" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL33TMyU-XqMWP4Ls3itsBzedRk3fdTS7Pke6KGuvJ5BWNsZIqDlCXKPl-AfkPft5KF01bfDzUnhUO5cL04J7I8dxMrAydhthUSs2s5w_OgDanWJhvJmi9L1dhntCGyThzXiv2EY-mgfnVdRdeEOd9Ks2JOZhf3ZWPtTAwKpVkvohkOVw12QJv_A/w640-h366/IMG_5697%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The magnificent temple of Angkor Wat at its eastern entrance<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnji5T3wDrngLP1ZZUw1vTvkl_rNfCydY73TPeSYXvRhUzvIPFfl_rLCc1DtU6U-Lu4bdExv-3qwDsei6XRHlgIRX0FM3-u_g14tjASR9xz9BW7kdwlKBi7FI1Bfhu-BYxjIuMwj9OL8y9webPqbXKG8fzCTEcnlrb9pmCh-aMlt6r5D2jbEl-og/s4032/IMG_5749%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnji5T3wDrngLP1ZZUw1vTvkl_rNfCydY73TPeSYXvRhUzvIPFfl_rLCc1DtU6U-Lu4bdExv-3qwDsei6XRHlgIRX0FM3-u_g14tjASR9xz9BW7kdwlKBi7FI1Bfhu-BYxjIuMwj9OL8y9webPqbXKG8fzCTEcnlrb9pmCh-aMlt6r5D2jbEl-og/w640-h360/IMG_5749%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Depiction of oxen, elephants and men on the march - note the individual blocks of stone </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGBLHOxETaWNQJpJYgJVUWu9a4__5DeTO3MZ-KL7gzIWxo3PGAj2FwMcGXMpBhsg04iVdr0ZMfFcHEViaGp-wthdYUCNnS8VPZqcMeA1bLWSIlEiM1kzwC3lMfKhr4RyHkvxYLXZ7h7v_6ipFyBlVnZslksVqiyqECKxOIa3Erls84MF4ltl1lA/s5712/IMG_5748%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5712" data-original-width="3213" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGBLHOxETaWNQJpJYgJVUWu9a4__5DeTO3MZ-KL7gzIWxo3PGAj2FwMcGXMpBhsg04iVdr0ZMfFcHEViaGp-wthdYUCNnS8VPZqcMeA1bLWSIlEiM1kzwC3lMfKhr4RyHkvxYLXZ7h7v_6ipFyBlVnZslksVqiyqECKxOIa3Erls84MF4ltl1lA/w360-h640/IMG_5748%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone motif detail of a palm tree</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqPmSKb8oyD8CLRpohisBWm8MmwAQDYCsJYDqfnfTImsYIrD8Odk8GT481umCIkqrFyRSm6hb1BtaKJEScznBGGfVn_zV7n0f0I2tyTFky3M1z1R-TBjwtautBFuQs6WkJe_EyKLlfOWsPVi3mdnJiAkNym3omNaPS5QD5yUXunFgdXVvNtauIQ/s3727/IMG_5732%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3727" data-original-width="2670" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqPmSKb8oyD8CLRpohisBWm8MmwAQDYCsJYDqfnfTImsYIrD8Odk8GT481umCIkqrFyRSm6hb1BtaKJEScznBGGfVn_zV7n0f0I2tyTFky3M1z1R-TBjwtautBFuQs6WkJe_EyKLlfOWsPVi3mdnJiAkNym3omNaPS5QD5yUXunFgdXVvNtauIQ/w458-h640/IMG_5732%20copy.heic" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many headed cobra in stone at the west entrance</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquTgwkjoBDTjz2Hz11euSh8FSPo1YiJh0gA5s9hwWM22DoI7hskc2Huv1k2PxBNnwMLIsTaPwgknwxhXDntXBe-cukZwsD-KO7BTWFv1jBvBdGPaxQYosPfVL1-zs5JnAeUmo8fCWyFMDJj_N6z77jH4rM_tkLti0DOY8l9yg9FGZT4T-mXsCUg/s4032/IMG_5712%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquTgwkjoBDTjz2Hz11euSh8FSPo1YiJh0gA5s9hwWM22DoI7hskc2Huv1k2PxBNnwMLIsTaPwgknwxhXDntXBe-cukZwsD-KO7BTWFv1jBvBdGPaxQYosPfVL1-zs5JnAeUmo8fCWyFMDJj_N6z77jH4rM_tkLti0DOY8l9yg9FGZT4T-mXsCUg/w360-h640/IMG_5712%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stone used is Late Triassic/Early Jurassic fluvial sandstone</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVItcJQx5AZxiR6zGV_MYwiBrXjT013-k0vxdOpk5DgUI1MzMPPfHvuWoDLr9ZPLJnlL0_AxlYzJXzlHJLelIBSFmbMxu8-x91jl7HjwbFjddNHl-kAwBNUW4vgh1_OTGrcZoEL2mpC7GQcTMyXHKc5JVUPS5A9XJfSFGXm2UpMgZLuuO3teWJTQ/s3816/IMG_5710%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="3816" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVItcJQx5AZxiR6zGV_MYwiBrXjT013-k0vxdOpk5DgUI1MzMPPfHvuWoDLr9ZPLJnlL0_AxlYzJXzlHJLelIBSFmbMxu8-x91jl7HjwbFjddNHl-kAwBNUW4vgh1_OTGrcZoEL2mpC7GQcTMyXHKc5JVUPS5A9XJfSFGXm2UpMgZLuuO3teWJTQ/w640-h380/IMG_5710%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the inner cloisters in Angkor Wat; it was likely filled with water when in use </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><b>Angkor Thom and Bayon</b></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L4bLi-khzETxJeJHgW9N_arw83U27BTemqcHmad2hoMLvvuamZHEyGCKff802sLmPWkHb9yrXO3N__1ldbF2nk7RvDtA8CeQiBk9ps9IQR738Mrvud25QEDPD3zZtMZyy93zxHuYTsydfrfFx7YKO6Dinh8aP3tWBEyrjAu65jRmPWGgqsxyAw/s4360/IMG_5734%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2837" data-original-width="4360" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L4bLi-khzETxJeJHgW9N_arw83U27BTemqcHmad2hoMLvvuamZHEyGCKff802sLmPWkHb9yrXO3N__1ldbF2nk7RvDtA8CeQiBk9ps9IQR738Mrvud25QEDPD3zZtMZyy93zxHuYTsydfrfFx7YKO6Dinh8aP3tWBEyrjAu65jRmPWGgqsxyAw/w640-h416/IMG_5734%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Across the protective moat and toward Angkor Thom are a series of sandstone carved statues</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHPoJrEubOILrGLqgy8hbpeBM0Zyuv4y62m300Y0wNavsefI_xWu-wKNiZSN-IomNSdU5-16LcF27h6qsFoae3hb_tM24yNHMpZnZzs8QN8wUBhHrtU6763pN9TkJgZ31J4uF3TAFeoDAcw8QGoPuRMHy28pI7qP4Q-brTF5yZIHe3z6wzwOR5Q/s4032/IMG_5739%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHPoJrEubOILrGLqgy8hbpeBM0Zyuv4y62m300Y0wNavsefI_xWu-wKNiZSN-IomNSdU5-16LcF27h6qsFoae3hb_tM24yNHMpZnZzs8QN8wUBhHrtU6763pN9TkJgZ31J4uF3TAFeoDAcw8QGoPuRMHy28pI7qP4Q-brTF5yZIHe3z6wzwOR5Q/w640-h360/IMG_5739%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bayon is the main temple area in Angkor Thom and has numerous Buddha carved faces </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><b>Tonle Sap</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="text-align: center;">Tonle Sap is a natural lake in Cambodia that rises and falls over 10 meters (33 ft.) throughout the year. In the dry season when I visited, the lake is low and water flows from the lake, down the Tonle Sap river to the Mekong River. When the Mekong River </span>floods in the monsoon season, it overflows its banks, spilling into the Tonle Sap river which subsequently fills Tonle Sap (Khmer for great lake or fresh river). See the Wikipedia page <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonlé_Sap" target="_blank">here</a> for more graphics and information. If you note the hill in the photo below, I was quite taken by this feature as we approached the lake from Siem Reap. Out of nowhere, upon a vast lowland plain, a hill rose up on the shore of the lake. How did that happen? It is an erosional remnant on the plain, with a Khmer temple on top of it.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtpf2MzlntfTxHoY_UgHl2RTfuNPZBARKoGT0MEOsRiRy0ug6eSbTX0Q_Au-NxzH8nwXhCxcDGZwdVvADgybFTmlP5ECZQjrjf0VIkdu27L8fB1dLfg-3GjjuBJg8dqLVsQ6bh780ADSClNgqkhCcSRYbCIWQh8plhnmsjur6YF3WEtRsEKpcUQ/s4032/IMG_5613%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtpf2MzlntfTxHoY_UgHl2RTfuNPZBARKoGT0MEOsRiRy0ug6eSbTX0Q_Au-NxzH8nwXhCxcDGZwdVvADgybFTmlP5ECZQjrjf0VIkdu27L8fB1dLfg-3GjjuBJg8dqLVsQ6bh780ADSClNgqkhCcSRYbCIWQh8plhnmsjur6YF3WEtRsEKpcUQ/w640-h360/IMG_5613%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tonle Sap (top) is the largest lake in Southwest Asia and teems with life - more info below</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ulALFC9pZVv-WYm_adcYXeUK8KAKd3VPI2h7RAs2htw2lf3YsFy5qNm5yeqvZ9ZRSrE1kVTLXz0iScdilHMvaqBTF3mR0cmax5RsqwTlggP8EK_TxKXHe0RutyR-yUXWTJA177krQdrXXck4NUp4tkwft-639a4zn7LhJymwsyEV4aoEzoRBTw/s4032/IMG_5765%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ulALFC9pZVv-WYm_adcYXeUK8KAKd3VPI2h7RAs2htw2lf3YsFy5qNm5yeqvZ9ZRSrE1kVTLXz0iScdilHMvaqBTF3mR0cmax5RsqwTlggP8EK_TxKXHe0RutyR-yUXWTJA177krQdrXXck4NUp4tkwft-639a4zn7LhJymwsyEV4aoEzoRBTw/w640-h360/IMG_5765%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tonle Sap shoreline with lake sediments exposed behind the boats; these are beneath water in the rainy season</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8gZXym7iiWedR7l-F3STsjRI7-DzOIaG_InxhzpdEv773Tj8Ka5PSZXS1vw1bVW12hGaNjzKJjEAX3-d6C_x6A10A8Wj5KsZRaJ2e88QB8JOdziRHYBc51Uoqj_QWvLydrNZ3FmEIWGlHWIQqEpFv1lK-de7uzKSstfXjpA91bu9gOx5E5-4Dw/s2104/1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2050" data-original-width="2104" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8gZXym7iiWedR7l-F3STsjRI7-DzOIaG_InxhzpdEv773Tj8Ka5PSZXS1vw1bVW12hGaNjzKJjEAX3-d6C_x6A10A8Wj5KsZRaJ2e88QB8JOdziRHYBc51Uoqj_QWvLydrNZ3FmEIWGlHWIQqEpFv1lK-de7uzKSstfXjpA91bu9gOx5E5-4Dw/w640-h624/1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tonle Sap at its low stage (March and April) when the Mekong River is low</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPFBLEZnZemIEMfkTohhYMDebKINOeOsiGJDyWTwvZ7iDz16Zhm9ttX8CaI-ocKfeC62KzqU8U9kvxwHEEi-kktimFoZk5YjQ9DN0kmhs-4-NFnMpYEsWYUUJjt3RltwtEcSHEo8NvR6vccmaRRL-ntp87xpHlWGv_yBes-A0YkpAw6Li0fCaZQ/s2104/2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2054" data-original-width="2104" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPFBLEZnZemIEMfkTohhYMDebKINOeOsiGJDyWTwvZ7iDz16Zhm9ttX8CaI-ocKfeC62KzqU8U9kvxwHEEi-kktimFoZk5YjQ9DN0kmhs-4-NFnMpYEsWYUUJjt3RltwtEcSHEo8NvR6vccmaRRL-ntp87xpHlWGv_yBes-A0YkpAw6Li0fCaZQ/w640-h624/2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the monsoon begins, the Mekong River floods and reverses flow <u>into</u> Tonle Sap</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwsEBbYJ3g5Etrq32jaVoqNIbMLAmzFy51mLGwrILI-fbebWbpjecdkjvb2jXSBuQo7VsicUSYJSje6mQR1nzSH_NFRdqAEmQ0OU0k6XCN0f5YtqlOO97HgmarRmJVi2CGaTWeizlp97UxlSEcvj0zp2TC6nz5NNAGigNm4zP5dBjz16JKvGCXw/s2092/3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2044" data-original-width="2092" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwsEBbYJ3g5Etrq32jaVoqNIbMLAmzFy51mLGwrILI-fbebWbpjecdkjvb2jXSBuQo7VsicUSYJSje6mQR1nzSH_NFRdqAEmQ0OU0k6XCN0f5YtqlOO97HgmarRmJVi2CGaTWeizlp97UxlSEcvj0zp2TC6nz5NNAGigNm4zP5dBjz16JKvGCXw/w640-h626/3.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the monsoon ends, the Tonle Sap River reverses flow and <u>drains</u> Tonle Sap</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbi7uqmdSae-cItG-UKtfxK6_MYBYCh9gTXxHsrANzut7aSN_sB3VhqtlvjC_dLB38W7JNCv51cZtyl-iJ4bnZNxZxWEkyFTyBoyGLn_qRG0fAQ8Rno34plfFP4zzQXqSXzkpu1ZFGwQJ_ZPDrCR2WzmK2WhUIgfa4aouG9RgAqOukz4ORQyrZww/s4032/IMG_5773%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbi7uqmdSae-cItG-UKtfxK6_MYBYCh9gTXxHsrANzut7aSN_sB3VhqtlvjC_dLB38W7JNCv51cZtyl-iJ4bnZNxZxWEkyFTyBoyGLn_qRG0fAQ8Rno34plfFP4zzQXqSXzkpu1ZFGwQJ_ZPDrCR2WzmK2WhUIgfa4aouG9RgAqOukz4ORQyrZww/w640-h360/IMG_5773%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home built on stilts to prevent flooding from lake water </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIX3QqOpP4XS8ff4jn8-c702hPmonkQHM4u2TTx0iCjjtP_4BoFuZhrDduNkFq0smkh8w1sg4qD6taXigIq90QFj1zEiDOuCzDwWqmP7OH7papkFZw5p51CPefrCjBIyrU7cr5LtRbF0_h4nhyphenhyphenO4tWsK0P5ng-FV3goftRkQBrl5d3MvI629Zyg/s4032/IMG_5784%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIX3QqOpP4XS8ff4jn8-c702hPmonkQHM4u2TTx0iCjjtP_4BoFuZhrDduNkFq0smkh8w1sg4qD6taXigIq90QFj1zEiDOuCzDwWqmP7OH7papkFZw5p51CPefrCjBIyrU7cr5LtRbF0_h4nhyphenhyphenO4tWsK0P5ng-FV3goftRkQBrl5d3MvI629Zyg/w640-h360/IMG_5784%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floating houses rise and fall with the level of the lake</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-52835145943612456672024-02-01T19:10:00.003-07:002024-02-01T19:10:22.057-07:00Grand Canyon National Park Podcast on River Running in Grand Canyon<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21ayIVfyU6J0lXUo_Wxs7w0XAFtymiGmCd1i2COY2qHm7yd7iuPF32ByQDSMST3n5KyZxOQZCODCoOeF1O9NYRxR-nJSPZj9rLyUxofXkvP5474fO-Wo7pK2v5SSzFVboWK4NLAS7pK1yHDEnsmgetDy35Ww7GbLA-KMj6Dizrb5Z9UgqsZMzsg/s1400/953DE27C-C034-3537-71E14EC9DC0C20F7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21ayIVfyU6J0lXUo_Wxs7w0XAFtymiGmCd1i2COY2qHm7yd7iuPF32ByQDSMST3n5KyZxOQZCODCoOeF1O9NYRxR-nJSPZj9rLyUxofXkvP5474fO-Wo7pK2v5SSzFVboWK4NLAS7pK1yHDEnsmgetDy35Ww7GbLA-KMj6Dizrb5Z9UgqsZMzsg/w640-h640/953DE27C-C034-3537-71E14EC9DC0C20F7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Grand Canyon National Park helps us celebrate <a href="https://nationaltoday.com/national-river-day/" target="_blank">National River Day</a> on February 2 with a podcast about what it's like to take a river trip on the Colorado through Grand Canyon. The podcast is titled: "<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693334px;">Wild River with Wayne Ranney"</span></i><p></p><p>I was interviewed by NPS Ranger Doug Crispin while on the North Rim, last June 2 to facilitate geologic training for interpretive rangers. The podcast was recorded in the back seat of a NPS patrol vehicle - a surprisingly good audio forum. You can access and hear the podcast <a href="https://www.nps.gov/podcasts/behind-the-scenery.htm">at this link</a>. A transcript is also available if you prefer - but you'll miss the music.</p><p>Thanks to rangers Doug Crispin and Jesse Barden for making this possible. Happy National River Day!</p>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-68045913033716253652023-12-12T06:45:00.035-07:002023-12-13T10:50:27.276-07:00Celebrating an Epic Adventure 46 Years Ago on December 12<p>Today is December 12, one of the most important religious and cultural holidays in all of Mexico. The feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe commemorates the appearance of the Virgin Mary to an indigenous peasant in 1531, twelve years after Hernan de Cortéz rode boldly into the Aztec capital of Tenotchitlan and eventually and forever changed the course of history in the America's. The Vatican News has published a nice write-up of the events <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2018-12/our-lady-of-guadaloupe-feast-day-mexico-americas.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Another, longer version can be found on Wikipedia <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Guadalupe" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>I happened to be in Mexico on December 12, 1977 on the first of what would be many adventures to this colorful and historic land. And three years ago on this blog, I wrote up the story of an unforgettable night I experienced while traveling in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Like a reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, or a recitation of David Sedaris's "<a href="https://www.npr.org/2005/12/23/5066175/sedaris-and-crumpet-the-elf-a-holiday-tradition" target="_blank">Santaland Diaries</a>" over the Christmas Holiday, I cannot forget the scene that unfolded before my eyes 46 years ago today. Here is a complete reposting below (with minor updates). Enjoy the read and a very happy Dia de Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe!</p><p>----------------------</p>
December 12 is one of the most important religious holidays in all of Mexico. On that day people are on the move from rural villages to their parish church (sometimes many hours away on very poor roads), to visit family members, or to take part in colorful celebrations. (<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/our-lady-guadalupe-powerful-symbol-mexican-identity-n694216" target="_blank">Here is one article</a> about the importance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Mexican people). My first experience with this feast day came in 1977 when I was on my fourth significant lifetime adventure - traveling by bus and hitchhiking for three months through Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. I will never forget what I saw and experienced on that night in rural, tropical Mexico. It is a memory that comes to life each December 12 from 43 years ago. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UvaScTkpYMA/X9ZKiepc3UI/AAAAAAAAZ24/MFqDAOT6FtIh-9FK42QCgP2lbLUe34p7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1226/Virgen_de_guadalupe1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="788" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UvaScTkpYMA/X9ZKiepc3UI/AAAAAAAAZ24/MFqDAOT6FtIh-9FK42QCgP2lbLUe34p7gCLcBGAsYHQ/w412-h640/Virgen_de_guadalupe1.jpg" width="412" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">16th century image of Our Lady of Guadalupe</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We were about four weeks into our adventure. I had just finished my second season as a backcountry ranger at Grand Canyon National Park. Those two years changed the course of my life but they did not take me away from my desire to throw off the chains of predictability and hit the road. I had previously made three, six-week long hitchhiking adventures in the USA and Canada during the summers of 1973 and 1974, and the winter of 1976. After my expected seasonal layoff at Grand Canyon, I drove with my girlfriend, Cindy Kane, to Austin Texas where we met her old boyfriend Peter Sprouse. Peter was a professional caver who with his fellow spelunkers, was going down to eastern Mexico to map the Cueva de Infiernillo, at that time thought to be the second longest cave in the Western Hemisphere. A paper describing the cave system <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237750325_Geology_of_a_large_high-relief_sub-tropical_cave_system_Sistema_Purificacion_Tamaulipas_Mexico" target="_blank">can be accessed here</a>. Back then, how was I to know that the cave system was formed in Cretaceous limestone?</p><p style="text-align: left;">After this amazing 10-day backcountry camping adventure, we made our way south and completed a seven-mile hike to another cave, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_Swallows" target="_blank">the Sótano de Las Golondrinas</a>, where at sunset thousands of white-collared swifts dive headlong into the bell-shaped cavern that is over 1200 feet deep. We visited Mexico City and then took a bus to Oaxaca city, where we caught passage on a second-class bus to Puerto Ángel, a beachside resort where we slept in hammocks under a palapa. This is where the Guadalupe story begins.</p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 40px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 40px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote dir="rtl" style="border: medium; margin: 0px 40px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_QBOGsX3RcDUdijJg-PAMy7INtVUSa-_DF8B3ffJmzmwENkt9oUjK8fdTtlJz8Farh70ykijIzvhn3S49e-GMbAeLBd3RNQH8jPC77nzPvnOtO8wPlqKOCaFurmgYK1SZrkt4oSb79RMKQ3N2pouS8v6NM5sqlQl3S5Zjv10kdw6-JeTtWcCgA/s2228/Screenshot%202023-12-12%20at%206.59.41%E2%80%AFAM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2228" data-original-width="1722" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_QBOGsX3RcDUdijJg-PAMy7INtVUSa-_DF8B3ffJmzmwENkt9oUjK8fdTtlJz8Farh70ykijIzvhn3S49e-GMbAeLBd3RNQH8jPC77nzPvnOtO8wPlqKOCaFurmgYK1SZrkt4oSb79RMKQ3N2pouS8v6NM5sqlQl3S5Zjv10kdw6-JeTtWcCgA/w309-h400/Screenshot%202023-12-12%20at%206.59.41%E2%80%AFAM.png" width="309" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road to Oaxaca</td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><span style="text-align: right;">Puerto Ángel was a tried and true stop along the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gringo_Trail" style="text-align: right;" target="_blank">Gringo Trail</a><span style="text-align: right;"> in the mid-70s. After our early December arrival, we looked out onto the south-facing Pacific Ocean with temperatures in the low 90s. Columnar cactus graced the nearby hillsides and I reflected on what the weather must've been on this very day in mountains of northern Arizona. I could not believe my good fortune to be laying out on a beach, hotter than I wanted to be, but enjoying a superb road trip. We paid the equivalent of one dollar a night (about 22 old Mexican pesos) to string our hammocks at a place called Suzanna's. When I asked the proprietress, "Donde está el baño?" she lifted her chin towards the garden and said, "ayi" - out there. As I went outside she muttered under her breath, "el puerco". I was confused but what the hell - this was Mexico and I was often confused. Sure enough, within five minutes of me completing my business, there was not a trace to be seen as the pig snorted looking for more goodies to gobble amongst the cacti. What I had left behind, including the paper was gone. I didn't eat bacon for a month. </span><p></p><p>After a few days being beach-bums, Cindy and I decided to move towards the state of Chiapas and the ruins of Palenque. So we packed our hammocks into our backpacks and went to the bus station in Pachutla late on the afternoon on December 12. As we entered the bus station, what a scene was spread out before us! Hundreds of tiny Mexicans were crowding toward the three-window ticket office. Cindy, a long-haired blonde about 5' 7" really stood out amongst the sea of black hair. She and I towered over these mixed-race Mestizo's, who held more Indian blood than Spanish. Everyone was crowding cheek to jowl towards the caged ticket agents - there was not even a slight semblance of a line. We asked a few people next to us why there were so many people here and they replied. "La Fiesta. La Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe." Whoa! We had no idea.</p><p>It became obvious to us that we were going to have to be as proactive as we possibly could to get to those ticket windows. There was no other way. We were told that if we didn't get a bus ticket that night, there would no more buses until the following morning. I was still a bit uncomfortable traveling in a country that I didn't know the language well, nor the customs. So it was rather easy for me to use our height advantage to struggle our way to the ticket window. It was like a scene out of a movie, hundreds of people attempting to make it to the window, with very little movement at any one time. After about 45 minutes, we got to the window where I obtained what seemed like the last two seats on a second class bus, traveling through the night for nine hours on the bumpy road to Oaxaca. I felt exhausted from the ticket ordeal, but had no idea that most of the adventure still lay ahead of us. In a situation such as this, I thought there was no guarantee that we would even get on the bus, ticket or not. Nevertheless, we did get a seat on a bus at about 8 PM. (Bus travel in Mexico back then was nothing like it is today, where reservations can be made online on busses that are roomy with Wi-Fi - it was quite primitive then).</p><p>It was pitch-black dark outside in the warm tropical air and I looked forward to being in the mountains overnight where it would be much cooler. I also entertained visions of sleeping on the bus all the way to Oaxaca. Once seated on the bus, I began to relax. The trip started out easy enough as we climbed into the Sierra Madre de Sur. The road was extremely rough in those days and that was part of the reason why it would take nine hours to do the approximate 150 miles. What I didn't count on was that our backseat was not completely bolted to the floor of the bus. The gentle rocking of the seat was barely noticeable as we left the station. But as we began to climb and the road was beset with more rocks, it became obvious that sleep was going to be very difficult. </p><p>After a few hours, difficult sleeping turned to impossible as with every bump in the road, the seat rocked forward and backward such that my head slammed onto the back window of the bus with each jolting rock. If that wasn't enough, the back door of the bus did not close firmly and was only being held partially closed by a wire. About an inch of open air creeped in behind the seat the whole night. Along the coast, this might have been welcomed relief from the stuffiness of the crowded bus and the tropical heat. Here, it merely meant that cold air from the mountainous setting was let in. To add insult to injury, the opening also let in prodigious amounts of dust, which at first in the nighttime darkness was not obvious but soon became thick as smoke inside the bus. Between the bumpiness of the road, the rocking seat, and the choking dust, I was unable to get comfortable, let alone sleep. The bus was like most of the buses in Latin America, a Blue Bird. It was therefore made for elementary school children and so there was very little legroom to begin with.</p><p>What a night! There was no sleep. The ordeal at the ticket office would've been memorable enough, but the bus ride only added to the adventure. I was in a very foul mood when the bus finally pulled in to the second class bus station at sunrise in downtown Oaxaca. I looked at my clothing, caked in white powdery dust. I wondered what my lungs might look like too. I went to the young conductor who was on the bus and showed him how the seat was not bolted properly to the floor, hoping that he might somehow make it all go away. Shrugging his shoulders all he could muster was "lo siento," I'm sorry. Cindy was none too happy as well, as it had been my idea to "sleep" on the bus rather than stay in a cheap hotel to save precious funds (we did the whole three months on $350 each). Her bad mood might have been more likely due to my handling of the situation. She seemed more willing to let the night be chalked up to just another Mexican adventure. </p><p>To think that I had fought off hundreds of other Mexicans in a crowded second-class bus station, only to obtain a seat on an overcrowded bus (a rickety old school bus at that), with an ill-fitted bench seat and a door that did not close, on a bumpy dirt road with clouds of dust and bitter cold for nine hours, was about as much as I could take.</p><p>As the city awoke in the station yard in Oaxaca, I marched off brusquely and bleary-eyed toward the baño. As I entered the restroom I saw it was filled with many tiny little men standing at the urinals. But I had other business there and as I scanned the space to locate the toilets, I saw none. Focusing more clearly, I could see across from the urinals where the toilets should have been. Instead I saw only their foundations where they apparently had been broken off with a sledge hammer rather than repaired. I could not believe my eyes. Even if had I just walked into this baño after a drunken round of cold Modelo's, this would have been a shock. But after the previous night's adventure, it was all part of an evolving story. Only the sharp, upturned edges of the toilet foundations were protruding above the hole where the toilets should have been, their normally white porcelain edges draped in piles of human waste. My need for a morning constitution quickly escaped me. It was only as I exited the east-facing door, with the brilliant sunshine in my eyes, that I came to see the entire situation in a more comic sense. It was there and then that I regained my composure and laughed at the incredible sequence of events that brought me to this place at this time. Something clicked inside of me in this indignant end to an unforgettable night.</p><p>Some readers may wonder why I recall this story. I will be the first to admit that the final act in this play is not a pleasant memory. However, throughout the entire night there was not one Mexican who treated me badly, nor I suppose would think my attitude towards it inappropriate. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Most of them looked at me with sympathy and understanding, knowing that I came from a culture that saw life's little inconveniences as major traumas to be avoided at all costs. To them, this was just the other side in the coin of life. Throughout that three month-long journey, I became schooled many times in the different ways to frame what happens to you along the road of adventure. It took a number of incidents similar to this for it to break through - that <i>how I reacted</i> to what was placed in front of me, mattered much more than how the encounter appeared. </p><p>And so this is why every December 12, I recall with a smile the importance of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the matron saint of Mexico. As Carl Franz told us, "Wherever you go, there you are"!</p>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-56896646838828146972023-10-28T16:26:00.068-07:002023-10-29T11:14:28.670-07:00An Autumn River Trip Through Desolation and Gray Canyons on the Green River, Utah<p><span style="font-size: medium;">During the last week of September, I served as a geologic interpreter on a six day river trip through Desolation and Gray canyons on the Green River in Utah. This was a wonderful time of year as the hordes of mosquitoes had already flown south the fall colors were beginning to grace the cottonwood trees and the temperatures were warm in the day and cool at night. This is a fantastic geologic transect through some relatively young rocks. Have a look.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelTBgEWTNTjpeNODHxpNP0P_AKEgxLNgM_7x0d3sPkYTYD-4tF1ErYdcGO_0kh46CBffK_Gnwn_m9LcqA6EFUWgb3F6IHSPvkzZLTu5DLV1f_z7VShPwPS8zLisAunAb38pIMbReKtc4v_CMAlc8NBQLvcc70t67OW8OnHHg6LFc-NGlHzdDgnA/s4032/IMG_5018%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelTBgEWTNTjpeNODHxpNP0P_AKEgxLNgM_7x0d3sPkYTYD-4tF1ErYdcGO_0kh46CBffK_Gnwn_m9LcqA6EFUWgb3F6IHSPvkzZLTu5DLV1f_z7VShPwPS8zLisAunAb38pIMbReKtc4v_CMAlc8NBQLvcc70t67OW8OnHHg6LFc-NGlHzdDgnA/w640-h360/IMG_5018%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The trip began with a scenic flight at sunrise to the river - over the canyon we would float</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FkkdrOVHCabQV4I7Al-X7Ovx8EQyJkB1Tv5PGWYPAEn1ZfuDJD3ch3utEHpRi9O9gd9SWClhShRqVftRx56G9JnZAQrFdJ-CTm2DIHze8An1EMuWsa86ohLibfzItUPVBiSb-_gbE7v4VCpEtBgyZkr8kViT0ltdg0FvFJPr1c1g3WA3dLf21Q/s3008/IMG_5023%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1756" data-original-width="3008" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FkkdrOVHCabQV4I7Al-X7Ovx8EQyJkB1Tv5PGWYPAEn1ZfuDJD3ch3utEHpRi9O9gd9SWClhShRqVftRx56G9JnZAQrFdJ-CTm2DIHze8An1EMuWsa86ohLibfzItUPVBiSb-_gbE7v4VCpEtBgyZkr8kViT0ltdg0FvFJPr1c1g3WA3dLf21Q/w640-h374/IMG_5023%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The early morning light was just beginning to fall on the Book Cliffs</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jLArFnVqposkj8qF7UuuJKz2VKG0K92RsqqUfNc4acupNThDNo-HH0_wf7v-CGxMa8wzJpyXzupC9OHaF2HADkBSBHgrmSEvH9-0WYmoXoYJ86ao1mVawt1vJBda5SiDcwcNM9gRwUiH-gUx6Frb72ZC9vzDBf4Dai24aWND2bjcs4KxL8UGxw/s3521/IMG_5035%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2223" data-original-width="3521" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jLArFnVqposkj8qF7UuuJKz2VKG0K92RsqqUfNc4acupNThDNo-HH0_wf7v-CGxMa8wzJpyXzupC9OHaF2HADkBSBHgrmSEvH9-0WYmoXoYJ86ao1mVawt1vJBda5SiDcwcNM9gRwUiH-gUx6Frb72ZC9vzDBf4Dai24aWND2bjcs4KxL8UGxw/w640-h404/IMG_5035%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The Green River as it exits Desolation Canyon (bottom) and enters Gray Canyon (top). <br />Note the large fan coming into the river channel from Three Fords Canyon on the<br />left. It has pushed the river to the right (west) and remnant bounders washed into the<br />river form Three Fords Rapid. See a view of this large fan from the ground later in<br />this post.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7yDqW7Xj471fiJ5buxnNv1Fy0_DW91vMEr6ObKtR0BbpGFBmvHSmg1gz0a2iPuoOpyEqAUNy6z0_HnBHcnIKTQsbROf2gu675zv6-gQB8AiFOSr4JsfdCv_8EgTeiH7HHcub14Yq7m-KktMVFrVoFT3ta4Kiog1dAZxzyYmKp7zr073lFY5cGQ/s3252/IMG_5044%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2168" data-original-width="3252" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7yDqW7Xj471fiJ5buxnNv1Fy0_DW91vMEr6ObKtR0BbpGFBmvHSmg1gz0a2iPuoOpyEqAUNy6z0_HnBHcnIKTQsbROf2gu675zv6-gQB8AiFOSr4JsfdCv_8EgTeiH7HHcub14Yq7m-KktMVFrVoFT3ta4Kiog1dAZxzyYmKp7zr073lFY5cGQ/w640-h426/IMG_5044%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">View of a cut-off meander along the Green River - we hiked this loop later in the trip</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoFy0JGeRTIQrwNw9DnUYM2rkzoqWg7cnzBnsfzhSDl2QQV4-52a7W6KmrS96u3C6fVWymTWLXPBU2Y8vFd2D86OOr8UzuXVlBFvJ3hl3StKE_f3gikgkvtGjNZwrZRbrPyUU17BYlzLx_s4pc1-RyhBB3b2RK5RbtRN1sETLnpT_8EuLDb5UYw/s3253/IMG_5065%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2155" data-original-width="3253" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoFy0JGeRTIQrwNw9DnUYM2rkzoqWg7cnzBnsfzhSDl2QQV4-52a7W6KmrS96u3C6fVWymTWLXPBU2Y8vFd2D86OOr8UzuXVlBFvJ3hl3StKE_f3gikgkvtGjNZwrZRbrPyUU17BYlzLx_s4pc1-RyhBB3b2RK5RbtRN1sETLnpT_8EuLDb5UYw/w640-h424/IMG_5065%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">We landed on Horse Mesa Bench, a prominent stratigraphic marker bed <br />in the Green River Formation</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQImyfce3UqB6HTZnCDcMUzDrDNLGYuFm8_cerm1Uvm1ZHqAWaVlnWp59Sowpqh9I6yAStu0RppUS-sddqU7rnh7ZFmZiun8yaPWfhlozJRy93_8EeEZLB5p-FSZXKPRcgW8ikJ2gYx6B3FUWdkSYsgShY8CCtkbjdjHok3WA7b3EzQO33TuePw/s3663/IMG_5084%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2156" data-original-width="3663" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQImyfce3UqB6HTZnCDcMUzDrDNLGYuFm8_cerm1Uvm1ZHqAWaVlnWp59Sowpqh9I6yAStu0RppUS-sddqU7rnh7ZFmZiun8yaPWfhlozJRy93_8EeEZLB5p-FSZXKPRcgW8ikJ2gYx6B3FUWdkSYsgShY8CCtkbjdjHok3WA7b3EzQO33TuePw/w640-h376/IMG_5084%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">There is a 1.5 mile hike from the landing strip to the river - fabulous!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8D-1NtXjOw54-jHvSiU4uXkNBHIlSolD6IZyjXoV-iTOjA0SpotKoswHRzvSfV0I9Ce3jqMJhbGta7W9Mg7DffQi0sSXsilQFtA0MbmdBMNz8E9bfaNsoHu9brzxLtOsWqXM198yssca5EuPBWUQi9Kxk6Lc7qvmLqEzSbB7zBAHASkFkAIwyg/s4032/IMG_5086%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8D-1NtXjOw54-jHvSiU4uXkNBHIlSolD6IZyjXoV-iTOjA0SpotKoswHRzvSfV0I9Ce3jqMJhbGta7W9Mg7DffQi0sSXsilQFtA0MbmdBMNz8E9bfaNsoHu9brzxLtOsWqXM198yssca5EuPBWUQi9Kxk6Lc7qvmLqEzSbB7zBAHASkFkAIwyg/w640-h360/IMG_5086%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Great views of the river on our hike - note the Horse Mesa Bench in the middle of the escarpment (small, center cliff face)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNYbm0uWnoSiXul2KnkC9Xr6ReSLSA1WgSj5q4-Y6zwr3PcDkEgfinPfJ6dKaF4sqpke1DjS7C2KFjCS3mFLtUAPJ3ns6QoLfJSjSaZuM_g9ls9JNS9u0XEUfpbFBpcTS_ucqsuGiNK_pdPjtl0CPV-wypVAXsn7Ar9V85vs8qz_G_fTDWMYyhg/s4032/IMG_5093%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNYbm0uWnoSiXul2KnkC9Xr6ReSLSA1WgSj5q4-Y6zwr3PcDkEgfinPfJ6dKaF4sqpke1DjS7C2KFjCS3mFLtUAPJ3ns6QoLfJSjSaZuM_g9ls9JNS9u0XEUfpbFBpcTS_ucqsuGiNK_pdPjtl0CPV-wypVAXsn7Ar9V85vs8qz_G_fTDWMYyhg/w640-h360/IMG_5093%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Note the hikers (top) and the shadows (bottom)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZTrLV0Kxy15m45EGyoCGatT967R1ZBy_BIpgTWpkUJQxvZNs4pRDelo7Qe0MLDt-u7Oofu21srj5vVrWctIfcYqUcl2g-nDjrv6Fup-FAkLRzmyRt7CnBs9L7c5-Dxk3dkqjvrhhyphenhyphenfAH_DI-wG_8zvXljWfoZAIUiNeNrjie8tkbq2lGcT8rvQ/s4032/IMG_5103%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZTrLV0Kxy15m45EGyoCGatT967R1ZBy_BIpgTWpkUJQxvZNs4pRDelo7Qe0MLDt-u7Oofu21srj5vVrWctIfcYqUcl2g-nDjrv6Fup-FAkLRzmyRt7CnBs9L7c5-Dxk3dkqjvrhhyphenhyphenfAH_DI-wG_8zvXljWfoZAIUiNeNrjie8tkbq2lGcT8rvQ/w640-h360/IMG_5103%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">On the river through the famous Green River Formation</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">The Green River Formation is a rock unit found in the tri-state area of Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. It represents a series of freshwater lakes that formed in basins that developed on the landscape between about 55 and 45 Ma (Mega-annum, or millions of years ago). At that time the Mogollon Highlands were present in southern Arizona and the Rocky Mountains were being uplifted to the north and east. The basins for the lakes were set between these two positive areas and received sediment from all of the highlands. Prior to a 2010 study, it was unknown that a Mojave Desert source area existed (described below). See a <a href="https://deeptimemaps.com/about-us/" target="_blank">Ron Blakey</a> map next for this lacustrine setting of the Green River Formation.</span><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidI_DzRtCveK1GarLv39IJ3XoPBFcYVWkon17r0t-PueRF2Y8RSMRJmhmSUNVMNWoyWr-DjjqxIJZguzHHc6ueHAB5CP7xaFs98p69j1S7fUAPhpamXgdyjmlBMyXoSN-sPNDZFgMW-iwNDxorgqCOKdhvh-O_KvQyiqTlzc0_nqmEUhS68nMLnA/s2160/SWNA_50Ma%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="1560" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidI_DzRtCveK1GarLv39IJ3XoPBFcYVWkon17r0t-PueRF2Y8RSMRJmhmSUNVMNWoyWr-DjjqxIJZguzHHc6ueHAB5CP7xaFs98p69j1S7fUAPhpamXgdyjmlBMyXoSN-sPNDZFgMW-iwNDxorgqCOKdhvh-O_KvQyiqTlzc0_nqmEUhS68nMLnA/w462-h640/SWNA_50Ma%20copy.jpg" width="462" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Paleogeographic map of the Colorado Plateau about 50 Ma</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Note the large lakes in the tri-state area. The lake in the middle of the image (the second largest and south of the east/west trending Uinta Mountains) is called Lake Uinta and the photos in this post show the rocks deposited in this particular body of water. The Green River Formation is famous for two reasons – it contains a lot of oil and gas that is being developed in the area, and it holds a spectacularly rich fossil assemblage - if you have ever seen fish fossils for sale in a western rock shop, they likely come from the Green River Formation. Fossil Butte National Monument in Wyoming is the best place to see these and the plants that fringed the shores of the lakes. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/fobu/learn/fossils-geology.htm" target="_blank">See this Park Service web page</a> for more information.</span></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EhXRr1bNxmP3uJnPl689m1gJnmA27I3nLhDAZdGbUGeR2m0g3hzcF5-S2JxY3kLwG0ETqIrCMhOiAJ6EsQKjzaovPlvd-dZLrGbnNkBD64wot0cGDDYJyehi1PBcPz3p7-bH6SY837hxkQcP7LRmCM6gATr2__8g4GZXvcPC_ifzq7n1l1RaEA/s4032/IMG_5125%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EhXRr1bNxmP3uJnPl689m1gJnmA27I3nLhDAZdGbUGeR2m0g3hzcF5-S2JxY3kLwG0ETqIrCMhOiAJ6EsQKjzaovPlvd-dZLrGbnNkBD64wot0cGDDYJyehi1PBcPz3p7-bH6SY837hxkQcP7LRmCM6gATr2__8g4GZXvcPC_ifzq7n1l1RaEA/w640-h360/IMG_5125%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Sunrise from camp on the Green River Formation</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvOkm-GYmjac_JRip6QxYlTcNK2rm2BVVRu29_Ne30xcrhXOn6rhsuL8gXNhFl9oR4FpsjizGgzfV5YqyJNoCpoJShJgR17_K3Q426hSiymFevdRpHL3IwSY_dgdcsO3Jykw_mEk53mmmXTe1V-7e8Eud2OabURMODuL7ciNvZDxCWz9-kJP1Bw/s4032/IMG_5129%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvOkm-GYmjac_JRip6QxYlTcNK2rm2BVVRu29_Ne30xcrhXOn6rhsuL8gXNhFl9oR4FpsjizGgzfV5YqyJNoCpoJShJgR17_K3Q426hSiymFevdRpHL3IwSY_dgdcsO3Jykw_mEk53mmmXTe1V-7e8Eud2OabURMODuL7ciNvZDxCWz9-kJP1Bw/w640-h360/IMG_5129%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>River reflections</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoj6gTT2-GuYrsLg4G0XA6JisFNBUGldKkddQEDK5zOgwLssx-hvQkB5j8AHnZzqSbCXSD-kWNN_fDHBxQgR6SsVI2KhfrnqwmooMwuwQrEo3-u32-aUEcguxAYDlOkbCiMoaQOXpmR5xPNryqSSm-ah440x1VHbH2xeKM42J6Pt4KSS7XwngCIA/s3079/IMG_5131%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1835" data-original-width="3079" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoj6gTT2-GuYrsLg4G0XA6JisFNBUGldKkddQEDK5zOgwLssx-hvQkB5j8AHnZzqSbCXSD-kWNN_fDHBxQgR6SsVI2KhfrnqwmooMwuwQrEo3-u32-aUEcguxAYDlOkbCiMoaQOXpmR5xPNryqSSm-ah440x1VHbH2xeKM42J6Pt4KSS7XwngCIA/w640-h382/IMG_5131%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Typical camp scene on beautiful sandy beach</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqDFZxjqjvtH1igRdixOTciZ66ILmehpmUoZRjzPBfYxQVS_6FkbPmt0S5MaDbydyFJ7Z9pebFgPqlZKwffVUasKh-E5OiGqf5UkYi_XMX8OOewSeRT0x-ycrbrAiek-gEVA0M-h4pRCPotpPzyXHXbBy9cM5J13QK6fhE23J2STCW0ccuydz5g/s4032/IMG_5133%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqDFZxjqjvtH1igRdixOTciZ66ILmehpmUoZRjzPBfYxQVS_6FkbPmt0S5MaDbydyFJ7Z9pebFgPqlZKwffVUasKh-E5OiGqf5UkYi_XMX8OOewSeRT0x-ycrbrAiek-gEVA0M-h4pRCPotpPzyXHXbBy9cM5J13QK6fhE23J2STCW0ccuydz5g/w640-h360/IMG_5133%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>As we moved downstream, the Colton Formation began to emerge from beneath the river<br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHeIaXpqdOfmd9IyZKi1HpGRtsGybwbe3ms6mLcIKslfCEB3WZ2BADDUFm-qjlmBqoeiMNiCjMMnTBF8H5Kr6M0scN6OE3k5RNwvj7wDTbrM0Gd1V30RtGMuCFFi__S00FrlcPutBWvWj2E7ouTgCZEHlMRLVkqVrs231szXo4sM6lRTtTW5OlZg/s4032/IMG_5143%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHeIaXpqdOfmd9IyZKi1HpGRtsGybwbe3ms6mLcIKslfCEB3WZ2BADDUFm-qjlmBqoeiMNiCjMMnTBF8H5Kr6M0scN6OE3k5RNwvj7wDTbrM0Gd1V30RtGMuCFFi__S00FrlcPutBWvWj2E7ouTgCZEHlMRLVkqVrs231szXo4sM6lRTtTW5OlZg/w640-h360/IMG_5143%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>We visited some spectacular petroglyph panels on side hikes</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySdXZ14CgkQAocSDJ9qVI2LMqJya52s1Fr_5t4OYvD0Ipa2we4A1NhAQ14JuhWo0KHU6eWMsQZHqkFsAeCR4WVZCycWtnIjAkwyPAi3HTQUfXC3I-hmnYUBkjkpP7LqACWu4Zgx4utATDtx5kb6wZ1uVOl3qbmCpSvUj4jOkvZR2hn4WLHZpppw/s4032/IMG_5168%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySdXZ14CgkQAocSDJ9qVI2LMqJya52s1Fr_5t4OYvD0Ipa2we4A1NhAQ14JuhWo0KHU6eWMsQZHqkFsAeCR4WVZCycWtnIjAkwyPAi3HTQUfXC3I-hmnYUBkjkpP7LqACWu4Zgx4utATDtx5kb6wZ1uVOl3qbmCpSvUj4jOkvZR2hn4WLHZpppw/w640-h360/IMG_5168%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Recall the aerial view of a cut-off meander in the fourth photograph of this post.<br />Here, we are hiking in the loop of the abandoned meander.<br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUebDcZUmpOgM3xG420YisUJCKi5IlvW4EBusEsPXhc9ie0gt8uwmXFClsX1Br262V_Na9nOQHLsU-lLt_5XcxT-TLNMoAC6jV4atjOn0DoUCxFnQEeDjV8JlPsQ08qUQEHNCg6rEN4bzVLUkh79_t_A-w_oKmplRemikogFMxFF_2C1WvOwjAg/s3325/IMG_5170%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="3325" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUebDcZUmpOgM3xG420YisUJCKi5IlvW4EBusEsPXhc9ie0gt8uwmXFClsX1Br262V_Na9nOQHLsU-lLt_5XcxT-TLNMoAC6jV4atjOn0DoUCxFnQEeDjV8JlPsQ08qUQEHNCg6rEN4bzVLUkh79_t_A-w_oKmplRemikogFMxFF_2C1WvOwjAg/w640-h274/IMG_5170%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Panoramic view of the abandoned meander near Chicken Rock - see the annotations <br />next photo</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2x9GdAUBIUL8fqqXdtAc9K9gexVptijTxNwVBSaKk3IXVuAdtUWrvq83O7V1yM5dp57RT8K3sGOwwQNQZOKbepaiwx_6dyLmD0GAvNHyX97a4uVFnbEqr2Rx4VnLJLtVQnp4HE6KlRAvW78T4iQmwzVjmih5LANL0WsD7a0XL-hkoGR0jMnW8SA/s1459/Screenshot%202023-10-28%20at%2012.04.23%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1459" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2x9GdAUBIUL8fqqXdtAc9K9gexVptijTxNwVBSaKk3IXVuAdtUWrvq83O7V1yM5dp57RT8K3sGOwwQNQZOKbepaiwx_6dyLmD0GAvNHyX97a4uVFnbEqr2Rx4VnLJLtVQnp4HE6KlRAvW78T4iQmwzVjmih5LANL0WsD7a0XL-hkoGR0jMnW8SA/w640-h280/Screenshot%202023-10-28%20at%2012.04.23%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The yellow lines denote the old meander bend (dashed where obscured behind<br />the meander "island")</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-wvEYSr6Tl4jb4UJjH-Qjk0KugXS7ur3P8rhbkZHGcOqZSx-AYNx7RbyXC2CgYT893SWokOQHlZfg5Ofi28oDs-rHP-KoFr-EMqL3CTBCgQDZ1OFlYNqkxDA45KgpslnTmsEfzf-78HGfTfmoMNYpQaUrvzjlRpuQZXDOnC457c3ZkpMBW3tyQ/w640-h360/IMG_5179%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The "downstream" part of the Green River's old channel. The entrance and exit of<br />the meander are very close to the modern bed of he river, suggesting that the<br />abandonment is relatively recent.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBw1uxrsXDEyT8m6KWjaXaimoOeJVas1qLqKLLR-Z19ATOCRhY-dtfNeNNsXF3AdAqa7n5YsIk-06amybYHa7FScnsaHJ75RSp2uPUHEz0ATGIVbI9tWdoZNhSGt54WsREW1lLBW0Q5xOhyphenhyphenFVuZYW-j2zUh27xy28VxrxzkBcjpQIiYgsbYs_2dQ/s2978/IMG_5173%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2161" data-original-width="2978" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBw1uxrsXDEyT8m6KWjaXaimoOeJVas1qLqKLLR-Z19ATOCRhY-dtfNeNNsXF3AdAqa7n5YsIk-06amybYHa7FScnsaHJ75RSp2uPUHEz0ATGIVbI9tWdoZNhSGt54WsREW1lLBW0Q5xOhyphenhyphenFVuZYW-j2zUh27xy28VxrxzkBcjpQIiYgsbYs_2dQ/w640-h464/IMG_5173%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Fantastic view of the Green River in Desolation Canyon. Within the distant wall<br />of the canyon, note the color difference between the lower, reddish Colton<br />Formation and the upper, lighter-colored Green River Formation.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFZj6vUXCJrq0ROY0T1iZXJX63C3kvpdxKnCi9EYF4EJ-amwchORo4KKZdMvr4FY4x6RVkX_X-D_W8Uy3dXaokXDeT2I_WSrZD-46q3HY9aapVpgHeyd7MFsHmfghLn2h0MKox3HcbKgyffpx1Io3w7ot4giDgW9zxG_aU8JXv2I4toaDc1G5jg/s4032/IMG_5187%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFZj6vUXCJrq0ROY0T1iZXJX63C3kvpdxKnCi9EYF4EJ-amwchORo4KKZdMvr4FY4x6RVkX_X-D_W8Uy3dXaokXDeT2I_WSrZD-46q3HY9aapVpgHeyd7MFsHmfghLn2h0MKox3HcbKgyffpx1Io3w7ot4giDgW9zxG_aU8JXv2I4toaDc1G5jg/w640-h360/IMG_5187%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Another beautiful camp location - sleeping on these beaches is fantastic!<br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1bw5Skb1Rpgk7vWK8J2cgKY2CUg0bFptgyqSZHQQicuogFM5rm_D6MHmUD6FbijoOQWgQAI0fX5BRcHrrCWqCXZVbjVV3qVIlvQE56A_nR5kuK5FOO0tIc-IYUt3oBW9ex_Sae6vb6U9b6o6tsPibDPlBZ_KFnwyOf_fMbxeOo2ioByZH1VQeg/s3657/IMG_5199%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2229" data-original-width="3657" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1bw5Skb1Rpgk7vWK8J2cgKY2CUg0bFptgyqSZHQQicuogFM5rm_D6MHmUD6FbijoOQWgQAI0fX5BRcHrrCWqCXZVbjVV3qVIlvQE56A_nR5kuK5FOO0tIc-IYUt3oBW9ex_Sae6vb6U9b6o6tsPibDPlBZ_KFnwyOf_fMbxeOo2ioByZH1VQeg/w640-h390/IMG_5199%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Colton is a mostly fluvial and deltaic deposit that slightly pre-dates the Green River <br />lakes. In the past, it was called the Wasatch Formation but that nomenclature usage is <br />more restricted to near the Wasatch front </i><i>now</i><i>. The Colton has an interesting hypothesis </i><i><br />attached with it.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-r9SJI5MMd8asY5Zys6KlMXbuel4AKCtYt4BzXbGf10y1Yc5rmFVjpSwJXd-fB7q2jUG5jc4icuIusI6wJYnosH7HUlInd7z5YUmHM7ZGVTQDR6RjnMHN_rUZm4EIUJ0X1scSVJl5ZDxsOiDu4RL3MMDh4jysTC1NfVw2FoOfcp1WoG5HS3Pg_A/s1160/Screenshot%202023-10-28%20at%203.36.38%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-r9SJI5MMd8asY5Zys6KlMXbuel4AKCtYt4BzXbGf10y1Yc5rmFVjpSwJXd-fB7q2jUG5jc4icuIusI6wJYnosH7HUlInd7z5YUmHM7ZGVTQDR6RjnMHN_rUZm4EIUJ0X1scSVJl5ZDxsOiDu4RL3MMDh4jysTC1NfVw2FoOfcp1WoG5HS3Pg_A/w564-h640/Screenshot%202023-10-28%20at%203.36.38%20PM.png" width="564" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Colton Formation is an arkosic sandstone and mudstone (meaning it <br />contains abundant pink feldspar derived from granitic sources). It also yields<br />zircon crystals that can be dated to their age of formation. Surprisingly,<br />the only source for these specific crystals is in the eastern Mojave Desert of<br />southwestern Arizona and southeastern California. Davis et. al. postulated <br />that a continental scale river delivered the sediment from the area of the <br />Mojave Desert near Blythe to the Uinta basin some 56 to 55 Ma. They called <br />it the California River (denoted by the thick dashed line). They made no claim<br />for the exact position of the postulated river, only that it must have flowed<br />between the various Laramide upwarps (KU=Kaibab upwarp; MU=Monument<br />upwarp; CCU=Circle Cliffs upwarp; SRS=San Rafael Swell). The scientific<br />reference is: Davis, Stephen, J., </i></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>(2010) "The Paleogene California River:</i><br /><i>Evidence of Mojave-Uinta paleodrainage from U-Pb ages of detrital</i><br /><i>zircons", Geol. Soc. of America, </i>Geology, <i>v. 38, no. 10, pp. 931-934.<br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqz5SJqrux2m0l1YS_9jIeC9IUjhCGfK4rxq79tzK_kUBqklxkbzQiF_ej4r1oj5k-62yHUi4X9jGZpChk7ANCqLGSU-ThVZoheJWaYYZt1AEiAxFPEn2nJ7Oz4wZVRdzW2wIjBx2CJ-ZyI8McLDAfzdAs0NTwU3otSDhbfqKVO_ov1aPm3ir7-g/s4032/IMG_5205%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqz5SJqrux2m0l1YS_9jIeC9IUjhCGfK4rxq79tzK_kUBqklxkbzQiF_ej4r1oj5k-62yHUi4X9jGZpChk7ANCqLGSU-ThVZoheJWaYYZt1AEiAxFPEn2nJ7Oz4wZVRdzW2wIjBx2CJ-ZyI8McLDAfzdAs0NTwU3otSDhbfqKVO_ov1aPm3ir7-g/w640-h360/IMG_5205%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Note the gradational transition between the reddish Colton Formation (below and<br />mostly forming</i><i> slopes) and the lighter-colored Green River Formation above (ledges)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DiOToF9u8uSPvVIt4sImIG7oyjlZij1Ef_sdK_FgDCDSMQCI6q8xfzrfUSZDoGzaYOZJqIhzokLrWEEDnuH8yobU1xqWAuekUTNbXWRIDUzA1Q3X5sRldqzpGd-Ex2HKh0LlKbAW9fpl3_BDi1EHTa_8uNyIf3n_GKsvZ8r8SP5i7X1fgoF3Eg/s4032/IMG_5220%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DiOToF9u8uSPvVIt4sImIG7oyjlZij1Ef_sdK_FgDCDSMQCI6q8xfzrfUSZDoGzaYOZJqIhzokLrWEEDnuH8yobU1xqWAuekUTNbXWRIDUzA1Q3X5sRldqzpGd-Ex2HKh0LlKbAW9fpl3_BDi1EHTa_8uNyIf3n_GKsvZ8r8SP5i7X1fgoF3Eg/w640-h360/IMG_5220%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>As the slope-forming Colton Formation rises higher and becomes more well-developed <br />the canyon begins to widen out to give much broader views</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUg3T0BTF47KxVogGVN8JQMQJLU2UWYMu2BhIVj-SIfIZChu12P2tcMrXIxM3Q9mmIGyncH2-Uv_MnGArYRNCN2tb0cDDrcwmljwAwryOq2B_Q1VTEvP02BSGX-YejnHXif3YSDL73taiFeryh88Kl4ppZbMkqYRuYp9fSF4zAMe98tVvBmjf8QQ/s4032/IMG_5232%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUg3T0BTF47KxVogGVN8JQMQJLU2UWYMu2BhIVj-SIfIZChu12P2tcMrXIxM3Q9mmIGyncH2-Uv_MnGArYRNCN2tb0cDDrcwmljwAwryOq2B_Q1VTEvP02BSGX-YejnHXif3YSDL73taiFeryh88Kl4ppZbMkqYRuYp9fSF4zAMe98tVvBmjf8QQ/w640-h360/IMG_5232%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Above Three Fords Rapid. A large debris fan from Three Fords Canyon pushes the river <br />to the right (west) and remnants create the largest rapid on the river (not seen).</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfWDpe1ZKfhlIcbGw5qsWJwlBx5TwBiBbBp2MRunKgMS0bkdIPTmJ3Fyuu9gNv0o2lCa3pvGl_rayFQG1pqyqR1PK9G0MXur5_7NSaEGCCdp0cwVdYUDPm0Cxu4EZNT04nr0oarIsYZ9AGbzExNznQHdiwSUB_-SizbkKHwTkEfs-emmz2ezJzQ/s4032/IMG_5239%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfWDpe1ZKfhlIcbGw5qsWJwlBx5TwBiBbBp2MRunKgMS0bkdIPTmJ3Fyuu9gNv0o2lCa3pvGl_rayFQG1pqyqR1PK9G0MXur5_7NSaEGCCdp0cwVdYUDPm0Cxu4EZNT04nr0oarIsYZ9AGbzExNznQHdiwSUB_-SizbkKHwTkEfs-emmz2ezJzQ/w640-h360/IMG_5239%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Camp scene above Three Fords Rapid</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBDjEHE0s50LLgxSCXAwEf94OD205fp6NkKuTfEt9iOSiAQJ-q2fIwEpVq-ejLEySL0DE0hHeMtp5hKwAIJu9RP8tuLalRXZ6dwwyGjRglzKnVYJ2Vj6U25fqXWPDN6LWmRl3kTHIH1M8-prLyw_6UBzjNaNPS5cQmnp8Trij41eZ4Dk0fxMdPA/s4032/IMG_5240%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBDjEHE0s50LLgxSCXAwEf94OD205fp6NkKuTfEt9iOSiAQJ-q2fIwEpVq-ejLEySL0DE0hHeMtp5hKwAIJu9RP8tuLalRXZ6dwwyGjRglzKnVYJ2Vj6U25fqXWPDN6LWmRl3kTHIH1M8-prLyw_6UBzjNaNPS5cQmnp8Trij41eZ4Dk0fxMdPA/w640-h360/IMG_5240%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Red rock sunset from camp</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJzrK5GtxwzB-pNMz2O7ez3oc6DSQ4u0mjCq5yTHEnnqV6rz7nF-cLKVO6GxTS-yI3cRwkZRjRDDWfhSOSs0i-tlG2Nj9C_tF9nEyG3Ue3-e0-MU6GrYTvzK0qD9LzGHHaam9F1Neta3GamSDrh4LRfWQFa47L_H3Q9yYEtU-7fyPKg8PK7huYA/s4032/IMG_5250%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJzrK5GtxwzB-pNMz2O7ez3oc6DSQ4u0mjCq5yTHEnnqV6rz7nF-cLKVO6GxTS-yI3cRwkZRjRDDWfhSOSs0i-tlG2Nj9C_tF9nEyG3Ue3-e0-MU6GrYTvzK0qD9LzGHHaam9F1Neta3GamSDrh4LRfWQFa47L_H3Q9yYEtU-7fyPKg8PK7huYA/w640-h360/IMG_5250%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Majestic buttes composed of the Colton Formation</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0fO3ZSqgjNmtviB1TAYYfclC6NtrJvUx1u2LKbV9RMIvLDbf_TjPZ2j45bMbg_bUUqjaaFaTT-on3OXvGHh8kr1ihVlPae8xJQDx0VEKcM35u55W_5HZB7h4gUaYFVeeKwSD1jdOL-CGW3tjAJalulu2BThyphenhyphenDmVy2dC4B6JYYOotjeX4McmHmA/s4032/IMG_5252%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0fO3ZSqgjNmtviB1TAYYfclC6NtrJvUx1u2LKbV9RMIvLDbf_TjPZ2j45bMbg_bUUqjaaFaTT-on3OXvGHh8kr1ihVlPae8xJQDx0VEKcM35u55W_5HZB7h4gUaYFVeeKwSD1jdOL-CGW3tjAJalulu2BThyphenhyphenDmVy2dC4B6JYYOotjeX4McmHmA/w640-h360/IMG_5252%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>One last upstream view of Desolation Canyon</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3kqKGsm3YP1_hS8OFChvPshipKWDP5AG0DDEZudZA2D_4SaG-g1Sfp39Q-WNoz25K-CvSYod1PV0s7vv4adoN4vwRFmkHIf_nh62a93Yxo088p1otEfYAiu1zGQUr4JmnFeOAQqM9En1jk5yopmiAGEC8t26JKCilo6AtZGQXV208AYL6Ov1-Q/s4032/IMG_5254%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3kqKGsm3YP1_hS8OFChvPshipKWDP5AG0DDEZudZA2D_4SaG-g1Sfp39Q-WNoz25K-CvSYod1PV0s7vv4adoN4vwRFmkHIf_nh62a93Yxo088p1otEfYAiu1zGQUr4JmnFeOAQqM9En1jk5yopmiAGEC8t26JKCilo6AtZGQXV208AYL6Ov1-Q/w640-h360/IMG_5254%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The entrance to Gray Canyon - still older rocks emerge - the Mesa Verde Group</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNxdv8dvo398I3nTukCsNrCsOaHs6bBLejbatSNFcuXuoEIZw3mqXlfFhoNiTnHuYjf5TXFK2WKRrn2jYWGTWqWwG3VBteY_jhfNe2vc-Q2QQ1kmvynNazgIChcZK6mK2QUtM3-Xj2yh15UBrnWM2cDJ_tYL3SEgCqq5kJ6WhxVfND3RII-lNOA/s4032/IMG_5270%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNxdv8dvo398I3nTukCsNrCsOaHs6bBLejbatSNFcuXuoEIZw3mqXlfFhoNiTnHuYjf5TXFK2WKRrn2jYWGTWqWwG3VBteY_jhfNe2vc-Q2QQ1kmvynNazgIChcZK6mK2QUtM3-Xj2yh15UBrnWM2cDJ_tYL3SEgCqq5kJ6WhxVfND3RII-lNOA/w640-h360/IMG_5270%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Our last nights' camp provided a short hike to a window through the rocks down <br />to the Green River and our camp</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglss-ocurt8ISIM14pq39-K3BX7w4XrJV53lX-JULlm5qhbUvBln056LpIw5KZbhg-DITQFiBdMa45g_HGVkSqZPu2_dWohKzQGDZwP5S0R8vF5qYzfqlrwxS_JtcLPqMP6ndIwXpwOCvgtbCiQLYwiBGET4DT0687N_GHHwjbDRJdKZVa9JJqaw/s4032/IMG_5272%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglss-ocurt8ISIM14pq39-K3BX7w4XrJV53lX-JULlm5qhbUvBln056LpIw5KZbhg-DITQFiBdMa45g_HGVkSqZPu2_dWohKzQGDZwP5S0R8vF5qYzfqlrwxS_JtcLPqMP6ndIwXpwOCvgtbCiQLYwiBGET4DT0687N_GHHwjbDRJdKZVa9JJqaw/w640-h360/IMG_5272%20copy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Downstream view in Gray Canyon. The plateau caprock is composed of the Bluecastle<br />Sandstone Member of the Price River Formation, the upper slope is called the<br />Buck Tongue; the middle cliff is the Castlegate Sandstone and the lower half of<br />the view is composed of the Blackhawk Formation. All are Upper Cretaceous.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2227" data-original-width="3548" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKcxyRjHqo4mkyBYeVgfyQkeaA7EydDmomM3i5_CKaG7ECtXas_8JJPWPNAdha1ogEmQM6drirLDSbwxAog0-J1sT3hyphenhyphenAMh3TZFCqRCd-hB6WgHaYFYUxa_5HrGkl1u-TVBVF2RRCaqY_pv0gd1NEgfXrDzqAzvLUA_J7Sb-_rrZzFUy080XH8w/w640-h402/IMG_5273%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The trip ended with a view of Gunnison Butte, a famous landmark in the area. This<br />was a fantastic trip (six days!) with a great group of "students."</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-82554547784025435282023-09-02T12:59:00.000-07:002023-09-02T12:59:17.169-07:00A Final Dolomites Trek Posting - Days 7, 8, and 9 - Refugio Tissi to to Refugio Carestiato to Malga Pramper to Val di ZoldoThank you so much for reading this series of blog postings on my trek to the Dolomite Mountains in northeast Italy! This is the last posting for that trip. I have many adventures lined up for next year and I hope you will continue reading about the places I am so fortunate to visit in my work. <div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21K35kev2Euk0Rb9tAftw5POrVemuKw5aqlYYmknqX2CAW0pCoQbNuQdieNeXRgiAjxIwxzEGT_ho71V99sfPO72GAAyS5x7oX5fRYG9B7P68DTRnRqaGAcYi4idZrPNsHwwHDPSGF0UfJ00bq9c9k678wwfP-MzZzx2EKgyvn3JLgNbPD16LHA/s4032/IMG_3627%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21K35kev2Euk0Rb9tAftw5POrVemuKw5aqlYYmknqX2CAW0pCoQbNuQdieNeXRgiAjxIwxzEGT_ho71V99sfPO72GAAyS5x7oX5fRYG9B7P68DTRnRqaGAcYi4idZrPNsHwwHDPSGF0UfJ00bq9c9k678wwfP-MzZzx2EKgyvn3JLgNbPD16LHA/w360-h640/IMG_3627%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>View of Torre Venezia, south of Tissi</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>With 2/3rds of the hike complete we began our final push to the end of the trek. A bit of overcast and light drizzle caught up to us Day 7 and we opted for a taxi ride around a difficult description of the route. (In hindsight, I would rethink that detour now). We celebrated Don's birthday at Refugio Carestiato, then trekked in fog to Malga Pramper on Day 8. Sunshine found us again on Day 9 as we finished the trip with a downhill walk into the village of Val di Zoldo.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCOpaUV9SzSaaPK1wbNqm8zZsknji1bdQfxKV6zQ0OWZU3sK8lXGaNGmKfsHQG3lJp0T3CNmRGoIiCLZX77kfijZyFIF_gYfaVODISWIF6rvyVh8L0qeN8Yn_6NKqmmLAEzbTrkEK3EwQxSblNFRwnPt9MwELRyrfJjxWHZLlF50llXizyHi3_Q/s1000/Map.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1000" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCOpaUV9SzSaaPK1wbNqm8zZsknji1bdQfxKV6zQ0OWZU3sK8lXGaNGmKfsHQG3lJp0T3CNmRGoIiCLZX77kfijZyFIF_gYfaVODISWIF6rvyVh8L0qeN8Yn_6NKqmmLAEzbTrkEK3EwQxSblNFRwnPt9MwELRyrfJjxWHZLlF50llXizyHi3_Q/w640-h496/Map.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>Map showing the route for Days 7, 8, and 9 - the blue line is by taxi, yellow on foot</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Day 7 - Refugio Tissi to Refugio Carestiato</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRjmuWLzA7O7QLQ7BS5NLHscuZrckO1f2Gbk_DFU-Tg99s-uYRE2kPmp5ufvq6wS9Avvc7PFSO6VPVospfDvTSWrmSDQtJz6Ps1LgF2IMhpzk9Rndw63t72sOxXwkQ-q04vZeNbpzgMO9KuJ6UUyHn5h4SU7lr-UJsKQO1LZZE03JPwW_kKQXsQ/s3240/IMG_3626%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1962" data-original-width="3240" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRjmuWLzA7O7QLQ7BS5NLHscuZrckO1f2Gbk_DFU-Tg99s-uYRE2kPmp5ufvq6wS9Avvc7PFSO6VPVospfDvTSWrmSDQtJz6Ps1LgF2IMhpzk9Rndw63t72sOxXwkQ-q04vZeNbpzgMO9KuJ6UUyHn5h4SU7lr-UJsKQO1LZZE03JPwW_kKQXsQ/w640-h388/IMG_3626%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The valley south of Tissi made for pleasant downhill walking<br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWW1fuHFTliwkVbgBha-Eq_q2uxgGkosJ63vk8-VHAIM2RiCv2yXnYKmjIria-NxDI_C_hP6NxKEXz8UCWzBXZGscpQ_8b-kpKfcmU962XPfMNMs3BX2FORmw432d2_K-xdnleFQMt_bDilzuVasmR1iMsbZhS4ELK8vq5hFxgghxZwt2QvIF8A/s2961/IMG_3637%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2068" data-original-width="2961" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWW1fuHFTliwkVbgBha-Eq_q2uxgGkosJ63vk8-VHAIM2RiCv2yXnYKmjIria-NxDI_C_hP6NxKEXz8UCWzBXZGscpQ_8b-kpKfcmU962XPfMNMs3BX2FORmw432d2_K-xdnleFQMt_bDilzuVasmR1iMsbZhS4ELK8vq5hFxgghxZwt2QvIF8A/w640-h446/IMG_3637%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It was a beautiful valley with wide views and turreted peaks<br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><i></i></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuGHk57PzC4XFgYs-VL1XnHElPbbUy8zGAL-y3kiB1oCYR8uwdDOBCDeHjuUBG2WstWeQdW2c-gOrkX6_faXIKDUrfD9ugzDe7vAuhft01i8yNhRsAZ8FMktcqSlQvXOSgnpkLlfRzMkAUTqXlxMem7Dn0MwlvNLMgftIGsak1fUKfxCi8nTwqw/s3361/IMG_3641%20copy.heic" style="font-style: italic; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1990" data-original-width="3361" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuGHk57PzC4XFgYs-VL1XnHElPbbUy8zGAL-y3kiB1oCYR8uwdDOBCDeHjuUBG2WstWeQdW2c-gOrkX6_faXIKDUrfD9ugzDe7vAuhft01i8yNhRsAZ8FMktcqSlQvXOSgnpkLlfRzMkAUTqXlxMem7Dn0MwlvNLMgftIGsak1fUKfxCi8nTwqw/w640-h378/IMG_3641%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Helen and Don passing a rickety gate along the trail<br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1cqpOp8nUDiQ4eNdz3rBggl3tl2Sbwxxc8B2gxALkTIpzFTbuXPUzBVxYGY37xFk-sJhTJhgApvyQJN1955676oBdDecklNYRf3ytT0HECamsZgQ3M94IUMythqS5bWxCPDIPKhNxC92Tg3aNRMcZsH2jdMBYvYPYRFORUpaV1IcLn_EG7t1Kw/s2900/IMG_3646%20copy.heic" style="font-style: italic; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="2900" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1cqpOp8nUDiQ4eNdz3rBggl3tl2Sbwxxc8B2gxALkTIpzFTbuXPUzBVxYGY37xFk-sJhTJhgApvyQJN1955676oBdDecklNYRf3ytT0HECamsZgQ3M94IUMythqS5bWxCPDIPKhNxC92Tg3aNRMcZsH2jdMBYvYPYRFORUpaV1IcLn_EG7t1Kw/w640-h460/IMG_3646%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Outwash from a relatively recent debris flow</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZUdf4mecNetPUUU7Jw0JNDqBFPsYs-tyt-m30fWFRzeWFItGxH1uyAALotLXbWJdoP04n2CMXsrSqJ5-DR68Ypp_Q6a973W8zzEU-sEG_0c3cXXLBaE4_yaIdslwvXTqWOxnOmsgiYj7AO6Br1q-G8szgOpTlYWmQzb-kFW3RJRPaq7GI73lDA/s4320/IMG_3649%20copy.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2596" data-original-width="4320" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZUdf4mecNetPUUU7Jw0JNDqBFPsYs-tyt-m30fWFRzeWFItGxH1uyAALotLXbWJdoP04n2CMXsrSqJ5-DR68Ypp_Q6a973W8zzEU-sEG_0c3cXXLBaE4_yaIdslwvXTqWOxnOmsgiYj7AO6Br1q-G8szgOpTlYWmQzb-kFW3RJRPaq7GI73lDA/w640-h384/IMG_3649%20copy.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Torre Venezia (Venice Tower) in increasingly cloudy skies</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKdfH-LwaVZrgNHVd6orW4TRuDanX8ag8xR9rH888-9dnf9Kc9OrBP0ZOcWW3lrXD00umZBPuWJIN_gyKPkAYniERO8OY8V-nT_Zj2WrC_gD_oHU_DKheQxQlg5buAvcv7rzZVHPTw_gu91-SCutOyE1-8KFJYRCwNT-bdCXw8GybZLLVd-btYg/s3029/IMG_3654%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1985" data-original-width="3029" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKdfH-LwaVZrgNHVd6orW4TRuDanX8ag8xR9rH888-9dnf9Kc9OrBP0ZOcWW3lrXD00umZBPuWJIN_gyKPkAYniERO8OY8V-nT_Zj2WrC_gD_oHU_DKheQxQlg5buAvcv7rzZVHPTw_gu91-SCutOyE1-8KFJYRCwNT-bdCXw8GybZLLVd-btYg/w640-h420/IMG_3654%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The forcella (pass or saddle) in the distance is where we would have walked</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn3YSKi5X9xo4TF5dgM1oez4C_goi-y4S_1LeoA2Yi2Vvap-TcrMvsP6htIbOjWo3sZ62D3iN911Xxx7S2UoHfb1E3Ax6Qn_UT7s-Iwx25FT7NC5xqB0KohwIyEXiKDz-xT7gIl1NLTm_UoW83oG4sujYcsWenlyAo1Db40U60EWaWchb55F2Lw/s3507/IMG_3662%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3507" data-original-width="2127" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn3YSKi5X9xo4TF5dgM1oez4C_goi-y4S_1LeoA2Yi2Vvap-TcrMvsP6htIbOjWo3sZ62D3iN911Xxx7S2UoHfb1E3Ax6Qn_UT7s-Iwx25FT7NC5xqB0KohwIyEXiKDz-xT7gIl1NLTm_UoW83oG4sujYcsWenlyAo1Db40U60EWaWchb55F2Lw/w388-h640/IMG_3662%20copy.heic" width="388" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mountain scenery in Italy</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-9j-jAmH_5nlYmXKqY7T9qsv8zkXNey_mDAZtFUdtzlkAhieUQ3fzh5Kh9xqIH5oZZIYfsY8V8w17Tw_Gmdq1dB6GHwjTyDyihK_mc73bgruIxrtnSOb8Xq9JTlq4xo9J3c1dnyhvA9TtzxVuxGf4Rc1BWB3UX6G3zDOEBpP_Ce63mOGa7iAXQ/s3637/IMG_3665%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3637" data-original-width="2262" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-9j-jAmH_5nlYmXKqY7T9qsv8zkXNey_mDAZtFUdtzlkAhieUQ3fzh5Kh9xqIH5oZZIYfsY8V8w17Tw_Gmdq1dB6GHwjTyDyihK_mc73bgruIxrtnSOb8Xq9JTlq4xo9J3c1dnyhvA9TtzxVuxGf4Rc1BWB3UX6G3zDOEBpP_Ce63mOGa7iAXQ/w398-h640/IMG_3665%20copy.heic" width="398" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Look at the depth of rocky debris in the wall of that arroyo!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioALMnvKdKcsDchN_SyGQzHyxMvZjfb77caOs5I7QDF6r2-ng8YYPotANIUbx4QRpnNk1mvIu6Y_UAPJhimUszP2DYNammaY1FDNggviHXquqRuRKZcXRV9KU4PRTUb4lI9DAGzse092VhjRDO2E8QMqw5Famla_EXNkXC6kCXTgP8vMl_RGYfQw/s4032/IMG_3668%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioALMnvKdKcsDchN_SyGQzHyxMvZjfb77caOs5I7QDF6r2-ng8YYPotANIUbx4QRpnNk1mvIu6Y_UAPJhimUszP2DYNammaY1FDNggviHXquqRuRKZcXRV9KU4PRTUb4lI9DAGzse092VhjRDO2E8QMqw5Famla_EXNkXC6kCXTgP8vMl_RGYfQw/w640-h360/IMG_3668%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>More debris flows near Capanna Trieste - we met our van driver at the bottom of the canyon</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFRX9xe7yblk5yeYDBU7uxVbZ7TeF_QEZXfue4uEIc2SZTfZ3rdhgSj4KO6-R6MK4bwFnkh4QIL6pxz8M0zTEyozuM9y8xKLZt9qdG3nQE_A43w0r9Orcs7HX_ijb9LyNl-CUQn5QnYJ1dA6zmm-vFC5G0DYdhCAt5fBSOlSl_ivyncnZmgrBSQ/s2987/IMG_3672%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1874" data-original-width="2987" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFRX9xe7yblk5yeYDBU7uxVbZ7TeF_QEZXfue4uEIc2SZTfZ3rdhgSj4KO6-R6MK4bwFnkh4QIL6pxz8M0zTEyozuM9y8xKLZt9qdG3nQE_A43w0r9Orcs7HX_ijb9LyNl-CUQn5QnYJ1dA6zmm-vFC5G0DYdhCAt5fBSOlSl_ivyncnZmgrBSQ/w640-h402/IMG_3672%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Capanna Trieste and our ride to Agordo and Passo Duran - next time I will walk it!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICd9kjtT6N59R7EfRUyYXZSzroohLTsVzlOU-pNLZboNqJRHqmaLt439gMLIHBU62wz6Bpm5A5iCE_t8rPyW9miVdIQMZecPZ5UxyqloeoUZ_aIF9oHkyFJQvcjmeTY-EfkQgs8jCxT4S1cEj7N_tgQ3c1sGOz6NsbPGCUnCY2ivrtxhtFh4YfA/s4032/IMG_3678%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICd9kjtT6N59R7EfRUyYXZSzroohLTsVzlOU-pNLZboNqJRHqmaLt439gMLIHBU62wz6Bpm5A5iCE_t8rPyW9miVdIQMZecPZ5UxyqloeoUZ_aIF9oHkyFJQvcjmeTY-EfkQgs8jCxT4S1cEj7N_tgQ3c1sGOz6NsbPGCUnCY2ivrtxhtFh4YfA/w640-h360/IMG_3678%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A rural water source along the way to Carestiato</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPhO6uv4SMxZkiMKS3-rkCP_S9CN9K-NqFdxrTM2kQ9a_bYveJGYqYLn9WQ4I_j7rgK0X23GvHsu5Ntz1CrP9BC3ix_dLhZZqGerSTrj3PVMHuZsnzunpCURhDpLJTkUAxZxRAPWqLm9lNU1JCgGdFYVECdKBLUTVg8PjZP02SFqN21B6E0JbOQ/s4032/IMG_3684%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPhO6uv4SMxZkiMKS3-rkCP_S9CN9K-NqFdxrTM2kQ9a_bYveJGYqYLn9WQ4I_j7rgK0X23GvHsu5Ntz1CrP9BC3ix_dLhZZqGerSTrj3PVMHuZsnzunpCURhDpLJTkUAxZxRAPWqLm9lNU1JCgGdFYVECdKBLUTVg8PjZP02SFqN21B6E0JbOQ/w640-h360/IMG_3684%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Refugio </i><i>Carestiato was a pleasant stop with great food</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguby1E9wdWgP3SavjlSMQYfoUKYo_y8op67HbXhsXTGhmBXYGrcU8KxYYzdMDbcWLapW5fzOHLOi38OOLeH8tJiUYq2Z3hrCGvVuFvLHRI17XW0f6v99dIeT1QipCUI7pqgo6wPLrbnXn74kiHyhX-Ke-sinQ0dSrm1W9aOFMBoFx-CEAMt3_laA/s4032/IMG_3688%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguby1E9wdWgP3SavjlSMQYfoUKYo_y8op67HbXhsXTGhmBXYGrcU8KxYYzdMDbcWLapW5fzOHLOi38OOLeH8tJiUYq2Z3hrCGvVuFvLHRI17XW0f6v99dIeT1QipCUI7pqgo6wPLrbnXn74kiHyhX-Ke-sinQ0dSrm1W9aOFMBoFx-CEAMt3_laA/w640-h360/IMG_3688%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>View of the ranges to the southeast from Carestiato</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCbhBmfLUUfFRT4x8I4nCiX_LUe0tSTsr9lYEqdMPegrU-cCPzSTDZ74g_mKOthtkRoH9wT9IIdjWnA5uILB5-slMDa-NT2CzLmjia63g92g_zBmffioYUie6FDhHtqp-t4NVx3e9jIMqggXeDxD5ANk71dlKT2BNTLA5R2JZsbiJt53Cz6VrwQ/s4032/IMG_3690%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCbhBmfLUUfFRT4x8I4nCiX_LUe0tSTsr9lYEqdMPegrU-cCPzSTDZ74g_mKOthtkRoH9wT9IIdjWnA5uILB5-slMDa-NT2CzLmjia63g92g_zBmffioYUie6FDhHtqp-t4NVx3e9jIMqggXeDxD5ANk71dlKT2BNTLA5R2JZsbiJt53Cz6VrwQ/w640-h360/IMG_3690%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Don and Anne share a moment on the porch of the refugio - view to the west</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjertCprlzI5ex8GvNWk997VPdD8xv2XaqUm6NrHDU6MlCpHsyOitKR9UlkxfwIvP5R-MdbU4Qx9yKWCzaFQUy0H89BNaqkMarOqa8nvW8-EKohJ_v-o5oRtdxqGACTjU6taXOFhJx71Kf42a4BqtXCJCIeayst-Q-GmKluT56l0cXqoOOVhIFw/s4032/IMG_3696%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjertCprlzI5ex8GvNWk997VPdD8xv2XaqUm6NrHDU6MlCpHsyOitKR9UlkxfwIvP5R-MdbU4Qx9yKWCzaFQUy0H89BNaqkMarOqa8nvW8-EKohJ_v-o5oRtdxqGACTjU6taXOFhJx71Kf42a4BqtXCJCIeayst-Q-GmKluT56l0cXqoOOVhIFw/w640-h360/IMG_3696%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>View to the southeast from Carestiato</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Day 8 - Refugio Carestiato to Malga Pramper</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UT5BHqCogW0DoRc_mkJEStB2r5eKGZQm7bLX6EF4gp0UFPbJAyG08OopmYPhT-mvP3R_T925twVAKmpkSKSmMaHbs7AwhSXlZ0cXJ4fk5PhcNvXnjBc8HiB_Y315IOWiwFeJ-O4VV0WBLydVS7Ui1AdQuI4zoJ4WLkTnb1_AWtAg_UGLeY8xYA/s2880/IMG_3697%20copy.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2053" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UT5BHqCogW0DoRc_mkJEStB2r5eKGZQm7bLX6EF4gp0UFPbJAyG08OopmYPhT-mvP3R_T925twVAKmpkSKSmMaHbs7AwhSXlZ0cXJ4fk5PhcNvXnjBc8HiB_Y315IOWiwFeJ-O4VV0WBLydVS7Ui1AdQuI4zoJ4WLkTnb1_AWtAg_UGLeY8xYA/w456-h640/IMG_3697%20copy.HEIC" width="456" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leaving Refugio Carestiato through trees and mountains</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUc4TeMlPtIjLo59lmDWfH73ZSVDYsw3LCx5oqa1o734dY6_4uq-Htjw7YM3moA351gibWnDtmH8x5ZpRBF-3CrAEXL5tEgOm6AoCpkeEmX5koNwSee5-mhT800q2wvyUgPTdV4vnNyeJa4MoSrkZ2fXJnyYlmkE8BjEDonV12IQMzBf80iyyUw/s3240/IMG_3698%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3240" data-original-width="1823" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUc4TeMlPtIjLo59lmDWfH73ZSVDYsw3LCx5oqa1o734dY6_4uq-Htjw7YM3moA351gibWnDtmH8x5ZpRBF-3CrAEXL5tEgOm6AoCpkeEmX5koNwSee5-mhT800q2wvyUgPTdV4vnNyeJa4MoSrkZ2fXJnyYlmkE8BjEDonV12IQMzBf80iyyUw/w360-h640/IMG_3698%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This huge debris flow looked really recent and is visible on<br />Google Earth</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvmHxvWi92HUnrHraRFjrZsO5o3C2wZYBCS2FPsZVjRpJVkey10WtEa-VuwJRqielzpNOl5VZc3fsSOdLcj28wdqyM49VR-GE-mGtJHh0F-AATdtcUZVzpFynRjiEhKEd8rOZtCmRNomch9O5R9wpln5q_FRSaRcaJPasqkH256xfLgVQikUg8A/s2848/IMG_3699%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="2086" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvmHxvWi92HUnrHraRFjrZsO5o3C2wZYBCS2FPsZVjRpJVkey10WtEa-VuwJRqielzpNOl5VZc3fsSOdLcj28wdqyM49VR-GE-mGtJHh0F-AATdtcUZVzpFynRjiEhKEd8rOZtCmRNomch9O5R9wpln5q_FRSaRcaJPasqkH256xfLgVQikUg8A/w468-h640/IMG_3699%20copy.heic" width="468" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A quiet morning walk through the green</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLImqQzY9mpoDts9F5HVRVKbhs0t9cjHmK-yQ3mXlx6N6W0YuHnqVbqlTx5Qb9_7ZusRtQmPx0P_7lrc6cyOYzsanZqD4zqqbV4IeecP-5cqjm-wkeeqXk4YOL3ZRzdztayP4NPImcEHkE3HFuzkekzq1YFzCRBw0ON4eFONx2LKCTnmERObPzg/s2880/IMG_3703%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2880" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLImqQzY9mpoDts9F5HVRVKbhs0t9cjHmK-yQ3mXlx6N6W0YuHnqVbqlTx5Qb9_7ZusRtQmPx0P_7lrc6cyOYzsanZqD4zqqbV4IeecP-5cqjm-wkeeqXk4YOL3ZRzdztayP4NPImcEHkE3HFuzkekzq1YFzCRBw0ON4eFONx2LKCTnmERObPzg/w640-h360/IMG_3703%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This area south of Passo Duran was boggy</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9FVJ9TanpENmlV404LbAd0wsZR2AGAFPib-5wHNrwPLtizPKkzX7bOxAHgTSt-Hh2mDPP5XqBnVIf-RI0dfNSFTImCkDwjYSPTwtRuFT91IGUlw_xqk9tU87NioJnBaCfn8JBG_pQ2CmK8yCHK2R2r3I2SWgcfp71vyXsCMPYlOs-HVt_zVlEQ/s2880/IMG_3706%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1893" data-original-width="2880" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9FVJ9TanpENmlV404LbAd0wsZR2AGAFPib-5wHNrwPLtizPKkzX7bOxAHgTSt-Hh2mDPP5XqBnVIf-RI0dfNSFTImCkDwjYSPTwtRuFT91IGUlw_xqk9tU87NioJnBaCfn8JBG_pQ2CmK8yCHK2R2r3I2SWgcfp71vyXsCMPYlOs-HVt_zVlEQ/w640-h420/IMG_3706%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And quite lush!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJboIt5bDApdFfi-v-TaTt1t6GrBXyHo2xTws55R0ezDAiIkVRDWKblM6jjsqrHI84uA0AeUn3YBcM53Z4ybU_980TjgkyQjKnJ9mGqHPN0TXT1czSBpMRYca4vvBkjYyG_nJ9oBE4LFEcX9mZNko0GbsEa7b6JxyY9oXvEdCKe1nQ7VZvO9ydQ/s2520/IMG_3711%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1621" data-original-width="2520" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJboIt5bDApdFfi-v-TaTt1t6GrBXyHo2xTws55R0ezDAiIkVRDWKblM6jjsqrHI84uA0AeUn3YBcM53Z4ybU_980TjgkyQjKnJ9mGqHPN0TXT1czSBpMRYca4vvBkjYyG_nJ9oBE4LFEcX9mZNko0GbsEa7b6JxyY9oXvEdCKe1nQ7VZvO9ydQ/w640-h412/IMG_3711%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mountain ferns</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySgmFbD6ckxEEvJVa-G3AQUpgRZWrHoHFfp8ZEC_t-Ldxy8umkX3Jz7GlrA00rwiWxCWsMPe49olAT6LlWbAs10filE14WaXTJJV_Q1woem1Q-FkiGMAtWPS1pSMIMI7RYrSe3-C3QpuI9rlj3KhNhti9ycYxlXegCTi9i6x7vcuU7eEUvv442Q/s2880/IMG_3713%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2880" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySgmFbD6ckxEEvJVa-G3AQUpgRZWrHoHFfp8ZEC_t-Ldxy8umkX3Jz7GlrA00rwiWxCWsMPe49olAT6LlWbAs10filE14WaXTJJV_Q1woem1Q-FkiGMAtWPS1pSMIMI7RYrSe3-C3QpuI9rlj3KhNhti9ycYxlXegCTi9i6x7vcuU7eEUvv442Q/w640-h360/IMG_3713%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is the ruins of an old farm that took advantage of a large boulder for one of the walls</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBsUfl4ni05UL39HCnvHp4c83cvZyhhedTOC_YKrIFqdbc_SwIlBr_k73GsMdef2u9XpJl57mhCqHspYsE2NVKtUJOt3AQOpHlCK7lNPlTKXtweTBXsvwF-DwaSD35wiT_CJwqOW728WDnmSlOndUhDQ0K_hlAnznX4BXxohMUZaf4iS_0Nvo-A/s3960/IMG_3714%20copy.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2302" data-original-width="3960" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBsUfl4ni05UL39HCnvHp4c83cvZyhhedTOC_YKrIFqdbc_SwIlBr_k73GsMdef2u9XpJl57mhCqHspYsE2NVKtUJOt3AQOpHlCK7lNPlTKXtweTBXsvwF-DwaSD35wiT_CJwqOW728WDnmSlOndUhDQ0K_hlAnznX4BXxohMUZaf4iS_0Nvo-A/w640-h372/IMG_3714%20copy.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>After the dark forest walk, I really enjoyed this contour path across a rocky slope</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbsWURZRl7jRy087sRL7nnahyi9f3bunlrjyskZ84Hs1x_GJl-vLSVPAOs1EcV6KEaZci4ddtDT4VBkKETkU41sgpr88rCESYVlG9zHhlhZ6N1KXmEoJ9u_f3CqLdKn9I05yepAeAdqyRCA9NFtGtGM7UzUmnDqL4A9DC8XdUgH-b13awvj5ChA/s3460/IMG_3721%20copy.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2676" data-original-width="3460" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbsWURZRl7jRy087sRL7nnahyi9f3bunlrjyskZ84Hs1x_GJl-vLSVPAOs1EcV6KEaZci4ddtDT4VBkKETkU41sgpr88rCESYVlG9zHhlhZ6N1KXmEoJ9u_f3CqLdKn9I05yepAeAdqyRCA9NFtGtGM7UzUmnDqL4A9DC8XdUgH-b13awvj5ChA/w640-h494/IMG_3721%20copy.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We saw so many flowers and I've posted so few photos of them - this one is called </i><a href="https://www.gbif.org/species/7267549" target="_blank">Dianthus hyssopifolius</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1Jm5N7jTttaCo1a105ZohHRyCXBOkUzdwIQpDalEU8of-amDjasn6O8P6fbTwrBys6fVAIfXeGRg69v9C12O1EaZZTAEWoLUBkDpgyhbVeduP5mnyjqN88CkOgk__J3zPkBW0eUHOPdS_QbFR9xyZb5rFEDC-1zuFy4Z6PSri_kRlodA1kJqEQ/s4032/IMG_3724%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1Jm5N7jTttaCo1a105ZohHRyCXBOkUzdwIQpDalEU8of-amDjasn6O8P6fbTwrBys6fVAIfXeGRg69v9C12O1EaZZTAEWoLUBkDpgyhbVeduP5mnyjqN88CkOgk__J3zPkBW0eUHOPdS_QbFR9xyZb5rFEDC-1zuFy4Z6PSri_kRlodA1kJqEQ/w640-h360/IMG_3724%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Looking back to the contour path on the rocky slope</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CmumBu380m1eiQmEt_3euASVNIfQfppA8rwkt740yJthBqbgSwFFNcDGE-6ieKjXXxj_Q9ckD1ZS4LaMN9OK3BVRX4z-CTzDAHA5dyoYj7bj5HI6pqeWwJ2_oQS0BnK2TTTk0LTwikE6Sfql5d_k7moRauu7l7zrgjWLKYJTGto5j4M35ys6uQ/s3384/IMG_3732%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2087" data-original-width="3384" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CmumBu380m1eiQmEt_3euASVNIfQfppA8rwkt740yJthBqbgSwFFNcDGE-6ieKjXXxj_Q9ckD1ZS4LaMN9OK3BVRX4z-CTzDAHA5dyoYj7bj5HI6pqeWwJ2_oQS0BnK2TTTk0LTwikE6Sfql5d_k7moRauu7l7zrgjWLKYJTGto5j4M35ys6uQ/w640-h394/IMG_3732%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Into the clouds - I'm sure we missed out on some great scenery here</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIoft2aeIraUpdMvI66WgMLDb9pUPLD2I9JHS94F1hl_iBPrC29Bx1JiBesJxPWzJmwb4je0tBRAxYvRrHibKsc9dWpHudi0Gj_qbHxo1Bw_jmJ7_ekbfZzKQHoK7kvRasHnJ62AKPdA4dVhvp3AgKq5W0PZxRABms-fZrbo3E37-PlpRkup_mQ/s2818/IMG_3733%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1973" data-original-width="2818" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIoft2aeIraUpdMvI66WgMLDb9pUPLD2I9JHS94F1hl_iBPrC29Bx1JiBesJxPWzJmwb4je0tBRAxYvRrHibKsc9dWpHudi0Gj_qbHxo1Bw_jmJ7_ekbfZzKQHoK7kvRasHnJ62AKPdA4dVhvp3AgKq5W0PZxRABms-fZrbo3E37-PlpRkup_mQ/w640-h448/IMG_3733%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>There are many different kinds of preserves in the Dolomites - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolomiti_Bellunesi_National_Park" target="_blank">this is one of them</a>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhvihXM53QzkoqzCvuW7ZPwkcLOSEmADQvlvyMWQ9eZo4H7aLOv5AUC3cUtkeUdCGEIfI5Z-84ilCbKP5s8TswZn6xfiUgDbmCfqA5d9tRz4x-uyf4UqrcaE4dwoROueEPQEKioIAhD-4a704WKZPCLR1evsA6J2Znyyi250IDBtDOrrNhRFslw/s4032/IMG_3734%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhvihXM53QzkoqzCvuW7ZPwkcLOSEmADQvlvyMWQ9eZo4H7aLOv5AUC3cUtkeUdCGEIfI5Z-84ilCbKP5s8TswZn6xfiUgDbmCfqA5d9tRz4x-uyf4UqrcaE4dwoROueEPQEKioIAhD-4a704WKZPCLR1evsA6J2Znyyi250IDBtDOrrNhRFslw/w640-h360/IMG_3734%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A World War I ruin built in 1915</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9BN-DRqMJg8NS_YZyh63mnu1Vxj0Np5xxu1ax9-J26GSuc6l6ORzcIW0tKDW5MlvjboS3ecRGdbhJKkgvm41Z9JhHP3XYfs8abhtnsIseKMqNXm-LTxxlkKsT4vAPpgNWcf9ZeINth2mSQ6sHDgmUS2vsZ6QHjaZddWCedIioJPJrSri4Bq43A/s3548/IMG_3737%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2051" data-original-width="3548" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9BN-DRqMJg8NS_YZyh63mnu1Vxj0Np5xxu1ax9-J26GSuc6l6ORzcIW0tKDW5MlvjboS3ecRGdbhJKkgvm41Z9JhHP3XYfs8abhtnsIseKMqNXm-LTxxlkKsT4vAPpgNWcf9ZeINth2mSQ6sHDgmUS2vsZ6QHjaZddWCedIioJPJrSri4Bq43A/w640-h370/IMG_3737%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The tail junction to Malga Pramper (malga is Italian for "farm")</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTizwq9GESkDujwA_1QUYmpK-vxGXfdBE1Z14zdPubAQP42i0qMA1Lb6uOezWL2Gw0_FF9SLDpvaplFWv656pdbuMK_j-D3ITwI5xCszdtCX_ZSx19z9zGgihrsS7LPV7MKTnywtUNS31biq_HqsfSJSRcrS8XwP7WwfDpjjYsAMwDo50xj5V3A/s4032/IMG_3740%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTizwq9GESkDujwA_1QUYmpK-vxGXfdBE1Z14zdPubAQP42i0qMA1Lb6uOezWL2Gw0_FF9SLDpvaplFWv656pdbuMK_j-D3ITwI5xCszdtCX_ZSx19z9zGgihrsS7LPV7MKTnywtUNS31biq_HqsfSJSRcrS8XwP7WwfDpjjYsAMwDo50xj5V3A/w640-h360/IMG_3740%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Cima Pramper tucked into the clouds</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneAWJXxA2De4NU_5NO-3kcT0LO2VFZXBUcbxXsINGggTrrY6b0vZ7YIU7tRPom9j0d3ACOmpgjtagCHJ25tmOUHmRuczf84yfAL18y8xqT1hdMYTn1TL5fzFkc0kzcXt-aptrOk0QBZVxakVIczGJ6Z0nuORWo4h5B3PLP3MxOVIskoQ9FqvYdg/s3453/IMG_3746%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2167" data-original-width="3453" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneAWJXxA2De4NU_5NO-3kcT0LO2VFZXBUcbxXsINGggTrrY6b0vZ7YIU7tRPom9j0d3ACOmpgjtagCHJ25tmOUHmRuczf84yfAL18y8xqT1hdMYTn1TL5fzFkc0kzcXt-aptrOk0QBZVxakVIczGJ6Z0nuORWo4h5B3PLP3MxOVIskoQ9FqvYdg/w640-h402/IMG_3746%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Look at those debris flows issuing from the mountain!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijySNDtp7jguKgUCNF0GuldXqavRwKFlWUhBdecvAbdLxTjgUfx3InPmkt9gHN6ieg3X8Uc3VO3BwvMmKn7ILDf9D9JnUGgUaL4CC9GJwOlrOHz3ej28iyz7g2K9PIEL2AoAkQ0h4yqDJ0dNO8XQqn06DgLCHduUStVx37AXvQb6kNtBNcV-BFVg/s3439/IMG_3751%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="3439" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijySNDtp7jguKgUCNF0GuldXqavRwKFlWUhBdecvAbdLxTjgUfx3InPmkt9gHN6ieg3X8Uc3VO3BwvMmKn7ILDf9D9JnUGgUaL4CC9GJwOlrOHz3ej28iyz7g2K9PIEL2AoAkQ0h4yqDJ0dNO8XQqn06DgLCHduUStVx37AXvQb6kNtBNcV-BFVg/w640-h310/IMG_3751%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Malga Pramper sleeps only a maximum of 8 people - there were six of us this night</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAa9Dk9ZuXHaIqQ6y-_A34uUR0MjL3K9UasN42QlLqA8bhyD4U7EIKDmbCoSiCZ3d28TOnzTURQ1F_3JukH9UFfVdrpJNtyyOn9dUKwar9RMJaLSBfZyq-Ma4Fz_JJSKqUNnH4WWEDuBnyDPQmvmD7ywbD4RUF4KFEG664I9ZytG_7VceXfrdOXg/s2764/IMG_3752%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2214" data-original-width="2764" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAa9Dk9ZuXHaIqQ6y-_A34uUR0MjL3K9UasN42QlLqA8bhyD4U7EIKDmbCoSiCZ3d28TOnzTURQ1F_3JukH9UFfVdrpJNtyyOn9dUKwar9RMJaLSBfZyq-Ma4Fz_JJSKqUNnH4WWEDuBnyDPQmvmD7ywbD4RUF4KFEG664I9ZytG_7VceXfrdOXg/w640-h512/IMG_3752%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>They make fresh cheeses at this farm with all of the dairy cows</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHkSaXvItnslN0Sk7cbA1azfHp3xNidDDf0Nk7ZNM8kcBcg4xQeqJmkk5AZKHnl9A9ClffUTOiPjjIst648zG9hKdCem2C47k01BtSYqSi3WPbi6LTgmy8cv8HHW21km330FwN3dSV90pywD55_eVI6zdsaFg2zPpMy3i92SqTuw7_8oPQvsNRw/s3152/IMG_3754%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1889" data-original-width="3152" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHkSaXvItnslN0Sk7cbA1azfHp3xNidDDf0Nk7ZNM8kcBcg4xQeqJmkk5AZKHnl9A9ClffUTOiPjjIst648zG9hKdCem2C47k01BtSYqSi3WPbi6LTgmy8cv8HHW21km330FwN3dSV90pywD55_eVI6zdsaFg2zPpMy3i92SqTuw7_8oPQvsNRw/w640-h384/IMG_3754%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fresh cheeses made here at the farm</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDvsZMZwvXfXCw_DJmebj2xzK7WMneVjyILvN1Va5HHQVKUyIUwdOQVybvDmqe7foY4dvPjwTfSHi_PUE587h__otJfRK2xTZZvsH87Fyw9Epvr04d3ba06TlX30nudB_NcTgJJHeLX6Geekrcs04BLeJGmaQ5MA2xz7eU2gK6R-SrhBtFqCHBQ/s4032/IMG_3759%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDvsZMZwvXfXCw_DJmebj2xzK7WMneVjyILvN1Va5HHQVKUyIUwdOQVybvDmqe7foY4dvPjwTfSHi_PUE587h__otJfRK2xTZZvsH87Fyw9Epvr04d3ba06TlX30nudB_NcTgJJHeLX6Geekrcs04BLeJGmaQ5MA2xz7eU2gK6R-SrhBtFqCHBQ/w640-h360/IMG_3759%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The ricotta was made in the morning and consumed in about 10 minutes in the afternoon</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XRGdcjwfYo6HU8tj3lHE__DKBqBSmKPQo2JhqP8ND-A0iCTEY0mkI-A_tszoq7TvWUHM9abyOEhlW2SvFiXi2yFXXkBm37QHwnTFYD-PVm4_3N0O3wzQ5OsUbQCG3_5hFcCmTXg7cuM5OcuwwWwhCFU8APrXK56ofGZdODs-nnmaizhgndYY2Q/s2566/IMG_3772%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2232" data-original-width="2566" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XRGdcjwfYo6HU8tj3lHE__DKBqBSmKPQo2JhqP8ND-A0iCTEY0mkI-A_tszoq7TvWUHM9abyOEhlW2SvFiXi2yFXXkBm37QHwnTFYD-PVm4_3N0O3wzQ5OsUbQCG3_5hFcCmTXg7cuM5OcuwwWwhCFU8APrXK56ofGZdODs-nnmaizhgndYY2Q/w640-h556/IMG_3772%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Painting on the wall inside the farm</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div></b><b style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Day 9 - Malga Pramper to Val di Zoldo Village</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div></b><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50jJz2EdbW4gPa9gBBB2nFmIftFElBq__8GrTXRCTLFYtHN9qo5GE88kGiahNk9-XiAQRNhfoylQVoJz23t7undvHX3psrHPFSF_tOAMnDvTPvmVA91RxL4Kp9i6ZHfCCIl_APEewOWOor993nsdwr_B_dLm8xRHLBX9Sm-e1_Is_whTGWBB7Xw/s3075/IMG_3777%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2062" data-original-width="3075" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50jJz2EdbW4gPa9gBBB2nFmIftFElBq__8GrTXRCTLFYtHN9qo5GE88kGiahNk9-XiAQRNhfoylQVoJz23t7undvHX3psrHPFSF_tOAMnDvTPvmVA91RxL4Kp9i6ZHfCCIl_APEewOWOor993nsdwr_B_dLm8xRHLBX9Sm-e1_Is_whTGWBB7Xw/w640-h430/IMG_3777%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The last day was bittersweet - the trek was over as the sun emerged</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPs7eoGhy0mfrd9ZaU_EeFJzmXPbdkwjwixcX-0knS8pyef41OSgyr7n_w7vCLiHK4MIucg5-IP4JWOx9Ck5EutauAAHexuCZVkDYJc84nyuEy1fpD6O9no1QkpFA7PF1TrgWkxWmVMjEcpi9zJ8x8AfbB6uXzxBSUyNEWkMs17dDcgk8V8BAMZg/s3124/IMG_3821%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2034" data-original-width="3124" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPs7eoGhy0mfrd9ZaU_EeFJzmXPbdkwjwixcX-0knS8pyef41OSgyr7n_w7vCLiHK4MIucg5-IP4JWOx9Ck5EutauAAHexuCZVkDYJc84nyuEy1fpD6O9no1QkpFA7PF1TrgWkxWmVMjEcpi9zJ8x8AfbB6uXzxBSUyNEWkMs17dDcgk8V8BAMZg/w640-h416/IMG_3821%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The setting of Val di Zoldo</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fauE4YHwt9itHp58eKWXpOe-6EG1cuy1N86yisiX8G_LcWcEvFnJ2uzNF4lZ7_LYwOfNalgvz7fdmyDvmOBugR54sey-q22WkHeCYR7_n_21bG6Ql_MtWJIZBosZwQL2zfgvrvJVg_KdUzmGEzX4JHoQVA-QwjDIg3tH6SkszzuBEbSjfiXnFA/s4032/IMG_3822%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fauE4YHwt9itHp58eKWXpOe-6EG1cuy1N86yisiX8G_LcWcEvFnJ2uzNF4lZ7_LYwOfNalgvz7fdmyDvmOBugR54sey-q22WkHeCYR7_n_21bG6Ql_MtWJIZBosZwQL2zfgvrvJVg_KdUzmGEzX4JHoQVA-QwjDIg3tH6SkszzuBEbSjfiXnFA/w640-h360/IMG_3822%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I want to thank my hiking mates who made this trip so remarkable - Thank you!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclgqHZCKd57cfLhlD5cE3TlANJ6LQQmfnC2OymEiIXh4qil9e7fsfRh3V6lLkRnrsbfpTP6jM7NdPDYKdXLFfC_C8_ti35kHdC6tnicwVffKvOxMktYrmBFAQ9SO4-bG-8RZ0LrOJ4UvT0O94wY7_vmDk4w8dscbSG0tF8fv1Eh-GLfEujaca-A/s4032/IMG_3823%20copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclgqHZCKd57cfLhlD5cE3TlANJ6LQQmfnC2OymEiIXh4qil9e7fsfRh3V6lLkRnrsbfpTP6jM7NdPDYKdXLFfC_C8_ti35kHdC6tnicwVffKvOxMktYrmBFAQ9SO4-bG-8RZ0LrOJ4UvT0O94wY7_vmDk4w8dscbSG0tF8fv1Eh-GLfEujaca-A/w360-h640/IMG_3823%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And to this special lady who is the light of my life!</i></td></tr></tbody></table></b></div>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-832855862020867802023-08-27T17:16:00.008-07:002023-08-27T17:17:23.794-07:00The Dolomites - Days 5 and 6 - Refugio Cinque Torri to Staulanza to Refugio Tissi<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0uPw6iwJemt1yoCLc1PzyMJiyrUCNH76VmmqMkBBer0UEjyxXaR7wVFHfV8-GC7iK9T6bsf7qQsxsXxvONF6RbgNxkOzp-2bkynhQd42uz1_HmeNE6hSQEo9hTEYKHvSHDtFi1IrFbu8a2plxdAUcLSZmqLFhluJ8zARp0aD2Gxhwwgg1lWYXA/s2304/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%201.12.40%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="2274" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0uPw6iwJemt1yoCLc1PzyMJiyrUCNH76VmmqMkBBer0UEjyxXaR7wVFHfV8-GC7iK9T6bsf7qQsxsXxvONF6RbgNxkOzp-2bkynhQd42uz1_HmeNE6hSQEo9hTEYKHvSHDtFi1IrFbu8a2plxdAUcLSZmqLFhluJ8zARp0aD2Gxhwwgg1lWYXA/w632-h640/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%201.12.40%20PM.png" width="632" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Route of hike on Day 5</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Now midway through the hike, we had attained our trail legs and felt at ease with the trail conditions and the terrain of the Dolomites. However, Day 5 turned out to be the longest of the whole trip at just under 15 miles. At mile 10, I began to feel hotspots on the soles of my feet and needed to take care of it before they blew-up into full-fledged blisters. And as I sat down to have Helen tend to my feet, my cell phone butt-dialed two friends just waking up at 7 AM in California (my apologies Don and Vincent). All in a days karma. The scenery on these two days was every bit as good as previous days - maybe even more spectacular if that is possible! And the weather cooperated nicely as you will see.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Day 5 - Refugio Cinque Torri to Staulanza</span></b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnsDgYLhC22UmNbOl0oUdIWLOHlWnmQSh9cX7h5IKeSbVaFR-AZmRsjkPyhC2WcQlotTEv_fuGTqQEB78-KRhJMa2rcfHBitKk99rN_s85LvOsbNK5vrw6REHtAfm9g-hMB2R-X280bJlvzJXka6J620v8oxJ8j06YKqQHzvy0m7IrY0ns5xmVw/s1870/IMG_3475%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1870" data-original-width="1562" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnsDgYLhC22UmNbOl0oUdIWLOHlWnmQSh9cX7h5IKeSbVaFR-AZmRsjkPyhC2WcQlotTEv_fuGTqQEB78-KRhJMa2rcfHBitKk99rN_s85LvOsbNK5vrw6REHtAfm9g-hMB2R-X280bJlvzJXka6J620v8oxJ8j06YKqQHzvy0m7IrY0ns5xmVw/w534-h640/IMG_3475%20copy.heic" width="534" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We said goodbye to the Cinqui Torri, one of the more famous landforms in the Dolomites</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBLFX2qFIFV-MO0YnroMkXyv_Ck4OThgupp_-5BKfcEGE_DQo9hKeoFXhkv7KYC9VEYA1Y5mHXQmIWSYc5s1VDZH7vZmaZVdpkQQeK0mbDPgHJR1F91eNIGr6wyMFa2ENghiOiawkOevjGvN4iG-j0gll1UWS4Mf-caJ8gF79nPR6u57AseYnPw/s3240/IMG_3477%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1823" data-original-width="3240" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBLFX2qFIFV-MO0YnroMkXyv_Ck4OThgupp_-5BKfcEGE_DQo9hKeoFXhkv7KYC9VEYA1Y5mHXQmIWSYc5s1VDZH7vZmaZVdpkQQeK0mbDPgHJR1F91eNIGr6wyMFa2ENghiOiawkOevjGvN4iG-j0gll1UWS4Mf-caJ8gF79nPR6u57AseYnPw/w640-h360/IMG_3477%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A steep descent greeted us first thing in the morning - I likely frowned knowing that "up" was to follow</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmy-6dNT-pRurPE7URV7DXSR3aGI96ULp7KtSukvC7W4fjBk32hZL_IPPO0li9oOyuVdJUL-DRAx7eJaVrHtd9kWsIp7vspiwwPLwGWMJsWr0ae8HlNy6QgG0AlOE4XCMcV4mQOHARPj81JI5k7IEx_GPX-ubmiyfX0K4zWG9TCMgUGtwXs3VHw/s3600/IMG_3480%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="2025" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmy-6dNT-pRurPE7URV7DXSR3aGI96ULp7KtSukvC7W4fjBk32hZL_IPPO0li9oOyuVdJUL-DRAx7eJaVrHtd9kWsIp7vspiwwPLwGWMJsWr0ae8HlNy6QgG0AlOE4XCMcV4mQOHARPj81JI5k7IEx_GPX-ubmiyfX0K4zWG9TCMgUGtwXs3VHw/w360-h640/IMG_3480%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yes, there is a hiker (Helen) where the cliff "touches" the trail</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNey9XhGB7WNZIx_arUfP9uXsNBP1XJV6zVHBtWk4mtO_L6PD-2Yv22xszxhWexrfswJ_EWxjFcgx3FrhfCuLmWqiXnxeFygRZMM-D7VlXrTpIblu_SHRE03t-i_CY5mDDCAu59EI6evAgYS1fX7deaCr-dnoEXHHW8Q7JKt48K8Iy4pZBUq-og/s2968/IMG_3486%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2113" data-original-width="2968" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNey9XhGB7WNZIx_arUfP9uXsNBP1XJV6zVHBtWk4mtO_L6PD-2Yv22xszxhWexrfswJ_EWxjFcgx3FrhfCuLmWqiXnxeFygRZMM-D7VlXrTpIblu_SHRE03t-i_CY5mDDCAu59EI6evAgYS1fX7deaCr-dnoEXHHW8Q7JKt48K8Iy4pZBUq-og/w640-h456/IMG_3486%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A southern view toward Passo Giau</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzh1mhe7nPZlWsk9CLN5c8KDmmylKY2kSRvs6MeWvYlA2TX7h0bU4zN0da4S8q_oOdQrFRUClWv1uDlCJciA5n2_LIH_dmm-fOGBmzMXOVTw_QrmZcTGuPw6pUO2AU7m4jaVgof4n4h4cS7ax_23HTN_CGK8YtAKO_Ov1N4vQhbm4YUzLX1WucA/s4032/IMG_3487%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzh1mhe7nPZlWsk9CLN5c8KDmmylKY2kSRvs6MeWvYlA2TX7h0bU4zN0da4S8q_oOdQrFRUClWv1uDlCJciA5n2_LIH_dmm-fOGBmzMXOVTw_QrmZcTGuPw6pUO2AU7m4jaVgof4n4h4cS7ax_23HTN_CGK8YtAKO_Ov1N4vQhbm4YUzLX1WucA/w640-h360/IMG_3487%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Looking back to the north from near Passo Giau - Monte Ragusela rises above</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ffxMkf9MtR8F7QuUBikcl7OWvJj3Mz6wxf-MPfTo9s-JdNuGU88rsVTWuAcUxqmjzVi3-n4bd22P8pGHaPb5CEQPAothTWOPHjxXNYttoyHBazJE9NJ_m4dFSNnuD7K_jkr9gM2NgDgWClQt6-ixBvcXsoWvrmQ0n7JTHkYI81IlhLqJ8gD4nQ/s2483/IMG_3490%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1820" data-original-width="2483" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ffxMkf9MtR8F7QuUBikcl7OWvJj3Mz6wxf-MPfTo9s-JdNuGU88rsVTWuAcUxqmjzVi3-n4bd22P8pGHaPb5CEQPAothTWOPHjxXNYttoyHBazJE9NJ_m4dFSNnuD7K_jkr9gM2NgDgWClQt6-ixBvcXsoWvrmQ0n7JTHkYI81IlhLqJ8gD4nQ/w640-h470/IMG_3490%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>From Passo Giau looking east toward Monte Antelao - another distinct and separate massif in the Dolomites</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKT2_odd7p0bm_6V_LVVuHwlJbrYrQb8v7iBfcsMnIFq9GRpiZdGYIN1ErM7KnxmrkK-ESLnNxmztoXWHr8wq00Ue89b6j-ogsFfqxwFMjZTeDChwzF2-_m_3uUxMoN6CkOA8whr9Sv93qFqDi9K7G3ddSFtQTfE6jSf-erOo7s-sQ0foEqYhHIA/s2570/IMG_3493%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2009" data-original-width="2570" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKT2_odd7p0bm_6V_LVVuHwlJbrYrQb8v7iBfcsMnIFq9GRpiZdGYIN1ErM7KnxmrkK-ESLnNxmztoXWHr8wq00Ue89b6j-ogsFfqxwFMjZTeDChwzF2-_m_3uUxMoN6CkOA8whr9Sv93qFqDi9K7G3ddSFtQTfE6jSf-erOo7s-sQ0foEqYhHIA/w640-h500/IMG_3493%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A glaciated valley points toward Marmolada, the highest peak in the Dolomites at 10,968 feet</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuNiTDyPdC89DWpiELplJgx-RYWx6BxuUc7TsSr8k2DHwyfQ2qxrJsYjtlhLDqiZaD34bOUTIzFYoZji_gcAKu25akSSR3YyGpF3lSo50-t_2UCcfzdBztABlAq38M17lf5RPJy5LFpGRzmaWxUmu8weP0CUCDLg3Lg5QEUQzMV3XUWNyQl2jcg/s3294/IMG_3498%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2051" data-original-width="3294" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuNiTDyPdC89DWpiELplJgx-RYWx6BxuUc7TsSr8k2DHwyfQ2qxrJsYjtlhLDqiZaD34bOUTIzFYoZji_gcAKu25akSSR3YyGpF3lSo50-t_2UCcfzdBztABlAq38M17lf5RPJy5LFpGRzmaWxUmu8weP0CUCDLg3Lg5QEUQzMV3XUWNyQl2jcg/w640-h398/IMG_3498%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The trudge up to Forcella Giau looking northwest - note the northeast dip on the strata</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJksYzP0qMGq7DZutH6koNNkc_xFpyd8CB_fFEU3k_vTFru5ENF4w18b3IDJ3RnYOjQm01KnMpJ-E4m5_wjfIE2vgwDW3w0MFUcgV7B9t1lbTerBuzktrbvqXKI-gXbANX5lVSCKL-rT4tpuUqyCLiKXX8QGNf-MlAJbqwq4_FHWxfL6KkmOBzA/s2880/IMG_3499%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1821" data-original-width="2880" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJksYzP0qMGq7DZutH6koNNkc_xFpyd8CB_fFEU3k_vTFru5ENF4w18b3IDJ3RnYOjQm01KnMpJ-E4m5_wjfIE2vgwDW3w0MFUcgV7B9t1lbTerBuzktrbvqXKI-gXbANX5lVSCKL-rT4tpuUqyCLiKXX8QGNf-MlAJbqwq4_FHWxfL6KkmOBzA/w640-h404/IMG_3499%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Finally! Something other than white Triassic limestone - a brown shale and sandstone</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifMX2xu2El0NFWZVRDO_rqTJ0L4KmIq72WQYRoTkK0enwANobQ8QtdPMQ7G5er6TC1esm3xNJei6DO_p_qtBIUwBc2jsJmtVgvIG2v0yhi0x1xS7mMO5oOzZMQLsDF9hDRmOg7gI3BEV5mVtlauyG4CZ9AITlNEgQ1LhsnSNVrIee99T20FvhsQ/s3125/IMG_3507%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2087" data-original-width="3125" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifMX2xu2El0NFWZVRDO_rqTJ0L4KmIq72WQYRoTkK0enwANobQ8QtdPMQ7G5er6TC1esm3xNJei6DO_p_qtBIUwBc2jsJmtVgvIG2v0yhi0x1xS7mMO5oOzZMQLsDF9hDRmOg7gI3BEV5mVtlauyG4CZ9AITlNEgQ1LhsnSNVrIee99T20FvhsQ/w640-h428/IMG_3507%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Moving easily </i><i>from Passo Giau </i><i>toward the east with Mount Pelmo looming in the distance</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKhs74ZXV1EuFdVj1iAkPSJnR5j0eNp4ZS0AxyfefhcW_y-qqtQFYyZeUenhO8h7ExzTe_lh3GnWNWN-ZeRXK_kjO4uND_DRC0XO28be0RPZe17_O_li9-vBEe7HYTM4XPfUmHaSyhn5jQ_7Z2Z_WGVW3gvHeTeIamtSKqXPbfH1YJizviZCepw/s3669/IMG_3508%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2185" data-original-width="3669" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKhs74ZXV1EuFdVj1iAkPSJnR5j0eNp4ZS0AxyfefhcW_y-qqtQFYyZeUenhO8h7ExzTe_lh3GnWNWN-ZeRXK_kjO4uND_DRC0XO28be0RPZe17_O_li9-vBEe7HYTM4XPfUmHaSyhn5jQ_7Z2Z_WGVW3gvHeTeIamtSKqXPbfH1YJizviZCepw/w640-h382/IMG_3508%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The size of the boulders was astounding but even they were dwarfed by the immense relief of the mountains</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoSDhpo9AcXXG9Vp71nCO5Oc_UEySLOWoOdfVFAGh2sAQnCAva6u6VD_f6ioqtrjwRvNGY46mRA0jgLQmMGP1rBmRKoobNOHA3pXvFPaCeoPMFBPJU_sErudkXwg3LSoZcLeVJHtAf0DxZxNVnTFDjJdH7yRlXslMMI3DuM6oaEq52Rl8BfcpHg/s4032/IMG_3511%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoSDhpo9AcXXG9Vp71nCO5Oc_UEySLOWoOdfVFAGh2sAQnCAva6u6VD_f6ioqtrjwRvNGY46mRA0jgLQmMGP1rBmRKoobNOHA3pXvFPaCeoPMFBPJU_sErudkXwg3LSoZcLeVJHtAf0DxZxNVnTFDjJdH7yRlXslMMI3DuM6oaEq52Rl8BfcpHg/w640-h360/IMG_3511%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This was a relatively easy passage toward Forcella (Pass) Ambrizzola - and oh, so scenic!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>There were a few interpretive signs along the way and some of them had English translations. Below is a cross-section seen along the trail near Forcella Ambrizzola, along with an English translation on the formation of the Dolomites. The text looks to be a direct translation from Italian to English. A translation by me of the signed translation is as follows: <i>The modern appearance and spectacular formation of the Dolomites is the result of multiple events over long spans of geologic time, that act together to make these mountains unique. And it is the presence of alternating rock types - harder layers that form plateaus and cliffs - and softer rocks that weather and degrade readily to form slopes and valleys. This combination yields the varied topography of peaks and valleys. </i>The last part about French mineralogist Dolomieu is readily understood. Not mentioned here are the glaciers that swept through the Dolomites to excavate the deep valleys. The red lines below are faults. The reference to hydrochloric acid means that limestone will readily fizz when in contact with HCl but dolomite (or dolostone as it is now being called) will only fizz with Hal after being powdered with a sharp instrument.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mR0dmzN0gvBT_KRg6SE88s6CR2HwJV-7y3Zb7_vZakFa2jVzOHamT0rA5c_yvLQfcihLgZpD71XQPfFCap5E-7uHxv6egYu5rkdwT9F8xvJDIqJUPJfJYJQhQKj_zCOBfn4bYdgOOT4nZ8HZhZpltoFhd1LGWsSyAq8zeoR851ktogCe91ttaQ/s2964/IMG_3519%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1970" data-original-width="2964" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mR0dmzN0gvBT_KRg6SE88s6CR2HwJV-7y3Zb7_vZakFa2jVzOHamT0rA5c_yvLQfcihLgZpD71XQPfFCap5E-7uHxv6egYu5rkdwT9F8xvJDIqJUPJfJYJQhQKj_zCOBfn4bYdgOOT4nZ8HZhZpltoFhd1LGWsSyAq8zeoR851ktogCe91ttaQ/w640-h426/IMG_3519%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMo0WHDGfRrubbhiyQ8C3aaVNtXoE4tBD8Rf6zOg9bshajnbqUVj9_J0W7v2vEhT4h-A2ePKDtyx4EeBeB3mNJV869wJ0Fv_HEOD__9HJudUiyDutDBgSVB-fSeYLLvg9UMBFeXDY0tC8jyiBfiVWJ5pFoUmPQIBFFcYhSHlJIKNWYIdKPO2T7VA/s2749/IMG_3520%20copy.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2749" data-original-width="2677" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMo0WHDGfRrubbhiyQ8C3aaVNtXoE4tBD8Rf6zOg9bshajnbqUVj9_J0W7v2vEhT4h-A2ePKDtyx4EeBeB3mNJV869wJ0Fv_HEOD__9HJudUiyDutDBgSVB-fSeYLLvg9UMBFeXDY0tC8jyiBfiVWJ5pFoUmPQIBFFcYhSHlJIKNWYIdKPO2T7VA/w624-h640/IMG_3520%20copy.HEIC" width="624" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaK5LYGYiJlLze0sFvXGQj-s8f6RNCQKI9mhkJ1t-lBBLtpUbXhQG7jdwxaaUxRWwWcIa7o0aCyFiBNEN8RodAT6DC2IIqirwZJ_h4v1yTBSSXKhU-7KSiVcB7e23afQjJyAyaXUr5_BkrEvaN-1XQWwfeFECiqzUgZksC5g6fCwcgGTWTioeag/s4032/IMG_3525%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaK5LYGYiJlLze0sFvXGQj-s8f6RNCQKI9mhkJ1t-lBBLtpUbXhQG7jdwxaaUxRWwWcIa7o0aCyFiBNEN8RodAT6DC2IIqirwZJ_h4v1yTBSSXKhU-7KSiVcB7e23afQjJyAyaXUr5_BkrEvaN-1XQWwfeFECiqzUgZksC5g6fCwcgGTWTioeag/w640-h360/IMG_3525%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cortina d'Ampezzo, seen from Forcella Ambrizzola, will host three Olympic events in 2026</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNDRNxBIx-xpQBDdoIH7UlQv4Rz1PzqrPQM9o-ebsAbpuLV8EV-i944RKYfL3Clb0rCpWSfYbind7ZIZUW-nneS3Mo_LVPgRCohd3RXQ2-JOojm8-T0Q0d9MWmW5XeA_M3NqJJsdMNL9agvO9w6WBk-ag2kFq9SPCJUs_OCfw7iTKgq6tmeSVgA/s3711/IMG_3536%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1978" data-original-width="3711" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNDRNxBIx-xpQBDdoIH7UlQv4Rz1PzqrPQM9o-ebsAbpuLV8EV-i944RKYfL3Clb0rCpWSfYbind7ZIZUW-nneS3Mo_LVPgRCohd3RXQ2-JOojm8-T0Q0d9MWmW5XeA_M3NqJJsdMNL9agvO9w6WBk-ag2kFq9SPCJUs_OCfw7iTKgq6tmeSVgA/w640-h342/IMG_3536%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rest stop along the trail with a fantastic view of Mt. Pelmo in the distance, elevation 10,394 feet</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc367mNZTiv_5HLA3eQN7M50yXewSgLBH88BpWbELNg_cxOP3IMwFUPmw9tWhUXEiziPPKecWBgT3Ggh54Yze6Qy-0pFi89nd4qNFo3Zlx6f9I3FCdlnuHQLxaeBp-Tm78YXCxC4nMEAGRl9a-CwTjR7kjN4ZvD3lbmAdh0Z6U1XHPMR1p5dHAsQ/s3255/IMG_3538%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2221" data-original-width="3255" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc367mNZTiv_5HLA3eQN7M50yXewSgLBH88BpWbELNg_cxOP3IMwFUPmw9tWhUXEiziPPKecWBgT3Ggh54Yze6Qy-0pFi89nd4qNFo3Zlx6f9I3FCdlnuHQLxaeBp-Tm78YXCxC4nMEAGRl9a-CwTjR7kjN4ZvD3lbmAdh0Z6U1XHPMR1p5dHAsQ/w640-h436/IMG_3538%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Triassic limestone and flowers frame a view of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Pelmo" target="_blank">Mt. Pelmo</a></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBL8Eq5OUTo7fL81pvPAedTLI-zoTZjFlw-WBSBd2cvy51UjCx2V16ZSWvxSQ6kR_DpGT648yb2khF_vkXwR7djzWEgNcHQ24Xncv6naZNQkfQ17fzyrR01PdHWmY8gq2X7qzqv5q0ESJT-2Rl-IwfXsp4vaC6Tn55NcPhUnGRcMLi8BJd_yeNcw/s2872/IMG_3539%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2872" data-original-width="2248" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBL8Eq5OUTo7fL81pvPAedTLI-zoTZjFlw-WBSBd2cvy51UjCx2V16ZSWvxSQ6kR_DpGT648yb2khF_vkXwR7djzWEgNcHQ24Xncv6naZNQkfQ17fzyrR01PdHWmY8gq2X7qzqv5q0ESJT-2Rl-IwfXsp4vaC6Tn55NcPhUnGRcMLi8BJd_yeNcw/w500-h640/IMG_3539%20copy.heic" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Along the road in the left distance is where I developed some</i><i> hot spots on my feet</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGTImpUytPHQup1cwJ86Iqvi-Fqw_RPYJSElUVtX80F-HohbtjeFP54Abi33jYRlgtvNXxKXMzQxVcWqgbO_SqzMahT4zk7Oj9wa9E7nmFyHhtW0iyQgfKkA3HXQpLiJAlbK_OGC6eR2vAs-5WCRv9L_PcxT0j3CoMGl3yLYNRXwCuLhAx8r0VQ/s3397/IMG_3544%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3397" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGTImpUytPHQup1cwJ86Iqvi-Fqw_RPYJSElUVtX80F-HohbtjeFP54Abi33jYRlgtvNXxKXMzQxVcWqgbO_SqzMahT4zk7Oj9wa9E7nmFyHhtW0iyQgfKkA3HXQpLiJAlbK_OGC6eR2vAs-5WCRv9L_PcxT0j3CoMGl3yLYNRXwCuLhAx8r0VQ/w428-h640/IMG_3544%20copy.heic" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Graceful Mt. Pelmo</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOaqqqkb20H4FRvas20PF44mUlGRIu9r4NK-mB02Yo7qXRTZWuAg6aTOKJGg34esIXwdIyPZczt8t0s0oBjdBsTdrvXmZ913YGWOLRHPtZiWOWReUJ-wegxHzhgwQQeWOHUzSkKJHaOkhFAT7VKWoGE2Gq8-MsyA04hP2CuLb28nZAex0gFO0TQ/s3490/IMG_3547%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2150" data-original-width="3490" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOaqqqkb20H4FRvas20PF44mUlGRIu9r4NK-mB02Yo7qXRTZWuAg6aTOKJGg34esIXwdIyPZczt8t0s0oBjdBsTdrvXmZ913YGWOLRHPtZiWOWReUJ-wegxHzhgwQQeWOHUzSkKJHaOkhFAT7VKWoGE2Gq8-MsyA04hP2CuLb28nZAex0gFO0TQ/w640-h394/IMG_3547%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Recent rocks from a debris flow issue from a drainage at the foot of Mount Pelmo on our way to Staulanza</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvj0ROFaeKsfS2kzY_7iDyunfIaYiOsyu0RBkL-lOOEJ-TGaiC9OfW0bR2MWq1Lgq31i_AcVOEubCbz9nWP-iQYZDtD7Rk5eW3lvNeYM-tcyW08khFFnDrPOI2U4qPgDHAziDe3G9RcIy_t0Lu-J7YbXRAdHGQIHGYXZsJjbbmY6nRO4FEo_8DA/s3214/IMG_3548%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3214" data-original-width="2261" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvj0ROFaeKsfS2kzY_7iDyunfIaYiOsyu0RBkL-lOOEJ-TGaiC9OfW0bR2MWq1Lgq31i_AcVOEubCbz9nWP-iQYZDtD7Rk5eW3lvNeYM-tcyW08khFFnDrPOI2U4qPgDHAziDe3G9RcIy_t0Lu-J7YbXRAdHGQIHGYXZsJjbbmY6nRO4FEo_8DA/w450-h640/IMG_3548%20copy.heic" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>What a relief to see the forest where Staulanza is located - 15 miles!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <b>Day 6 - Refugio Staulanza to Refugio Tissi</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1OS_zKYotlAK2_P-TBptkb_54CeMGvKLeas5jh9YyecXa7NVh-NmV0k3CK49DgQy2TINxpOWlbtmJZ8QkkCHJTvCQ6tVoyhczgvt8WN_uDUQ2L0UpY1QA-N6PlW9Q24iS3DvJ1o3xekssT32V6JcYQ_ca0jEEYhXnM2XFVVMdmCCuLGlDulfRg/s2968/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%203.04.31%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1740" data-original-width="2968" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1OS_zKYotlAK2_P-TBptkb_54CeMGvKLeas5jh9YyecXa7NVh-NmV0k3CK49DgQy2TINxpOWlbtmJZ8QkkCHJTvCQ6tVoyhczgvt8WN_uDUQ2L0UpY1QA-N6PlW9Q24iS3DvJ1o3xekssT32V6JcYQ_ca0jEEYhXnM2XFVVMdmCCuLGlDulfRg/w640-h376/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%203.04.31%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Route of hike on Day 6 - solid blue line is by taxi; dashed yellow line by foot.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Three miles on pavement did not sound enticing to our small group and so we opted to take a short taxi ride to save three miles of frustrating walking. The cost was 40 Euros. We were let off at Malga Vescova, a small farm where we began our uphill climb to Refugio Coldai of about 1,450 feet. It was pleasant walking in bright sunshine, with some flat areas to admire the scenery.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhjrbmHOdgZYPIMVjkU7z9EPORicTcC9_txYTPfr39xXpr_RB0sOaFYb5g3WK3-iH0io7EV5dTfuYEv49C4OIhreiyINLYLnSmiY07zB6ulyVFr7kcKLWTXOwePZ8UiZd8TpUEKKRdSEtOIBvmP4NmX5Z4X0wVHjXf99jk6SpGEMbusOEM8HCDA/s4032/IMG_3557%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhjrbmHOdgZYPIMVjkU7z9EPORicTcC9_txYTPfr39xXpr_RB0sOaFYb5g3WK3-iH0io7EV5dTfuYEv49C4OIhreiyINLYLnSmiY07zB6ulyVFr7kcKLWTXOwePZ8UiZd8TpUEKKRdSEtOIBvmP4NmX5Z4X0wVHjXf99jk6SpGEMbusOEM8HCDA/w640-h360/IMG_3557%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hand painted sign to Refugio's Coldai and Tissi at the start of a spectacular climb</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23CsSlbqOXj4hC0kgNo89c4o3TOgM-_458WA0HZ9FxwgU80KvxBgOST5RdFKQ_ElWM4YFYUZTcHqUeGckj2_yNzvJ8vG7-848klpT8hSfRzB0QNdZn3KeHzBQnKH-bnztXn5_Xf80nwM7XWM5dKjyOyHXNq_TUHMFvJRevdSLZaKR2nT8qx0EcQ/s3829/IMG_3562%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2218" data-original-width="3829" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23CsSlbqOXj4hC0kgNo89c4o3TOgM-_458WA0HZ9FxwgU80KvxBgOST5RdFKQ_ElWM4YFYUZTcHqUeGckj2_yNzvJ8vG7-848klpT8hSfRzB0QNdZn3KeHzBQnKH-bnztXn5_Xf80nwM7XWM5dKjyOyHXNq_TUHMFvJRevdSLZaKR2nT8qx0EcQ/w640-h370/IMG_3562%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>At the top looking back (northeast) to Mt. Pelmo and Staulanza in the valley to its left</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RIngMJ0OihV9-EU91eg8jLl8hFWOP_7y2vfOzciu4gVW70V8qwo-arnlaoLvlEn54rKlUjM5qHDexx_GsF8YHOOtZUI6zDOOZFu9DV0lS4xrbAccCgt5YEPPYo2Z2XNJqkUxSnV53lkEbk-34BJrMYdvSsMZOTfF3DJNMytXCTPi2UMhOxHgqw/s3430/IMG_3566%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1783" data-original-width="3430" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RIngMJ0OihV9-EU91eg8jLl8hFWOP_7y2vfOzciu4gVW70V8qwo-arnlaoLvlEn54rKlUjM5qHDexx_GsF8YHOOtZUI6zDOOZFu9DV0lS4xrbAccCgt5YEPPYo2Z2XNJqkUxSnV53lkEbk-34BJrMYdvSsMZOTfF3DJNMytXCTPi2UMhOxHgqw/w640-h332/IMG_3566%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Refugio Coldai (cappuccino!) and the forcella beyond that leads to Lago Coldai </i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcftb0HipuK9MfSnfOCojMFlm1OBxk-DFYcbDp54phR5QYCMevFOgKxI41IgUzb2oV7a4zUakS-Pd8n9wfUcGRviPnVvg1d4l-79ayc-_P4MBFe1lZmQlGAoDAXXY1JlF6sPWN0OSNca-ZqKHrxkjSfW9mCtL_NiJCCIsYk3DOXcqGLTsTLIE4tg/s3600/IMG_3569%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcftb0HipuK9MfSnfOCojMFlm1OBxk-DFYcbDp54phR5QYCMevFOgKxI41IgUzb2oV7a4zUakS-Pd8n9wfUcGRviPnVvg1d4l-79ayc-_P4MBFe1lZmQlGAoDAXXY1JlF6sPWN0OSNca-ZqKHrxkjSfW9mCtL_NiJCCIsYk3DOXcqGLTsTLIE4tg/w640-h360/IMG_3569%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lago Coldai on a Monday afternoon</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbPfTWI07tpWP242ye-h6jESdm8Zqvdqqj7EkqoKq_zGwn1o4Hm6iupCbM9QA1Hmomstw8bpS0IfKb4rBhwv_JzAf-dFdjKasRw7rX1LWYo1c4DUDefu1oXz-4DmyHJbY7WrOdyVJWKwsr39eIF59sgvop6E_2zUjWeq_wDJlFDOoMj1RVS2slA/s4032/IMG_3570%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbPfTWI07tpWP242ye-h6jESdm8Zqvdqqj7EkqoKq_zGwn1o4Hm6iupCbM9QA1Hmomstw8bpS0IfKb4rBhwv_JzAf-dFdjKasRw7rX1LWYo1c4DUDefu1oXz-4DmyHJbY7WrOdyVJWKwsr39eIF59sgvop6E_2zUjWeq_wDJlFDOoMj1RVS2slA/w640-h360/IMG_3570%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>On the shore of Lago Coldai where we enjoyed lunch</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudZlnTwBjJ0ra6VusyUAAUq4W2toizi0MFx9CUYR13o82iPSQYovK_zOe5UWc8PuXL5LUTS-Vt7tgKPuaFO_BibSycq5JvAL7onqfWbWe1O6BVkiWxDjIHBmdbsOi_44vhZAcxqvgKKFUQIOePCdDbzhcMSif9LzEQX8e6ifF2ZYFOAB1xlXjyQ/s4032/IMG_3571%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudZlnTwBjJ0ra6VusyUAAUq4W2toizi0MFx9CUYR13o82iPSQYovK_zOe5UWc8PuXL5LUTS-Vt7tgKPuaFO_BibSycq5JvAL7onqfWbWe1O6BVkiWxDjIHBmdbsOi_44vhZAcxqvgKKFUQIOePCdDbzhcMSif9LzEQX8e6ifF2ZYFOAB1xlXjyQ/w640-h360/IMG_3571%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We got occasional views down 2,000 feet to the village of Alleghe and its reservoir</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cdV-eV7XFocy8lEMUXk9VjKFuJz3E2fxOIQi2Gpyg4I0b0BeOmtEleayBzs8LsQCQU7EV5nVsBL5yVCo6ObWF2WOr5N4QVsdZeBRtyTIP-kYB43Rgg9MAD4bfN-pzjfjb_0zX1htdnqG-DuP1DPRdYsDctN5LnmxQO5Cgx1A29iu7Q2DPDijtA/s4032/IMG_3574%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cdV-eV7XFocy8lEMUXk9VjKFuJz3E2fxOIQi2Gpyg4I0b0BeOmtEleayBzs8LsQCQU7EV5nVsBL5yVCo6ObWF2WOr5N4QVsdZeBRtyTIP-kYB43Rgg9MAD4bfN-pzjfjb_0zX1htdnqG-DuP1DPRdYsDctN5LnmxQO5Cgx1A29iu7Q2DPDijtA/w640-h360/IMG_3574%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leaving Coldai and a view toward our destination of Refugio Tissi, located on the lip of a cliff</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I complained a lot when we got to a high point, only to see that we might have to descend rapidly and then hike back up. In the view above you can see just that. It was virtually straight across to Refugio Tissi but it necessitated a 700-foot descent with a climb back up 800 feet.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCxNdaUcEmZubxbNS9-JhHiZIsIRWqPA9HqbWcHhUu2t3HDR6mPiMznUtOQ8FIcDVGKC-Rx-Eek_mD53Jo4CjYDF3h1tLo1YyT2rueIqDS22r6MaLpv0ZN3mtjFgY3V2cPKHXxExmIjeHEJUpKT-FNelZobt-kUgvBUZqScQFPlwsZmjrdZdDfQ/s3365/IMG_3578%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3365" data-original-width="2258" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCxNdaUcEmZubxbNS9-JhHiZIsIRWqPA9HqbWcHhUu2t3HDR6mPiMznUtOQ8FIcDVGKC-Rx-Eek_mD53Jo4CjYDF3h1tLo1YyT2rueIqDS22r6MaLpv0ZN3mtjFgY3V2cPKHXxExmIjeHEJUpKT-FNelZobt-kUgvBUZqScQFPlwsZmjrdZdDfQ/w430-h640/IMG_3578%20copy.heic" width="430" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Anne on the trail to Refugio Tissi</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMEM4DGFjYS2qnjxYWwhlQI_pOui0KAgFuk2NCqOK6zdgAsB-tuVHRw0c9Ga0NiIna32---jXOtM_GcypHu4aCwNaKLjyELFqNC02K3zeLQpWvStsctmpJync212EPibqCMS1XtVbUSxreVJjLWtKdX45NUTAzVfrC74SOUP10p4U4cw_2Esvog/s2862/IMG_3579%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1886" data-original-width="2862" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMEM4DGFjYS2qnjxYWwhlQI_pOui0KAgFuk2NCqOK6zdgAsB-tuVHRw0c9Ga0NiIna32---jXOtM_GcypHu4aCwNaKLjyELFqNC02K3zeLQpWvStsctmpJync212EPibqCMS1XtVbUSxreVJjLWtKdX45NUTAzVfrC74SOUP10p4U4cw_2Esvog/w640-h422/IMG_3579%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I wanted so badly to take the trail on the left that contoured to Tissi but my trail mates talked me out of it</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1dO2PkLxIXYoTdXLdozh_p0U89F45W-zce12jbNxGwzY0iByGmztRTm8bP45V3HcRP7t1vJHENnjuDpQQidPzmyK5kIa4aA3iJZSTqlMWGKROKGVrWuRCUy2ZvlqruS_t_bRHxIK6Q7vcLOdRUtHH1nQgvZfELNJ5QYJKIr1qUchXI2t-8JnwQ/s4032/IMG_3590%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1dO2PkLxIXYoTdXLdozh_p0U89F45W-zce12jbNxGwzY0iByGmztRTm8bP45V3HcRP7t1vJHENnjuDpQQidPzmyK5kIa4aA3iJZSTqlMWGKROKGVrWuRCUy2ZvlqruS_t_bRHxIK6Q7vcLOdRUtHH1nQgvZfELNJ5QYJKIr1qUchXI2t-8JnwQ/w640-h360/IMG_3590%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Huffing and puffing on the straight-up climb to Tissi</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWl7_G6Vp2yl72GpiDG1cNYqIQHiHHxyn0D3D6H9APinB5SfaBE1WLzdI1mb4g61NzRzRtlK_W6ui597iH35MfzPhyab0uJufNLwrRPjEDwUywiC3lQdakbQEtsVnO08lOY4Ho2cjVARboZ9wCtJSeUAxytn8zYPtJbrcUxbygHIQT9QHTsEpYQ/s4032/IMG_3591%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWl7_G6Vp2yl72GpiDG1cNYqIQHiHHxyn0D3D6H9APinB5SfaBE1WLzdI1mb4g61NzRzRtlK_W6ui597iH35MfzPhyab0uJufNLwrRPjEDwUywiC3lQdakbQEtsVnO08lOY4Ho2cjVARboZ9wCtJSeUAxytn8zYPtJbrcUxbygHIQT9QHTsEpYQ/w640-h360/IMG_3591%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And what a view it was! Mt. Civetta on the skyline in the clouds (elev. 10,564 ft.)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGxKlgC4lsZzbyVcEZkzcZv1ifzizab9wQN5FiiCDzHkjF0RqJsi8VAP1WkBE3TZq16G7fjh3lCwEZ1Jyu3rkr_yWdVPpgWHkj5s5b437zl24BWnIkDizcuX7MveMLFDMJ_SyrkfqPhaaRsdmy3g0lSVrDSzI3neZevU70HygZEjVUBHfvz58JQ/s4320/IMG_3592%20copy.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1905" data-original-width="4320" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGxKlgC4lsZzbyVcEZkzcZv1ifzizab9wQN5FiiCDzHkjF0RqJsi8VAP1WkBE3TZq16G7fjh3lCwEZ1Jyu3rkr_yWdVPpgWHkj5s5b437zl24BWnIkDizcuX7MveMLFDMJ_SyrkfqPhaaRsdmy3g0lSVrDSzI3neZevU70HygZEjVUBHfvz58JQ/w640-h282/IMG_3592%20copy.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>On the front porch of Refugio Tissi - a rustic but scenic outpost on the edge of a cliff</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeLugr9jReZj1cQf6jbzRwzxe7IPtm1G8m2KqdxUrMl5mduxhF3tFyfGZ2mhbCIqw7byooIm5Yx7dsfjtP00wPtAm3zv2tPBJS6QiN-KNzLV3FGWhgk0aepc6uOI-WFp3vIzoLcFpogzbaMJDKqZQloQf1XvTrs4qiyXuGy3wS65S1toQYGDZFg/s4032/IMG_3598%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeLugr9jReZj1cQf6jbzRwzxe7IPtm1G8m2KqdxUrMl5mduxhF3tFyfGZ2mhbCIqw7byooIm5Yx7dsfjtP00wPtAm3zv2tPBJS6QiN-KNzLV3FGWhgk0aepc6uOI-WFp3vIzoLcFpogzbaMJDKqZQloQf1XvTrs4qiyXuGy3wS65S1toQYGDZFg/w640-h360/IMG_3598%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>With love from Refugio Tissi</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HflVB5vSzSXIdENYGeVumHZvun9CQKYxsgUDk44nHS6lVj_AEOXbQap13_9tHP_A31L7f2liKrv1BUp7XUKbiFtQ9HbRCgQGM4i9uNgTwvBQjbW_UhwkL0GjfAJ0-_CR1FHt-ewhSLHdY_XRm_P4Pqff_oiyqqO_PVZL-Ng_6KjsV6LfOKsnvg/s3599/IMG_3599%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2131" data-original-width="3599" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HflVB5vSzSXIdENYGeVumHZvun9CQKYxsgUDk44nHS6lVj_AEOXbQap13_9tHP_A31L7f2liKrv1BUp7XUKbiFtQ9HbRCgQGM4i9uNgTwvBQjbW_UhwkL0GjfAJ0-_CR1FHt-ewhSLHdY_XRm_P4Pqff_oiyqqO_PVZL-Ng_6KjsV6LfOKsnvg/w640-h378/IMG_3599%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Looking south f</i><i>rom the Refugio </i><i>- our path the following day was in the forested valley below</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJBqPX5YsbPk9Z62fCXIRryCMnPnZNxRhI9qmH3F6at-C8Unxz6nweiiWY1bMlKAAEFRmGS_aiW_PIG8ByYUAhAPKs70ZoTwA_A9OwIQTENv6xsrRUEmZ_QTC33TV5bVGYhx7LyQEljW6woRj2KYI7XPRPesJOCX9F_0ud_60r4hlwHnbODB6zg/s3497/IMG_3609%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2255" data-original-width="3497" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJBqPX5YsbPk9Z62fCXIRryCMnPnZNxRhI9qmH3F6at-C8Unxz6nweiiWY1bMlKAAEFRmGS_aiW_PIG8ByYUAhAPKs70ZoTwA_A9OwIQTENv6xsrRUEmZ_QTC33TV5bVGYhx7LyQEljW6woRj2KYI7XPRPesJOCX9F_0ud_60r4hlwHnbODB6zg/w640-h412/IMG_3609%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dryas_octopetala" target="_blank">Dryas octopetala</a><i> frames the view to the northwest into the valley and reservoir near Alleghe</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1RpGd_b9NEDNydoNgDxeMjXUGybAvWp9P26ysF7KzpYc7N0TnUIAPvRMVM0t2JFoyaBVhJzBZwcfbwLCe1ckb13m_ODqEg7NB3rkbtgz155jPgHZeUWZxxUcUIDslQUkcyVcY7NwQWtUe-AxJNLomjPsegTrubTmIXQq9U4gMSFcHtW7k2K8nA/s3650/IMG_3614%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2103" data-original-width="3650" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1RpGd_b9NEDNydoNgDxeMjXUGybAvWp9P26ysF7KzpYc7N0TnUIAPvRMVM0t2JFoyaBVhJzBZwcfbwLCe1ckb13m_ODqEg7NB3rkbtgz155jPgHZeUWZxxUcUIDslQUkcyVcY7NwQWtUe-AxJNLomjPsegTrubTmIXQq9U4gMSFcHtW7k2K8nA/w640-h368/IMG_3614%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dramatic view to the northeast with a view of Mt. Pelmo in the upper right distance</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1a9-fEzVzjdhO2_L0qME2aMfrpO-V8sBLbjTUmOKX3AmMVNMS57-Z1LeYyikaYZCa4kHyBEmGbi2vyaT7Y_Eiuhsd6-kKAKYNZU_XxUto-y7eOlgsWkb_bDaIgWG0YIiB9DNSuG84j3d3WRk6qMrjhdnka251uS5sdCDcmM_0qpV3n7UduuLqg/s4032/IMG_3616%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1a9-fEzVzjdhO2_L0qME2aMfrpO-V8sBLbjTUmOKX3AmMVNMS57-Z1LeYyikaYZCa4kHyBEmGbi2vyaT7Y_Eiuhsd6-kKAKYNZU_XxUto-y7eOlgsWkb_bDaIgWG0YIiB9DNSuG84j3d3WRk6qMrjhdnka251uS5sdCDcmM_0qpV3n7UduuLqg/w640-h360/IMG_3616%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Don and Anne share a moment at Tissi</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuRBao0rH2vgbg4J9Za5MCEAbm5-iEM1UL9q4YCQRqrzGl9ssQYLv4BsbWMkpR76qDcmhJlwK5o--qTHcDv8_gTKRWQ0bk7NCKB6cq1fQC0doprZ_lAlbCXOO03lp_hn2c_1T5Op34X3JXhaFw2C56kL-j9IoR6IOIKPd0mwMuTMd54iegm6bMg/s3460/IMG_3617%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3460" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuRBao0rH2vgbg4J9Za5MCEAbm5-iEM1UL9q4YCQRqrzGl9ssQYLv4BsbWMkpR76qDcmhJlwK5o--qTHcDv8_gTKRWQ0bk7NCKB6cq1fQC0doprZ_lAlbCXOO03lp_hn2c_1T5Op34X3JXhaFw2C56kL-j9IoR6IOIKPd0mwMuTMd54iegm6bMg/w416-h640/IMG_3617%20copy.heic" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Dolomites near Alleghe</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> Thank you for reading! I will have one more post to finish this hike with Days 7, 8, and 9.</div></div> </div><p></p></div>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-13034590394624244602023-08-13T13:00:00.042-07:002023-08-13T14:31:17.013-07:00The Dolomites - Days 3 and 4 - Refugió Lavarella to Refugió Scotoni and Refugió Cinque Torri<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Day 3 - Refugio Lavarella to Refugió Scotoni</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>The entire nine-day trek was off-the-charts fabulous. But Days 3 and 4 stand out </span><span>in my own mind </span></span><span>as something very special. Maybe it was the great weather or the blue skies, maybe the spectacular rock exposures or the highest elevation attained that make me feel this way. Or maybe it's that two older men were strangely transported as Wedding Crashers, high at a Dolomite refugió - read on! In any case, these were an exceptional highlight of the trip. </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HP50KoRawI4cJ4WTWA9TRGhrZc5Ra-lyOYnWkgwJpWUaOR4O5Rlb88qU1ydnnSpAbk_nTcFh-EL-iNnMa8HQ3pepwiJvIxJSqpjNtZNBb9addUwJ88WdKjsUUPl9OAHI_SM7elVwnzb8hsrLS_1cYxM67-e0oHZ9XidpvS2yNoH9YdlWn6yn0g/s1200/IMG_3140%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HP50KoRawI4cJ4WTWA9TRGhrZc5Ra-lyOYnWkgwJpWUaOR4O5Rlb88qU1ydnnSpAbk_nTcFh-EL-iNnMa8HQ3pepwiJvIxJSqpjNtZNBb9addUwJ88WdKjsUUPl9OAHI_SM7elVwnzb8hsrLS_1cYxM67-e0oHZ9XidpvS2yNoH9YdlWn6yn0g/w384-h640/IMG_3140%20copy.heic" width="384" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>Google Earth image - Day 3 (yellow) and Day 4 (green);<br />red lines are journeys on cable car and chair lift</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>On Day 3, we hiked about 7 miles with a total descent of about </span><span>1,800 feet with a</span><span> subsequent ascent of the same amount. Day 4 was 7.5 miles long with a 1,900 ft ascent to Refugió Lagazuoi, a trip on a cable car downhill to Pian Falzarego and then up on a chair lift (both shown as red lines in the map above) to a place near our overnight accommodation. </span></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The Alps experienced their driest February and wettest April in years. We were lucky that not much snow greeted us during this early season trip. I chose this time of year because I wanted to be here before the drab summer haze. I wanted the bluest sky possible. And we got it!</span></div><div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG196YaN2Y_epfn9udf0PhowMS5ybfw7UZ56MHuU_DGpMVuD0ntyV0umIVbj9LA8jYk3ZlclkYBZjVENN8gv1eDtf5VLnSSTZ90gV7BlcC78kSiPf11OFV7PNuNY6HJIQDZ9Hm65ffvl5poAC9XG8Xkj4thjBRMDhK8F69crcdJpOlUatUTWpaLA/s3240/IMG_3141%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1913" data-original-width="3240" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG196YaN2Y_epfn9udf0PhowMS5ybfw7UZ56MHuU_DGpMVuD0ntyV0umIVbj9LA8jYk3ZlclkYBZjVENN8gv1eDtf5VLnSSTZ90gV7BlcC78kSiPf11OFV7PNuNY6HJIQDZ9Hm65ffvl5poAC9XG8Xkj4thjBRMDhK8F69crcdJpOlUatUTWpaLA/w640-h378/IMG_3141%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>Beginning the climb out from Refugió Lavarella</i><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Only a short climb of about 250 feet took us to an elevated plateau above Lavarella, providing a good warm-up to the day.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7x48vTidyPIILFyxCWvx-tS98cly_C4bCtYlFijbvsajAaAfbXkXqOj993D120bpjOZzla40SeIoroWAEFGAljValo1KHY-6pf0YT8oQG-UfqHeOH64TAeTtEQwfAwTwzmQdZyJisLvf81kkPAMR8fLFBhp-vKX89IXK8KYxH01rEdS0q91rmOw/s3600/IMG_3143%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7x48vTidyPIILFyxCWvx-tS98cly_C4bCtYlFijbvsajAaAfbXkXqOj993D120bpjOZzla40SeIoroWAEFGAljValo1KHY-6pf0YT8oQG-UfqHeOH64TAeTtEQwfAwTwzmQdZyJisLvf81kkPAMR8fLFBhp-vKX89IXK8KYxH01rEdS0q91rmOw/w640-h360/IMG_3143%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Looking north toward the prior days' approach to Lavarella</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">The mountains surrounded us and each step brought more phenomenal vistas. Some mountains were eroded into sharp pinnacles; others reflected the bedding planes of the gently dipping limestone. Some vistas had both forms with broad aprons of talus on their slopes.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBtUFhBVCJegNN1G7T65qtN44-qHUCOvkepz9ABy8u_PE9O0f3MLmOXg1-E7QJ68vuMdIVb33x4j4Zrw0-O275RVmTzANBeCZt-sB57p8g9BwrzAZ3GEzcO3vGbShq_773Q7yo08BqxWLBuXhrme_iSCoqZFA2xnSh1Xn7cbwsrJjxVo5df3Uxg/s2497/IMG_3144%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1661" data-original-width="2497" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBtUFhBVCJegNN1G7T65qtN44-qHUCOvkepz9ABy8u_PE9O0f3MLmOXg1-E7QJ68vuMdIVb33x4j4Zrw0-O275RVmTzANBeCZt-sB57p8g9BwrzAZ3GEzcO3vGbShq_773Q7yo08BqxWLBuXhrme_iSCoqZFA2xnSh1Xn7cbwsrJjxVo5df3Uxg/w640-h426/IMG_3144%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Refugió Lavarella with Cima Nove Neuner on the summit </i></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>above</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">There was brilliant sunshine to begin but we did notice that clouds were building fast. The weather can be quite changeable in the mountains.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMM3Dy7ucb1d5pIpr_xAY7DSCmSiNQWM_EcAGo805zi7RBKpGyF4qJ8mv261EXpLFxVO2bDP04ZDA4j_6Uhx-cYKlP7UB5rsk-YUn7u-aExRLrDgF5fVBwiStMr7oZ-6JB-6Vhagimz9G45h0JFURS5AtS-OgXShFmaomILW8RHQcpHzGsG_BNQ/s3600/IMG_3149%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMM3Dy7ucb1d5pIpr_xAY7DSCmSiNQWM_EcAGo805zi7RBKpGyF4qJ8mv261EXpLFxVO2bDP04ZDA4j_6Uhx-cYKlP7UB5rsk-YUn7u-aExRLrDgF5fVBwiStMr7oZ-6JB-6Vhagimz9G45h0JFURS5AtS-OgXShFmaomILW8RHQcpHzGsG_BNQ/w640-h360/IMG_3149%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Self portrait, Wayne and Helen, above Lavarella</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7Y20O6XlkycsWJ4I4X66MQ9difqXSsQ51uSmZjmQ6QeCLo81W-UtvBl8xbilXt-0WrZGG8Y1jsDXpmz27_N10tNoXTsmbqwryRDJ2xTolCbDaeTxTzlIT87ynSEXgI8z77Jv4-YVrqMsPAubcHfMnkCDgdjk_w2T4GGZOOkNEwFNTNxXalV0ig/s3600/IMG_3154%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7Y20O6XlkycsWJ4I4X66MQ9difqXSsQ51uSmZjmQ6QeCLo81W-UtvBl8xbilXt-0WrZGG8Y1jsDXpmz27_N10tNoXTsmbqwryRDJ2xTolCbDaeTxTzlIT87ynSEXgI8z77Jv4-YVrqMsPAubcHfMnkCDgdjk_w2T4GGZOOkNEwFNTNxXalV0ig/w640-h360/IMG_3154%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The plateau offered a gentle descent to the south</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Like many places around the globe, there is an ebb and flow to the "traffic" as everyone begins their day at about the same time. A</span><span>s we made the short climb uphill t</span><span>here were many others on the trail including some mountain bikers. But after an hour or so, the fast ones were gone and we found ourselves alone on the trail.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzUyjVSK_KRBlladjs-mYQtjcRZK8CP7kHMbsEn0dkPg9UiEoYRrpc_f8OFS1p1oHOS7tAkoizP_hBwLovNenGizfKN1VKsQ9R8PI08XpKC3oASbpDge20RiU-ZKcSZPDTEzt2JSxI4UvoHWoYCsPrb8GjRf1Hu1mFtqS54hR8bBeHbSXr5VK3Q/s2880/IMG_3159%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1752" data-original-width="2880" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzUyjVSK_KRBlladjs-mYQtjcRZK8CP7kHMbsEn0dkPg9UiEoYRrpc_f8OFS1p1oHOS7tAkoizP_hBwLovNenGizfKN1VKsQ9R8PI08XpKC3oASbpDge20RiU-ZKcSZPDTEzt2JSxI4UvoHWoYCsPrb8GjRf1Hu1mFtqS54hR8bBeHbSXr5VK3Q/w640-h390/IMG_3159%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Folded and contorted limestone beds</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>Before coming here, I was under the impression that the Dolomites would be</span><span> made up</span><span> </span></span>mostly </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>of highly contorted and vertically oriented limestone, resulting from the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology_of_the_Alps" target="_blank"><span>Alpine orogeny</span></a><span>. As mentioned in an earlier post, there was a pervasive and gentle northeast dip to the strata throughout the range. But here on the plateau between Lavarella and Scotoni, I finally did see crumpled beds. There may also be a few thrust faults in the photo above, where the bending of the strata broke through the folds and ultimately slipped, one block shoved over the other.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi504YgW3TUlOypRkuwXczwpIXhhf6azLYHcZs1toMKQGtlWOGUvI_y-yOIB4wTyZligSd4F01hF3BEuHb7Gf_kSZmBOcwKIgLdWyN1XtyEvwYTCDIOVe5bHHLpHz_TUYOhGgqDpHhJFmN7ZO4AY8WFdJrUwc08ZOV1acPjOMOCCB0GVe2xyd8haw/s2880/IMG_3167%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1820" data-original-width="2880" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi504YgW3TUlOypRkuwXczwpIXhhf6azLYHcZs1toMKQGtlWOGUvI_y-yOIB4wTyZligSd4F01hF3BEuHb7Gf_kSZmBOcwKIgLdWyN1XtyEvwYTCDIOVe5bHHLpHz_TUYOhGgqDpHhJFmN7ZO4AY8WFdJrUwc08ZOV1acPjOMOCCB0GVe2xyd8haw/w640-h404/IMG_3167%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>More contorted beds</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The limestone originated in the Tethy's Sea about 220 million years ago (short article <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tethys_Ocean" target="_blank">here</a> and a good cartoon of the seaway <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/abdulkader-Abed/publication/285695505/figure/fig9/AS:391537994289157@1470361340420/Paleogeography-of-the-Neo-Tethys-Ocean-during-the-Maastrichtian-showing-the-flow.png" target="_blank">here</a>). This sea separated the northern continents of Laurasia from the southern ones of Gondwana. Geologists think the main bulk of the limestone was deposited in shallow, quiet lagoons that fringed the edges of the continents.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeleZyEfXhii1Z3K6SGzZIAhWJ4bK3EF2Upd268iNZ9f9RBRvPqiKoKau_EZbDY68UI6uXzKDaNyZ9YDjUKYcMGCeDJ2azcHbeTlPY9_mo15pRRjieY03yVMx4N3K7ORBe76kb-9koFU7so6uBsOrpcGUYF-YfO8o-ErLBkjp4lyLRW72P-DDyXA/s2880/IMG_3175%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1826" data-original-width="2880" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeleZyEfXhii1Z3K6SGzZIAhWJ4bK3EF2Upd268iNZ9f9RBRvPqiKoKau_EZbDY68UI6uXzKDaNyZ9YDjUKYcMGCeDJ2azcHbeTlPY9_mo15pRRjieY03yVMx4N3K7ORBe76kb-9koFU7so6uBsOrpcGUYF-YfO8o-ErLBkjp4lyLRW72P-DDyXA/w640-h406/IMG_3175%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The trail skirts a massive rockfall</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>One of the highlights for me was seeing many instances where huge sections of a cliff had collapsed and fallen. The size of the bounders was truly impressive. Above, you can see one of these rockfalls, passed on Day 3. This fall had to have occurred in </span><span>only </span><span>the last 8,000 to 10,000 years, since glaciers completely filled these valleys prior to that time. The next advance of glacial ice will bulldoze this rockfall material away. It is interesting how the upper sections of the rockfall are devoid of vegetation (a lack of soil?) but the toes of the falls had trees and shrubs (where pulverized rock formed more soil perhaps).</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbvk9jNKaojaMbibECKDodaH_pl-hyBfSjN6vLPrDdgQQsZMILp-fDGYKXfy0ynxcAJ3W0Fcn2F0IOh4vH8WreJsKqRtHrqkFckzzw0qLOoe8o_0AyQzljPgkzeHYg8tNzOABQ9XANyf849LDG9dHLqhQ0PqYw6EAs-og9KL6-mNfZXQ3W5klzQ/s882/Screenshot%202023-08-12%20at%204.43.21%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="624" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbvk9jNKaojaMbibECKDodaH_pl-hyBfSjN6vLPrDdgQQsZMILp-fDGYKXfy0ynxcAJ3W0Fcn2F0IOh4vH8WreJsKqRtHrqkFckzzw0qLOoe8o_0AyQzljPgkzeHYg8tNzOABQ9XANyf849LDG9dHLqhQ0PqYw6EAs-og9KL6-mNfZXQ3W5klzQ/w452-h640/Screenshot%202023-08-12%20at%204.43.21%20PM.png" width="452" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A Google Earth image of the rockfall and trail shown above</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPmRZV7k2uKdPPRapqPzbH-SHHgmKtyHoKIZQaf1BAEZ0vUhUSUy8P3hEXvplLghD8YveHuGY0EZmkFFdoE7bXl_FeCSFurAP7HjOlv2oPtzfUrgl6Isdt4q7xOD0C1AqPRluGklEPLykU9-l9WJyaUQzgiCG4Izn4qEUwCk9S0U310cqUW8hyw/s3240/IMG_3176%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1823" data-original-width="3240" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPmRZV7k2uKdPPRapqPzbH-SHHgmKtyHoKIZQaf1BAEZ0vUhUSUy8P3hEXvplLghD8YveHuGY0EZmkFFdoE7bXl_FeCSFurAP7HjOlv2oPtzfUrgl6Isdt4q7xOD0C1AqPRluGklEPLykU9-l9WJyaUQzgiCG4Izn4qEUwCk9S0U310cqUW8hyw/w640-h360/IMG_3176%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>An Alpine meadow - view to the south</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRC3DRePFzsDbKdvDlUfn7ljUG1XeIK2fSbs6YFUzHp3oME-85luMGlCXon5ANSPu6Aq-a8U7KyOHwWXryDnOZ03IpS70EkhM3CpxbUQ-RyzAJ0k5NWSF6v_xd32J0Vi-hleopuYFllbRNmylCW68wbc6ubnq898QOPGcAv7WsgfuWZn6VpVFpOg/s2520/IMG_3180%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2520" data-original-width="1929" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRC3DRePFzsDbKdvDlUfn7ljUG1XeIK2fSbs6YFUzHp3oME-85luMGlCXon5ANSPu6Aq-a8U7KyOHwWXryDnOZ03IpS70EkhM3CpxbUQ-RyzAJ0k5NWSF6v_xd32J0Vi-hleopuYFllbRNmylCW68wbc6ubnq898QOPGcAv7WsgfuWZn6VpVFpOg/w490-h640/IMG_3180%20copy.heic" width="490" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Hiking paradise - only a little up and a little down. There is an<br />alternate trail through the high notch in the rocks.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWh_4LiT9Ucvgsbqg_FfUjYVjXK7Pfgt6pGG5rOocAPzq_0r9o_2shbSbe2jUmPFvNKr9cRveTGSy5CXDVKUc_RM9LGmA1CIMSJb4UL0fj_qWc1hOzGkCxMCX6zq2g6UMRSPtVuxjD0165ZtwkAVMyphB3QU2ogMW6G1rIZC-rNdCopk3jxiy4Q/s2572/IMG_3197%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1798" data-original-width="2572" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWh_4LiT9Ucvgsbqg_FfUjYVjXK7Pfgt6pGG5rOocAPzq_0r9o_2shbSbe2jUmPFvNKr9cRveTGSy5CXDVKUc_RM9LGmA1CIMSJb4UL0fj_qWc1hOzGkCxMCX6zq2g6UMRSPtVuxjD0165ZtwkAVMyphB3QU2ogMW6G1rIZC-rNdCopk3jxiy4Q/w640-h448/IMG_3197%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>What would the Alps be without bovines!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroFAup4p8goUA2uyURx2Jdxc-BM8_7FA8e6OvpFvbr-laq-mV5e5U0ZHZFPlc3q-PW6u56_EqG3a42Kxw6jS3KBJv4vPmPyiS8sjyBN6pT5d029XcWtcLD-HeWraC4NLn2uGEo0r1En6dtSwGR0mua10ZJd38e625A1BEhpsT8WqGLLACRODozQ/s2880/IMG_3209%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1966" data-original-width="2880" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroFAup4p8goUA2uyURx2Jdxc-BM8_7FA8e6OvpFvbr-laq-mV5e5U0ZHZFPlc3q-PW6u56_EqG3a42Kxw6jS3KBJv4vPmPyiS8sjyBN6pT5d029XcWtcLD-HeWraC4NLn2uGEo0r1En6dtSwGR0mua10ZJd38e625A1BEhpsT8WqGLLACRODozQ/w640-h436/IMG_3209%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Descending the Col de Locia to Capanna Alpina</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Our gentle descent came to a sharp halt as we approached an overlook at Col de Locia. This descent of about 1,200 feet was on a rocky and partially fenced trail. To add to the excitement, we experienced a bit of rain on the descent - one of the few times we had rain in the whole nine days. On the valley floor in the distance on the </span><span>photo </span><span>above, you will notice a clearing where the Capanna Alpina is situated. We enjoyed hot drinks and French potatoes while waiting out the rain at this welcome refuge</span><span> </span><span>(vehicle accessible)</span><span>.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiOwk3vy4lAz_gXWh1wDp8klXR_2xk613-KQn_Po-sIoQL8Yp0ec-vZcFMIX9jnavpoYsw4dxiwxGwvcMzGQlmvmBDZYHyyRUT9Dt19eZ4QyvT0PzGSYnFivYMVt6r6m8DFDtDPEjzYJClzlO0oBulsp8FKpdYJRsWDIySvcxYgzipD6a_iDQlA/s2265/IMG_3219%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2265" data-original-width="2238" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiOwk3vy4lAz_gXWh1wDp8klXR_2xk613-KQn_Po-sIoQL8Yp0ec-vZcFMIX9jnavpoYsw4dxiwxGwvcMzGQlmvmBDZYHyyRUT9Dt19eZ4QyvT0PzGSYnFivYMVt6r6m8DFDtDPEjzYJClzlO0oBulsp8FKpdYJRsWDIySvcxYgzipD6a_iDQlA/w632-h640/IMG_3219%20copy.heic" width="632" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Water fountain and artwork at Capanna Alpina</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>In spite of the depiction shown above, </span><span>these fountains</span><span> actually yield potable water for hikers! To</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> wait out the rain w</span><span>e stayed inside the Capanna Alpina for about 90 minutes. When it stopped we began the short uphill trek.</span></span></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBQU2xPtaAbpod3Iz0kkezRJijdqq5j0YRAeezd5v9yUHABkhxayBGN43xCDNStQIIu9yMzhcQ9l-ob0X23wpcRAtSaj8nnWvKQIpIX1L8JgOn22Y8qOPkRtoBLPRNDqhWgIl02TZ_hz_i9xbjxNF1YTHMScRhO24PUhCwY0FJ3UyN0LLemwHBg/s2880/IMG_3222%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2030" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBQU2xPtaAbpod3Iz0kkezRJijdqq5j0YRAeezd5v9yUHABkhxayBGN43xCDNStQIIu9yMzhcQ9l-ob0X23wpcRAtSaj8nnWvKQIpIX1L8JgOn22Y8qOPkRtoBLPRNDqhWgIl02TZ_hz_i9xbjxNF1YTHMScRhO24PUhCwY0FJ3UyN0LLemwHBg/w452-h640/IMG_3222%20copy.heic" width="452" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The ski run next to the trail that brought us 870 feet to Scotoni</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It was hard for me to figure out how the skiing works here. In the photo above, you can clearly see a ski run and snow making machines were evident (yes, there are water pipelines in the ground to feed the snow making). But here there was no lift to carry skiers uphill?</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLwoP2qaj3o2nu9vVbib62yrvSwZX0hR6-PEME39_HXnob5ufegd-uooXIZwLNI8ViPr-S7rKL222dE74W0LCXHsWSgX_3Puva1e9w2Vi_CFAv31LLt59Ca8jVLIGSB5MR5vAmQxqllWd5ahZMsS3RL9U-Q66d3R-17XMvdP_0R_a2iwuliiboQ/s2880/IMG_3227%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2073" data-original-width="2880" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLwoP2qaj3o2nu9vVbib62yrvSwZX0hR6-PEME39_HXnob5ufegd-uooXIZwLNI8ViPr-S7rKL222dE74W0LCXHsWSgX_3Puva1e9w2Vi_CFAv31LLt59Ca8jVLIGSB5MR5vAmQxqllWd5ahZMsS3RL9U-Q66d3R-17XMvdP_0R_a2iwuliiboQ/w640-h460/IMG_3227%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Refugió Scotoni <span style="text-align: left;">is set in a fabulous location </span>at elevation 6,693 feet - i</i></span><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">t was idyllic.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BMCXufhBYHxTrwKgxiEogFIAbrQ_pL5eVGzr8qLNPjJzayfhqK_Jh4F_Qrw_WJJy1QMGTs2WfIR4A0qmUeom8m4ryCastA-ufUXcICUHA3ukOwVjwy3g6rOxC9Hgg4CHT2eeLqvt7Qv-2V9COyvBMetq5qDNGewqldCFLfMAj_db5JQS8om5Mg/s3600/IMG_3250%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BMCXufhBYHxTrwKgxiEogFIAbrQ_pL5eVGzr8qLNPjJzayfhqK_Jh4F_Qrw_WJJy1QMGTs2WfIR4A0qmUeom8m4ryCastA-ufUXcICUHA3ukOwVjwy3g6rOxC9Hgg4CHT2eeLqvt7Qv-2V9COyvBMetq5qDNGewqldCFLfMAj_db5JQS8om5Mg/w640-h360/IMG_3250%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>View to the east showing the drainage of our next mornings climb</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTa2d7ncMgZLVF4gl2KpM1eq0HCD0e98c6MtMNFTRHt2lm95HXz9FdddaTcXnirI4S_V3FRVjKfN_6LgyOXU2hrjOwjtwOE0gmD8KguIjZM8hNFMghkq8y8kGx0Jcda7sWNxGX4xcj4A8MAf-zhLpPbdr2kyXIAMyNgEXCA0fj7TjCbjYK8datw/s3600/IMG_3228%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTa2d7ncMgZLVF4gl2KpM1eq0HCD0e98c6MtMNFTRHt2lm95HXz9FdddaTcXnirI4S_V3FRVjKfN_6LgyOXU2hrjOwjtwOE0gmD8KguIjZM8hNFMghkq8y8kGx0Jcda7sWNxGX4xcj4A8MAf-zhLpPbdr2kyXIAMyNgEXCA0fj7TjCbjYK8datw/w640-h360/IMG_3228%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Don peering out of our dorm room at Refugio Scotoni, elevation 2040 meters</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWy1ZMmXj7stozBMw-HF72CHJM2vQuvB0-WdTiauEh1M3dEUHALTVvTAhJhrFtS3UJNaUY3b7-4N6l-dLK0_m0DI0TmsYCWDvx01zfMCjwMtD_EuWauScrtpW75HXwhn73i9u5mZ9Zdem62nOyyNS3T7srB6jtldx8fycBP1soyAQy1N_oscl6w/s2913/IMG_3230%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1889" data-original-width="2913" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWy1ZMmXj7stozBMw-HF72CHJM2vQuvB0-WdTiauEh1M3dEUHALTVvTAhJhrFtS3UJNaUY3b7-4N6l-dLK0_m0DI0TmsYCWDvx01zfMCjwMtD_EuWauScrtpW75HXwhn73i9u5mZ9Zdem62nOyyNS3T7srB6jtldx8fycBP1soyAQy1N_oscl6w/w640-h416/IMG_3230%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Helen stands inside our dorm room where the four of us slept</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfszjoHTw107rBoCHbZzHpL0JSgmt6qDUErETFXl7fpm982I2t1j22_A1G10WURbflNpHEGmISujoR2LDaPB4GCNMPObeDkyWr_XI6gCGCpYskKY5CU3x2KZYWguWgXB-plfrR5oEd2RqW1tJxxG2jINuHksswCZKRDL03N056yO4GxD54_Zj2rQ/s3600/IMG_3246%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfszjoHTw107rBoCHbZzHpL0JSgmt6qDUErETFXl7fpm982I2t1j22_A1G10WURbflNpHEGmISujoR2LDaPB4GCNMPObeDkyWr_XI6gCGCpYskKY5CU3x2KZYWguWgXB-plfrR5oEd2RqW1tJxxG2jINuHksswCZKRDL03N056yO4GxD54_Zj2rQ/w640-h360/IMG_3246%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>View to the west</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYChUuavtEBIpDi27sB5zV6fZn7IejlKPCqRefCYAtIzc2kPybchahnS8Qajyu3BbbVTMFZuqXDfAKQ5653EZqa78Vj7ri7OipdJSkaNpOL-GtlBvFeSZfLmO-TC7F1ffCjyKGyNdBxnjzdk92wb0WEVDGXyHnLwxMKqvVNmkAcqXjUxnvDun8Q/s3265/IMG_3252%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2011" data-original-width="3265" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYChUuavtEBIpDi27sB5zV6fZn7IejlKPCqRefCYAtIzc2kPybchahnS8Qajyu3BbbVTMFZuqXDfAKQ5653EZqa78Vj7ri7OipdJSkaNpOL-GtlBvFeSZfLmO-TC7F1ffCjyKGyNdBxnjzdk92wb0WEVDGXyHnLwxMKqvVNmkAcqXjUxnvDun8Q/w640-h394/IMG_3252%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Inside the refugió restaurant</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vfb_3GPwRyJaric84vKon4c2fEYBvrrcBDuRSP8TvpR3AU-g3ZKRlTthSv-oCz9tl1rf5z2HiFuRoWCVpSs18tm04PyR3hOIJWktCcwqtS6FzJA15j3X3mpBCj3FMRW8b-9zZGMwo-MKZQd1ewBsCa4dsGIyJAwcAPLNmEIrueijx_Xgb1Z44Q/s3600/IMG_3254%20copy.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2061" data-original-width="3600" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vfb_3GPwRyJaric84vKon4c2fEYBvrrcBDuRSP8TvpR3AU-g3ZKRlTthSv-oCz9tl1rf5z2HiFuRoWCVpSs18tm04PyR3hOIJWktCcwqtS6FzJA15j3X3mpBCj3FMRW8b-9zZGMwo-MKZQd1ewBsCa4dsGIyJAwcAPLNmEIrueijx_Xgb1Z44Q/w640-h366/IMG_3254%20copy.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Brilliant sunshine and sunset at Refugió Scotoni</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsIRWppvWPzerc09zg4SwmdJjSQb5-ELrodMILDbhWfCYf59SDB6n5pIPZ_6AcElFVak3chEYcHAxMZJ21RDhxoAJVivV3xVogTFeVsXsVrphP3ymWfXgHj1gFTnkev3uEuJ4VVizH3Qb6lGbn_ticpY8Pd7vLhqYHI0-Fxll-yQCUCMR27tiPg/s3240/IMG_3255%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3240" data-original-width="1951" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsIRWppvWPzerc09zg4SwmdJjSQb5-ELrodMILDbhWfCYf59SDB6n5pIPZ_6AcElFVak3chEYcHAxMZJ21RDhxoAJVivV3xVogTFeVsXsVrphP3ymWfXgHj1gFTnkev3uEuJ4VVizH3Qb6lGbn_ticpY8Pd7vLhqYHI0-Fxll-yQCUCMR27tiPg/w386-h640/IMG_3255%20copy.heic" width="386" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>An end to a great day in the Dolomites!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Day 4 - Refugió Scotoni to </u></b><b><u>Refugió Cinque Torri</u></b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0ChUqHo0gjweLlYnT1_UA2LgA0p-td2wI4tQBJHupT5z-OHxGkWYKRLuczLyoE0t4DQeHsXETtO5-j0Z8-_MJjG73YtWg47m_3rEj1fRrkgWqoccjqtAIdS4nDnytBAoLSpdCrlJo-LhweT_w5HjqMmkKYCjANLXHu9BPUYRUeQkVEquifY_xw/s2026/IMG_3265%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2026" data-original-width="1580" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0ChUqHo0gjweLlYnT1_UA2LgA0p-td2wI4tQBJHupT5z-OHxGkWYKRLuczLyoE0t4DQeHsXETtO5-j0Z8-_MJjG73YtWg47m_3rEj1fRrkgWqoccjqtAIdS4nDnytBAoLSpdCrlJo-LhweT_w5HjqMmkKYCjANLXHu9BPUYRUeQkVEquifY_xw/w500-h640/IMG_3265%20copy.heic" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The switchbacks out of Refugió Scotoni are well-maintained</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>We soon found why this is so! A natural spring issues from the rocks above Scotoni and is used as a source of bottled spring water in Europe.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6i_TODIwbp0M8GN_-xp2rgbhHEtvZgVWlWaTsNpizJu_kWx87lnOMl8P7PikSgUjgG_dJ-sQ1gYRghNl6YDEOBQ3Y4XTvtMXHclaYhQRURMDGSGIb0HS_zHJyRxEWbaJdqpDBYYvNcSTu7Ritk4RHLXP9sK-dOyErbdZgPxxw5jkVZ4B3GGJl9g/s2063/IMG_3272%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2063" data-original-width="1761" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6i_TODIwbp0M8GN_-xp2rgbhHEtvZgVWlWaTsNpizJu_kWx87lnOMl8P7PikSgUjgG_dJ-sQ1gYRghNl6YDEOBQ3Y4XTvtMXHclaYhQRURMDGSGIb0HS_zHJyRxEWbaJdqpDBYYvNcSTu7Ritk4RHLXP9sK-dOyErbdZgPxxw5jkVZ4B3GGJl9g/w546-h640/IMG_3272%20copy.heic" width="546" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>This small wall plaque is found 394 feet above Scotoni</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>It reads, "<i>2160 meters (7,087 feet) - Here in the heart of the UNESCO Dolomites, from the "Scotoni" source, is born the highest mineral water in Europe. The water "EGA.</i>" So now we had been to the highest brewery at Lavarella and the highest bottled water source in Europe! Yes, they had pipes in the ground bringing the water downhill.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrN_mPBY-XOrU1kspP9Yt-onC0uY7vOnEK3JvcW85eX_iF7a4O6ckqs0VKWjuUfSsfCziRxGdo4f2NHXM2gTL6bWJE58VHHF08WD7F7MrPklSRlIVcFyQ2jvlzFM645HLXS7hDvqFDOiP0dSfDWW6EvJaY7XWda7j9vOspOW2NOskKBgNBJ5AC3g/s3600/IMG_3271%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1973" data-original-width="3600" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrN_mPBY-XOrU1kspP9Yt-onC0uY7vOnEK3JvcW85eX_iF7a4O6ckqs0VKWjuUfSsfCziRxGdo4f2NHXM2gTL6bWJE58VHHF08WD7F7MrPklSRlIVcFyQ2jvlzFM645HLXS7hDvqFDOiP0dSfDWW6EvJaY7XWda7j9vOspOW2NOskKBgNBJ5AC3g/w640-h350/IMG_3271%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Climbing up with a view down to Scotoni</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>The view above is down the Badia Valley that holds the Ega River. 94% of the population in this valley speak Ladin (not a misspelling). See more about this small linguistic group and culture <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladins" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladin_language" target="_blank">here</a>. A map of the Ladin area can be found on the last link.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLKS0Ki0iAQvPh82lqvmykpg_Vw2dxUhaRKp8fNip1rpF94Ep-pDJBCk-lGKPqM7qTesp8jfojdBB6_8hyH2K-i2TbXac-8c2SXqwytpF7oFCg0ZOES5EqmgDWlaTV5OZ4gUiiKM1lg37ddMZAXfsZRnMfWqlqtQmwTNyTpOVcqGpjO-LdzEOAg/s2880/IMG_3278%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLKS0Ki0iAQvPh82lqvmykpg_Vw2dxUhaRKp8fNip1rpF94Ep-pDJBCk-lGKPqM7qTesp8jfojdBB6_8hyH2K-i2TbXac-8c2SXqwytpF7oFCg0ZOES5EqmgDWlaTV5OZ4gUiiKM1lg37ddMZAXfsZRnMfWqlqtQmwTNyTpOVcqGpjO-LdzEOAg/w466-h640/IMG_3278%20copy.heic" width="466" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Higher still!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcWCQb-qhrzqQTmgk5dqfVsfxlrz5vCF5heIcKl7eKZnFvD4OPOX-HJgsA1-_5WBsKggFoztZKoN2pWT176MiT3-OEDosgULaWBXDA-2zBH6tDBDlbLNo5fq_gjGxffbPjUf1phUrgXBY7_ECzg5ccTwbYeZbJBU9HQr7uCYqzW8HyViu43thqw/s3686/IMG_3295%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1895" data-original-width="3686" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcWCQb-qhrzqQTmgk5dqfVsfxlrz5vCF5heIcKl7eKZnFvD4OPOX-HJgsA1-_5WBsKggFoztZKoN2pWT176MiT3-OEDosgULaWBXDA-2zBH6tDBDlbLNo5fq_gjGxffbPjUf1phUrgXBY7_ECzg5ccTwbYeZbJBU9HQr7uCYqzW8HyViu43thqw/w640-h330/IMG_3295%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>View to the west with Refugió Scotoni in the shadows of the valley floor</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>It was a blue-bird day! The previous days' rain has dissipated and the air was washed clean. We eventually rose above tree line, which here is about 7,500 feet.</div></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79FqVzzDpztIOf_vQy-IhHOGl8JqwiDxVUCnbaDp74iSGrQ7JZ_T9byuu59pLS5LFx16HgvEUuW6EwFaJHDSDLIx1sNtT45LeztKnOM8Y7U2Rv_ktn16s7-NOojweVlBZM-wmPnvYggzOXFb_UFZCIekofiWT8KHshLXGnBYg1d6YaR8kokzEaQ/s3600/IMG_3307%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79FqVzzDpztIOf_vQy-IhHOGl8JqwiDxVUCnbaDp74iSGrQ7JZ_T9byuu59pLS5LFx16HgvEUuW6EwFaJHDSDLIx1sNtT45LeztKnOM8Y7U2Rv_ktn16s7-NOojweVlBZM-wmPnvYggzOXFb_UFZCIekofiWT8KHshLXGnBYg1d6YaR8kokzEaQ/w640-h360/IMG_3307%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Above tree line toward Refugió Lagazuoi</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I was surprised that the tree line was as low as 7,500 feet at this latitude - about 46º 33' N.</span></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_B1SD_croIY_IPHs0sBV0tJsqzyUgZg9K2CoiHghBGB8LApEkiOWkCtXYUx9A0wz97XiAX26bsmtivClXji4BO08nMPTLwKekrdfOIe32jKEmXs5wkxBzV9PpCiIF35cVFYEDT_h4SzPx5WMMhc6qEqX8qgB89NBKMwgBG3BZtidjDLWoPqE3_w/s2827/IMG_3299%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1825" data-original-width="2827" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_B1SD_croIY_IPHs0sBV0tJsqzyUgZg9K2CoiHghBGB8LApEkiOWkCtXYUx9A0wz97XiAX26bsmtivClXji4BO08nMPTLwKekrdfOIe32jKEmXs5wkxBzV9PpCiIF35cVFYEDT_h4SzPx5WMMhc6qEqX8qgB89NBKMwgBG3BZtidjDLWoPqE3_w/w640-h414/IMG_3299%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>On the right skyline is the Refugió Lagazuoi, our destination for lunch</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPGleN348jpnxgpzdLhSVyppVQF8lO-TUyXRSLB0o0W6cKzNQGLwD-UyJjzSfJTZYfH5kdOHG9boKkVdgcknVL7yqY0SqSUFo49vAVqwOmjkHk6Fq3q0q1ZGE_LFF_VWCOUjcWYNvlSkSNIdW2gMPbDA1sU4VwDOrtSu9PyzfpwPSEyGBaLb9sw/s2880/IMG_3314%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2052" data-original-width="2880" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPGleN348jpnxgpzdLhSVyppVQF8lO-TUyXRSLB0o0W6cKzNQGLwD-UyJjzSfJTZYfH5kdOHG9boKkVdgcknVL7yqY0SqSUFo49vAVqwOmjkHk6Fq3q0q1ZGE_LFF_VWCOUjcWYNvlSkSNIdW2gMPbDA1sU4VwDOrtSu9PyzfpwPSEyGBaLb9sw/w640-h456/IMG_3314%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The only snowfields we had to cross were very short in length</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeV3KR6ZSr7UAGa8OKm-2azBN9pMZGlwXhitxuH5XqkQdE_czA1EyvWwqvuNBoR5Rj29vbm10Y3nC92bflSxSSDw3eheT6MFSsteurrftaDWOW9aUN6Wu3-yIg987gHNuU1fhfqiNSL9r3UYRNbIUwdiJlOPu_k-nl4fmUHIqnkb0yuxhr4Tvsg/s3600/IMG_3325%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeV3KR6ZSr7UAGa8OKm-2azBN9pMZGlwXhitxuH5XqkQdE_czA1EyvWwqvuNBoR5Rj29vbm10Y3nC92bflSxSSDw3eheT6MFSsteurrftaDWOW9aUN6Wu3-yIg987gHNuU1fhfqiNSL9r3UYRNbIUwdiJlOPu_k-nl4fmUHIqnkb0yuxhr4Tvsg/w640-h360/IMG_3325%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Helen approaching the summit at Lagazuoi</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvo31STj865NMt8HLV4AVAkUweZzj6cGpGaW7n38_VZjhZ8TbAloAC9Zq_ofFQzO33tSg_0VDOo56PH_djhQIXJOVlvxElZkkN6cz0LR6HE2kCCJoKYjUTMWtv3J891rYEF3LfDCk6s0kTfusH1IkJVEu6x2pm8fp7FDdZ6S-ZXvdyxBTIzEv2ow/s3600/IMG_3327%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvo31STj865NMt8HLV4AVAkUweZzj6cGpGaW7n38_VZjhZ8TbAloAC9Zq_ofFQzO33tSg_0VDOo56PH_djhQIXJOVlvxElZkkN6cz0LR6HE2kCCJoKYjUTMWtv3J891rYEF3LfDCk6s0kTfusH1IkJVEu6x2pm8fp7FDdZ6S-ZXvdyxBTIzEv2ow/w640-h360/IMG_3327%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Looking back to the northeast and where we came from</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0obg2JopjKRrnK45m0WdpHadQlf3mYoPjjATMPB9h-NUl8UIx8R8lkI2mukkWarc8KMx8NnFtiscexMhLKRmMhWtZSgk8NJBoE5iLUdtVIwRi1G-xlhHEvMRWbNSNMg6yGXEz1xszWxGeqBri6faf-IfMoBAUuB8TtY4H7EJXbRRVEo3_dvM0w/s3600/IMG_3343%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0obg2JopjKRrnK45m0WdpHadQlf3mYoPjjATMPB9h-NUl8UIx8R8lkI2mukkWarc8KMx8NnFtiscexMhLKRmMhWtZSgk8NJBoE5iLUdtVIwRi1G-xlhHEvMRWbNSNMg6yGXEz1xszWxGeqBri6faf-IfMoBAUuB8TtY4H7EJXbRRVEo3_dvM0w/w640-h360/IMG_3343%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Th gentle dip of the limestone beds ends at a 2,000 foot drop!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjegW9ngKkisCAev4BFVZT2VuOWouvV7xD7tioFPRehUmZaUXPimYPFaBiYiFeQKZg6t8bSD7-rF2WetMfDjFE8aOHYwS3lg3mecs769S92IMhzMgwmrKYpfZ-XKFMBnb15OKnDf2v7B60ZbAhOfi4pvQLZEmKss8ZHFFyhG4m62U3pka05EXiUQ/s3337/IMG_3350%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2197" data-original-width="3337" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjegW9ngKkisCAev4BFVZT2VuOWouvV7xD7tioFPRehUmZaUXPimYPFaBiYiFeQKZg6t8bSD7-rF2WetMfDjFE8aOHYwS3lg3mecs769S92IMhzMgwmrKYpfZ-XKFMBnb15OKnDf2v7B60ZbAhOfi4pvQLZEmKss8ZHFFyhG4m62U3pka05EXiUQ/w640-h422/IMG_3350%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">View down to the Andraz valley from Lagazuoi, elevation 9,029 feet</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lagazuoi would be our highest elevation attained on this trek. While the elevations are not high compared to the western mountains in North America, they do have a lot of relief (the difference between highest and lowest elevations in a given place). The photo above shows some of this extreme relief.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHo2aMs6CrcPevW9a8fPlLoCUJLwIm61pksRg1T6bjkV5yCICIsLLJAJ148m9ZNITlPcrS8WpGQl0DmegTHxLeMpViXMAcB3ydT4rtQTRbUQ_v97tGUMFq1LXIg4ou0uh-JLcs0kp8Y-vV40SurYNGtFm9MK45G5qrJccJgYdSxKnVq8vUzaj3TQ/s4032/IMG_3356%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHo2aMs6CrcPevW9a8fPlLoCUJLwIm61pksRg1T6bjkV5yCICIsLLJAJ148m9ZNITlPcrS8WpGQl0DmegTHxLeMpViXMAcB3ydT4rtQTRbUQ_v97tGUMFq1LXIg4ou0uh-JLcs0kp8Y-vV40SurYNGtFm9MK45G5qrJccJgYdSxKnVq8vUzaj3TQ/w640-h360/IMG_3356%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The spectacular deck at Lagazuoi</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KHahlELT6TGeZe9RojE6sivDFYL0henmsIers-rilC-MANIhrPMCsc_Atbk4RknsrtbYDl3DWkEdxx5-vDrQu2afoDfif0LWZ0jnCqTZUpympzSI7vtb1jG4aeQxbDO1D0dsPmT7IlU-QRN5UC-Tep4awB-XTWnvAtrZtv83vCxeubYcp7S2GQ/s3445/IMG_3357%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2186" data-original-width="3445" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KHahlELT6TGeZe9RojE6sivDFYL0henmsIers-rilC-MANIhrPMCsc_Atbk4RknsrtbYDl3DWkEdxx5-vDrQu2afoDfif0LWZ0jnCqTZUpympzSI7vtb1jG4aeQxbDO1D0dsPmT7IlU-QRN5UC-Tep4awB-XTWnvAtrZtv83vCxeubYcp7S2GQ/w640-h406/IMG_3357%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>We were too blown away by the view to even remove our packs</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy9fjeoUoosd65e4Mfy9m9Ehk0ZqVS49gJiHPZhLf73pO3eUkRtj5NN6r-0URiwNJ-bfsJN2Q9YQFTT7atTWQfiXaoAdioD-1lLEdgf5VxXtc0DO1i8ltMb_xm_iz0grQnbm4HxhLp6YI5i__DLKSYefCTePajQoxbGOkZwMUOY7YppMXqrcz6A/s2922/IMG_3360%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2042" data-original-width="2922" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy9fjeoUoosd65e4Mfy9m9Ehk0ZqVS49gJiHPZhLf73pO3eUkRtj5NN6r-0URiwNJ-bfsJN2Q9YQFTT7atTWQfiXaoAdioD-1lLEdgf5VxXtc0DO1i8ltMb_xm_iz0grQnbm4HxhLp6YI5i__DLKSYefCTePajQoxbGOkZwMUOY7YppMXqrcz6A/w640-h448/IMG_3360%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Caffeine, carbs, and salt</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcLvTijsY0s5uVSiXYSiwiWABFc7uAPy2tO0Zg_BS1Eoool4ERpxuL1Xb7ukgdTE0Cr1eG1s9oAHwFNLlCpqDfPXuiCbPNzKJQb02oNAInv1xv2p8voloczJ7ahyOHlP5ECaNfRgIkyd_agcbzunZdXCcRQcqEdqlFgKeT81n8uewMQFSDfINkA/s3240/IMG_3361%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="3240" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcLvTijsY0s5uVSiXYSiwiWABFc7uAPy2tO0Zg_BS1Eoool4ERpxuL1Xb7ukgdTE0Cr1eG1s9oAHwFNLlCpqDfPXuiCbPNzKJQb02oNAInv1xv2p8voloczJ7ahyOHlP5ECaNfRgIkyd_agcbzunZdXCcRQcqEdqlFgKeT81n8uewMQFSDfINkA/w640-h388/IMG_3361%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>View to the west from Lagazuoi and the Alta Badia Valley</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I found myself wondering what we would have missed if we had arrived here just 24 hours earlier during the previous days' rain storm. None of this would have presented itself to us. And yet, later in the hike, we did have about 48 hours of low cloud that did obscure something from our view there. So who knows. We must go back and see for ourselves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczXF8m_BNQpa5m9pDYH31aXkZGnunzScNd45jpmTHWW4D_hTFpk8_9ViRxoPVUo-GqW84wNHR7qS8gERwnI0eRcKTqNGHnOnEjLJsx2AWa29z17Cu-HRhKAc_YhjcvzueSt9FdE9ZXi2fh4-GYR4xkhNk-hDNVBWF1gW026LtCJTPEmnxXrJBxg/s4032/IMG_3364%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczXF8m_BNQpa5m9pDYH31aXkZGnunzScNd45jpmTHWW4D_hTFpk8_9ViRxoPVUo-GqW84wNHR7qS8gERwnI0eRcKTqNGHnOnEjLJsx2AWa29z17Cu-HRhKAc_YhjcvzueSt9FdE9ZXi2fh4-GYR4xkhNk-hDNVBWF1gW026LtCJTPEmnxXrJBxg/w640-h360/IMG_3364%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Marmolada massif - The Queen of the Dolomites</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>To the southwest from Lagazuoi we saw a glacier coming down the north slope of Marmolada</span><span>, the highest in all the Dolomites at 10,968 feet</span><span>. Before World War I the border between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire was through the summit of this mountain. Amazingly, it lies only 62 miles from Venice and can be seen from there on a clear day.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcZ0lpw1jYOxA0i0LsTMDlOuAD17a1YUUt9gBk7LG3jfU0fV72ErufQBs8Mxk213LXrayseJtMn9NbjBBRE-zseKUjLeTESwtAt9Q1ZYFy9aboBcNDzTqg0R0__9ZBbwRz2FMNj3a-dpHLzG-R30d3LlersoCy5ZVvH7h32ntbN5GUD32bQqaQA/s4032/IMG_3368%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcZ0lpw1jYOxA0i0LsTMDlOuAD17a1YUUt9gBk7LG3jfU0fV72ErufQBs8Mxk213LXrayseJtMn9NbjBBRE-zseKUjLeTESwtAt9Q1ZYFy9aboBcNDzTqg0R0__9ZBbwRz2FMNj3a-dpHLzG-R30d3LlersoCy5ZVvH7h32ntbN5GUD32bQqaQA/w640-h360/IMG_3368%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>View to the southeast to Lastoni di Formin ridge (shadowed face) and Croda da Lago peaks</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The photo above shows the rest of the days' trek. The craggy peaks form the Croda da Lago (literally Crags of the Lake), one of the more famous landmarks in this section of the Dolomites. The shadowed ridge in front of the crags is formed on the northeast dip of the limestone beds, angling down to Cortina d'Ampezzo. It is called Lastoni di Formin. Both of these features would provide a stunning backdrop to the end of our day at the Refugió Cinque Torri. These towers can also be seen in the photo foreground and against the forested slope left of center. More about these later. Note the small building to the right of the Cinque Torri and the trails and roads leading to it. This is the Refugió Scoiattoli, where a surprise would await Don and I later in the day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKiT_LRV5CB8-znYOusJ9dSc0xQtOCp8IjKUhh8EB53pnLn6d365pGDgyrjkQI6en57NWsmDfpLxeBCu1wRZVBXKThQXhlQk2ghVFzo7Ge8XO-WYva6sTClxSvnSHiM70mpa6HD89-xMXgqTIb-o66AaQrIkO8Pj4U5LGSCjFc4BeQqYn-N9YEA/s3600/IMG_3377%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKiT_LRV5CB8-znYOusJ9dSc0xQtOCp8IjKUhh8EB53pnLn6d365pGDgyrjkQI6en57NWsmDfpLxeBCu1wRZVBXKThQXhlQk2ghVFzo7Ge8XO-WYva6sTClxSvnSHiM70mpa6HD89-xMXgqTIb-o66AaQrIkO8Pj4U5LGSCjFc4BeQqYn-N9YEA/w640-h360/IMG_3377%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Pian Falzarego</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Sadly, we had to leave Lagazuoi, although overnighting there is something we might pursue on another trip. We took the cable car straight down to Pian Falzarego on the road between Cortina and Bolzano (<a href="https://www.guidedolomiti.com/en/great-dolomites-road/" target="_blank">The Great Dolomites Road</a>). Hiking instead would have required an additional 15 miles on the trail. A huge bike race was occurring on this Saturday, making the place quite busy.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dKyGUpC3pRTslt-qsbXp2OQIycjCejz2FKa4nLwqhOSFFWnvjdiwZiMVm9YORBb3NR8DlvazLoMsRwUBL733pn0SdyKc7n_kwvw5Ur6eU8ujwOrgBJSCWKvAr_B7XwF-jCZro2Yayzed8eUDquBJWg1dO-23jBtXV-vhg_59b5lqinWmM1iMbw/s2233/IMG_3379%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2233" data-original-width="1923" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dKyGUpC3pRTslt-qsbXp2OQIycjCejz2FKa4nLwqhOSFFWnvjdiwZiMVm9YORBb3NR8DlvazLoMsRwUBL733pn0SdyKc7n_kwvw5Ur6eU8ujwOrgBJSCWKvAr_B7XwF-jCZro2Yayzed8eUDquBJWg1dO-23jBtXV-vhg_59b5lqinWmM1iMbw/w552-h640/IMG_3379%20copy.heic" width="552" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The cable car coming down from Lagazuoi to Pian Falzarego</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdg-Jyjt_QP6-ZL-ZXosnsDwydTpelHTae5b4dDRWqjJoLHBTTWo2NwTUMuSXsXGvQhrZ1cfw6mK_Wq4TeCo-AKvh8dOsQmBXZCAVQ8Y6XLxBdQwMek03p_Q3ASWwsZ99kSOkACFNSP4aJ4B_Je6Kumcv4xRcHd6tbzy9CThGSM5b5a5iOKWVq4Q/s3455/IMG_3391%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2056" data-original-width="3455" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdg-Jyjt_QP6-ZL-ZXosnsDwydTpelHTae5b4dDRWqjJoLHBTTWo2NwTUMuSXsXGvQhrZ1cfw6mK_Wq4TeCo-AKvh8dOsQmBXZCAVQ8Y6XLxBdQwMek03p_Q3ASWwsZ99kSOkACFNSP4aJ4B_Je6Kumcv4xRcHd6tbzy9CThGSM5b5a5iOKWVq4Q/w640-h380/IMG_3391%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Don and I on the cable car up to Refugió Scoiatteli</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">We hiked a fairly flat one mile to the next ascent. However, since it was a Saturday there was a large trail running event in addition to the bike race on the road. I was not interested in competing for trail space with runners and found a kindred spirit in Don. So, he and I took a chair lift to save ourselves from the throngs and an additional climb.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmlSiJLbH272AnRQSkB3UWyKOWtcz2rKstvcq8Eoa4wBSL1U1aK1Qa-Va0Aa7znm-H5ip7wf3UeWRNXGLKnoRdAdsDoOiC1PdtN19CYwNnO_f6-eKG5PORy3tzDzLLgOKoJ_UcmOk8fzo0mI9yWDnIlIxxwutjEWGqIQN_x2LBWfLCDUHEmiszQ/s4032/IMG_3397%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmlSiJLbH272AnRQSkB3UWyKOWtcz2rKstvcq8Eoa4wBSL1U1aK1Qa-Va0Aa7znm-H5ip7wf3UeWRNXGLKnoRdAdsDoOiC1PdtN19CYwNnO_f6-eKG5PORy3tzDzLLgOKoJ_UcmOk8fzo0mI9yWDnIlIxxwutjEWGqIQN_x2LBWfLCDUHEmiszQ/w640-h360/IMG_3397%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The view southeast from Refugió Scoiattoli to Lastoni di Forman and Croda da Lago</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">It was another spectacular view from the ridge top at the end of the chair lift! The weather could not have been better with puffy clouds and no rain. A perfect day!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzp80kls2oiPT9rKD9bgtAByFhL7653Fta-S2hI6Z6avP3BM5mGrzUdHvgcFehv_Sn-12mQPMUvdRIlgiyj8RXi0F00gh3tKPxphdwsWkhAUXfJ9vSf-Yt8iA8hhOQxZnDKE37oqLzLpqi6q97xh2v-PZw4Bis-MpRO9j--2B6vsEpNnxwc1gxQ/s3240/IMG_3406%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1893" data-original-width="3240" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzp80kls2oiPT9rKD9bgtAByFhL7653Fta-S2hI6Z6avP3BM5mGrzUdHvgcFehv_Sn-12mQPMUvdRIlgiyj8RXi0F00gh3tKPxphdwsWkhAUXfJ9vSf-Yt8iA8hhOQxZnDKE37oqLzLpqi6q97xh2v-PZw4Bis-MpRO9j--2B6vsEpNnxwc1gxQ/w640-h374/IMG_3406%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>What is this doing up in the mountains on a nine-day trek?</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As we admired the mountains, our eyes occasionally glanced over to some very well dressed people who also were enjoying the view but were not hikers. We had noticed them getting on the chair lift down below but didn't give it a second thought at the time. We hovered around a bit watching it all - the mountains, the suits and dresses, the pouring of champagne. A private wedding party was underway necessitating the closure of the refugió to outside visitors for the day. Note the formal red rope around the private party, with Don focused on the humans. </span></div></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27w-6hUKNqOoCQpDLRSA-w7CmLfHMbSxiV13BQsgx0TbyP-W-9vWueRCR3zwDSZH0NpQ4RZFdPy1_u7LBCShYsu1u1G4LkmuNfCudmJ9ap6nwHZXZiTaQrLUB5UV8I2LOufdmiuIbs6V0veiiLQ4PirFsnOMGGpiWX85XFVy4HbHGYBWD8KbWVw/s3168/IMG_3407%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2204" data-original-width="3168" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27w-6hUKNqOoCQpDLRSA-w7CmLfHMbSxiV13BQsgx0TbyP-W-9vWueRCR3zwDSZH0NpQ4RZFdPy1_u7LBCShYsu1u1G4LkmuNfCudmJ9ap6nwHZXZiTaQrLUB5UV8I2LOufdmiuIbs6V0veiiLQ4PirFsnOMGGpiWX85XFVy4HbHGYBWD8KbWVw/w640-h446/IMG_3407%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A wedding party had taken over the entire refuge and it was closed to visitors</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">I could only take so many photos of the beautiful mountains, so I then began to photograph the party that was underway. It is difficult to see in this small rendition of the photo, but directly above the head of the lady in pink is the Refugió Lagazuoi on the tilted peak.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMtEAcpF_HIkU69ztkkh4wBRPDTHUlpknASPZtmuqcF_uuy12ocbLYNV7YioRoRsFoy2gMyt7a-Dk4YXBMDc4NPE8FBREeWA2xqVrz0-uwTUAsqPQZklTuF5616uApT9aD-e4rczfjKZlOGjPObY09GrVU54v9NaE-n33ETtluWbcaVJyG5o2ag/s3600/IMG_3408%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMtEAcpF_HIkU69ztkkh4wBRPDTHUlpknASPZtmuqcF_uuy12ocbLYNV7YioRoRsFoy2gMyt7a-Dk4YXBMDc4NPE8FBREeWA2xqVrz0-uwTUAsqPQZklTuF5616uApT9aD-e4rczfjKZlOGjPObY09GrVU54v9NaE-n33ETtluWbcaVJyG5o2ag/w640-h360/IMG_3408%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Don watches double magnums of French champagne being poured!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>While I wandered around the roped off area taking pictures of the mountains ('don't want any riff-raff sneaking in, now would we'), Don, </span><span>with obvious delight,</span><span> became further fascinated by the party and inched closer to the active pouring of those magnums of champagne. I was ready to make the final push to our own refugió for the night, only half a mile away. But then Don asked me if the guy pouring the bubbles might give us a glass? My first reaction was, "Of course not, don't even try." That was not the answer he wanted to hear and fortunately he completely ignored what said. So, he snuck in closer to the action and popped the question as we ingratiated ourselves with a few of the guys first, and then some nicely dressed women.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfT7M-3BCJpsTc3S8FZgyrA837W2KFwhvsVlgUqGvdXx0QsPklA5VrwX8_v1u8w9K8krlPaDz0_guVYILI0tBHoVPvkG6IFZp5-FAcp7Kz49id-R5WJaE4GwdlbM6iAgh95KkkHo2ImZ2KOuJIvWG2NdYwHkTP_UDxubVboa32_EnUAMwjqZXXw/s3600/IMG_3410%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfT7M-3BCJpsTc3S8FZgyrA837W2KFwhvsVlgUqGvdXx0QsPklA5VrwX8_v1u8w9K8krlPaDz0_guVYILI0tBHoVPvkG6IFZp5-FAcp7Kz49id-R5WJaE4GwdlbM6iAgh95KkkHo2ImZ2KOuJIvWG2NdYwHkTP_UDxubVboa32_EnUAMwjqZXXw/w640-h360/IMG_3410%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Champagne on the trail!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It turns out that anyone at a party is only too happy to have other "guests" join them in the fun and festivities! Soon we were chatting up those who were near the serving table. A couple of guys told us all about the wedding - the setting, who was getting married (a power couple from Cortina) and what was planned for the evening (dinner, music, more champagne!). Being Italians, there were no rules about outsiders. And we were harmless (and unique) guests.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYCTfcmdlpg86PRkclsRZffdec98al5vdEhalk51yOdYu3_QOJAjjCRwtD_0DkiHY86naPvXUkmuWC9QMEhS6mOTmtjVZYsKlgTfmca6MlyZwzP2JaL1CnlU659LP8e_yNG0219h1vFGgIorxE3FSFS0pa0qsGfR_xvZQeGS-DoLwmB6joeJ1Mw/s3220/IMG_3421%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3220" data-original-width="1997" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYCTfcmdlpg86PRkclsRZffdec98al5vdEhalk51yOdYu3_QOJAjjCRwtD_0DkiHY86naPvXUkmuWC9QMEhS6mOTmtjVZYsKlgTfmca6MlyZwzP2JaL1CnlU659LP8e_yNG0219h1vFGgIorxE3FSFS0pa0qsGfR_xvZQeGS-DoLwmB6joeJ1Mw/w396-h640/IMG_3421%20copy.heic" width="396" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A selfie inside the ropes!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">They were as intrigued by us as we were of them. What a day it turned out to be - Don and I were officially wedding crashers high in the Dolomites!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmH-9VCJmxJbD74PoxQYHQNQIqZ01A6BDX-uITmM7ZhgCTbSzjFrr9Ey9SmcZh_MblWI--TpcZVpcNkBcPH7F9lObZS8Z5oQ1mzUTscKA-_uEWnjv4SR_IsGaT5txuzL8GkZpGaYP4u2q_4xtt20qGaA30SEt1dshvjK767pNLAA_ass156i4Sg/s1833/IMG_3423%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1833" data-original-width="1168" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmH-9VCJmxJbD74PoxQYHQNQIqZ01A6BDX-uITmM7ZhgCTbSzjFrr9Ey9SmcZh_MblWI--TpcZVpcNkBcPH7F9lObZS8Z5oQ1mzUTscKA-_uEWnjv4SR_IsGaT5txuzL8GkZpGaYP4u2q_4xtt20qGaA30SEt1dshvjK767pNLAA_ass156i4Sg/w408-h640/IMG_3423%20copy.jpg" width="408" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A wedding guest</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What fun! The woman above wanted to come over and find out who the new guests were. We had a nice chat with her on topics ranging from politics to mountain weddings. Note the date and abbreviation of the bride and groom on her sunglasses. Soon, I mentioned to Don, "Hey Don, weren't our wives walking up the trail with those trail runners sometime earlier today? ...Oh yeah, I guess we should go...."</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQ3Ab3kD1ZCCT7qbVfnC6YnCgs2j9iWtAAqGJPxwptZZSZ5dZFq2Cf_irNenkKR1C2i0BZv0yilD2XbLKbuS41TE_X9WfmjQJR1iAh3YNNBXBvKuhtcacki-YExjJlBsXzcy_CgC6CGU7qKmSEV9oGh6KzkDqVsxi50bLaryujSDph4jBy8RECg/s4032/IMG_3425%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQ3Ab3kD1ZCCT7qbVfnC6YnCgs2j9iWtAAqGJPxwptZZSZ5dZFq2Cf_irNenkKR1C2i0BZv0yilD2XbLKbuS41TE_X9WfmjQJR1iAh3YNNBXBvKuhtcacki-YExjJlBsXzcy_CgC6CGU7qKmSEV9oGh6KzkDqVsxi50bLaryujSDph4jBy8RECg/w640-h360/IMG_3425%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The Cinque Torri</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Back on the ridge, we moved along a trail toward the famous<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Torri" target="_blank"> Cinque Torri</a>. The elevation of the Torre Grande is 7,746 feet. The rock is a well-known climbers paradise.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nZMaMpcsEpvnKIUBfYqUah4OIP5gEbN83bltLBsDaDJQ7FutLQ3E_SBPDN8oZ_gIB5N2siUtHECu1XlG5q6A12LxZkguaTB5k5C8aUUKnZVPBAR-oDMIqxg2sKm3EiUUMWQQN17__hg5Qwbo7Zwiyg4V5AnPX8HfRjstCpeXCm_G1t-4oZjM7A/s3600/IMG_3426%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nZMaMpcsEpvnKIUBfYqUah4OIP5gEbN83bltLBsDaDJQ7FutLQ3E_SBPDN8oZ_gIB5N2siUtHECu1XlG5q6A12LxZkguaTB5k5C8aUUKnZVPBAR-oDMIqxg2sKm3EiUUMWQQN17__hg5Qwbo7Zwiyg4V5AnPX8HfRjstCpeXCm_G1t-4oZjM7A/w640-h360/IMG_3426%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>On the trail to Refugió Cinque Torri</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoct4dbJsEC_cJxiULUWfwCEma-_LgaMxk_HzyQLOqnOo8RDBgaYslvp4KDobTy2Az4CwSsVSg_-DQFbVFudh_QUu_r08yyglENXf0PgUBfN6ppoKrsA7nyyipWikkQNAzGEEhnH9NzcAnm7XGml36vnpFZZDY9gde6g1n_QU3yB_5jHCM_0r4wQ/s3600/IMG_3441%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoct4dbJsEC_cJxiULUWfwCEma-_LgaMxk_HzyQLOqnOo8RDBgaYslvp4KDobTy2Az4CwSsVSg_-DQFbVFudh_QUu_r08yyglENXf0PgUBfN6ppoKrsA7nyyipWikkQNAzGEEhnH9NzcAnm7XGml36vnpFZZDY9gde6g1n_QU3yB_5jHCM_0r4wQ/w640-h360/IMG_3441%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>This was our refuge for the night!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://5torri.it/EN/s27-Cinque-Torri-Refuge?_gl=1*4h8i1p*_up*MQ..*_ga*MzU3NjQ2NzcuMTY5MTk1MzA4OA..*_ga_0FV0RG4C2K*MTY5MTk1MzA4Ny4xLjAuMTY5MTk1MzA4Ny4wLjAuMA.." target="_blank">At this link</a> for the refugió, you can see a photo of its dramatic setting beneath the rock formations of the same name. In that photo, also notice Refugió Lagazuoi on the skyline in the background. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMMHxhuHbzyQO4pWQ8bONweH59pljXlrOVNzU2U1KdlyXHky1FdPgvkanU49vTIfkg039oUxIycm1MK9wsSr52-VJSpyc1IP6_YtzZ94UfFkeCSjP8q7ClNN_8AK1add6vPvSN9pnXEGpE6Svx4EbstJgUsDOLuHpaCjd_wvipKgh8jzvviWUow/s3288/IMG_3442%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2090" data-original-width="3288" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMMHxhuHbzyQO4pWQ8bONweH59pljXlrOVNzU2U1KdlyXHky1FdPgvkanU49vTIfkg039oUxIycm1MK9wsSr52-VJSpyc1IP6_YtzZ94UfFkeCSjP8q7ClNN_8AK1add6vPvSN9pnXEGpE6Svx4EbstJgUsDOLuHpaCjd_wvipKgh8jzvviWUow/w640-h406/IMG_3442%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><i>Cinque Torri today</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>The refugió was built in 1902. </span><a href="https://cortinadelicious.it/EN/pTer7-Albergo-Cinque-Torri-Rifugio-Cinque-Torri" target="_blank">See this link</a><span> for historic views of the hut and some great images of old postcards. The next five photos have only captions and show what this historic refugió looks like on the inside.</span></span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVzncXuKPTIXMdgUpCdxXSqVItCBPwIBUsfhvj1McNW-TkzVc4LCzgwkCR58h_7JFH3Amb51IoSQe9YsR_Ykiyz8G9-_zuB0tq9S4crV6p_OgxALDXWLVC5ZRK-1ERGsHnUlyY8c0z4H74wVEpkraMFf9XHIJ_q2uzc6M1kePgM5CJJ_XKOkdLQ/s2105/IMG_3469%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2105" data-original-width="1640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVzncXuKPTIXMdgUpCdxXSqVItCBPwIBUsfhvj1McNW-TkzVc4LCzgwkCR58h_7JFH3Amb51IoSQe9YsR_Ykiyz8G9-_zuB0tq9S4crV6p_OgxALDXWLVC5ZRK-1ERGsHnUlyY8c0z4H74wVEpkraMFf9XHIJ_q2uzc6M1kePgM5CJJ_XKOkdLQ/w498-h640/IMG_3469%20copy.heic" width="498" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The breakfast table</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbLCRiIJMHRzMhQ3qmo0StzyAS3BaUwEV37lvg-kXSYfuya3PFe_MzGQ29MbNgyR8eQKnXsAbV-xj1n_lF-jGJpi9_buSf6Wn_7ehkBvn6_ZdE6UvTbVFCFuGPBajpNrNTEB8KBWV--wUP1CJ36qB0v7HHmusLW8gQ12uwEP7hEgsMViqU_JuyQ/s3254/IMG_3470%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1931" data-original-width="3254" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbLCRiIJMHRzMhQ3qmo0StzyAS3BaUwEV37lvg-kXSYfuya3PFe_MzGQ29MbNgyR8eQKnXsAbV-xj1n_lF-jGJpi9_buSf6Wn_7ehkBvn6_ZdE6UvTbVFCFuGPBajpNrNTEB8KBWV--wUP1CJ36qB0v7HHmusLW8gQ12uwEP7hEgsMViqU_JuyQ/w640-h380/IMG_3470%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The coffee and Aperol Spritz bar!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJJ35_GRLI7evqAYASNBjna5yxt-9QuuXD8RYFtXQ8cbr68TxFLvnCjmB_mVCBhuWeFEkcy3g24Op1BS30YbHYH4SNEQq3LQxE3vgiUZnZLNOEvRcMzDLeKB505P_LZziRcuF0-kqhiO_PIAFOVBabkMrN8201VkqDoNRO3AyjwVC8HbFzhlIpA/s3495/IMG_3467%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3495" data-original-width="2242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJJ35_GRLI7evqAYASNBjna5yxt-9QuuXD8RYFtXQ8cbr68TxFLvnCjmB_mVCBhuWeFEkcy3g24Op1BS30YbHYH4SNEQq3LQxE3vgiUZnZLNOEvRcMzDLeKB505P_LZziRcuF0-kqhiO_PIAFOVBabkMrN8201VkqDoNRO3AyjwVC8HbFzhlIpA/w410-h640/IMG_3467%20copy.heic" width="410" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Staircase to the sleeping area</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJljbPY2gecpqRhLy9HO3bv_kGWNLT52O0X_lxNzqdl92LHN6Zq73uqiC6y2Y5BoWmI4fhbbKoeBk9xCkuC20Dn9cHMVHDkc7dUuwH0RfYVCuJ6JWf6lm-fQPDMgfsy0xC_paIlAJMrBb3GzLenBcbquccPTPTBgNzCngh4Bqu0n13jHSaJs7vg/s2971/IMG_3444%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2971" data-original-width="2243" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJljbPY2gecpqRhLy9HO3bv_kGWNLT52O0X_lxNzqdl92LHN6Zq73uqiC6y2Y5BoWmI4fhbbKoeBk9xCkuC20Dn9cHMVHDkc7dUuwH0RfYVCuJ6JWf6lm-fQPDMgfsy0xC_paIlAJMrBb3GzLenBcbquccPTPTBgNzCngh4Bqu0n13jHSaJs7vg/w484-h640/IMG_3444%20copy.heic" width="484" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The view out of our bedroom for the night</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6MX0Fz9kzqzFMvPR1IxrNVNW0f-6LJvvvaxTSCxlZD0Kjpt8vEHtikgIdiTxAqbujTNvRvs0hW5_r7fwuvnGJ3TKcJJeAUg62jn_dT3z3fkTn7Xt8WGuGFk3MERFGT38cQoDRWojInXqqQQGxM7vTW0mlLmDobwSjhvlLlkmmq1uXdaNsfflcw/s4032/IMG_3446%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6MX0Fz9kzqzFMvPR1IxrNVNW0f-6LJvvvaxTSCxlZD0Kjpt8vEHtikgIdiTxAqbujTNvRvs0hW5_r7fwuvnGJ3TKcJJeAUg62jn_dT3z3fkTn7Xt8WGuGFk3MERFGT38cQoDRWojInXqqQQGxM7vTW0mlLmDobwSjhvlLlkmmq1uXdaNsfflcw/w360-h640/IMG_3446%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Each refugió had their own monogramed napkins</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheN_HnS5osMhWOkZLsY9Q-k5lu4EJLOkJkOkKOA5M1oAnGzwP7JukHDITBYZ4pgk_7HeX6apcju-9cAIHcxbjDQb3ZfOf0FR-qXPUsfccwE3059F32eqo1fXAXx7ADJC_-tzhX57eK_y6Q_acnWGkJe9FIWyRiy2jYmsNG0a-U_nLk1UGwJf0Mdw/s4032/IMG_3448%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheN_HnS5osMhWOkZLsY9Q-k5lu4EJLOkJkOkKOA5M1oAnGzwP7JukHDITBYZ4pgk_7HeX6apcju-9cAIHcxbjDQb3ZfOf0FR-qXPUsfccwE3059F32eqo1fXAXx7ADJC_-tzhX57eK_y6Q_acnWGkJe9FIWyRiy2jYmsNG0a-U_nLk1UGwJf0Mdw/w640-h360/IMG_3448%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Sunset on Croda da Lago</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kuFOwNFDz5nvIFo91ReeM9UtjlDC5pc9I3jiLkzum2lDlksk0mEajZQuld_auQiJLF1eQCdU846va93bIZ5omfA6OA05OMTeRakKCqUuDN6rifuBZKZNPY82KMgZO0UdDJCkTiNCy8pm5rWT-8irXFJpeYc54ugmAipN33VxXDt2L3zCYTu7OA/s4032/IMG_3461%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kuFOwNFDz5nvIFo91ReeM9UtjlDC5pc9I3jiLkzum2lDlksk0mEajZQuld_auQiJLF1eQCdU846va93bIZ5omfA6OA05OMTeRakKCqUuDN6rifuBZKZNPY82KMgZO0UdDJCkTiNCy8pm5rWT-8irXFJpeYc54ugmAipN33VxXDt2L3zCYTu7OA/w640-h360/IMG_3461%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Sunset on Croda da Lago</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">If you made it this far reading - congratulations! It's a long posting. The next ones will be shorter.</span></div>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-69453820518807698182023-08-07T14:42:00.004-07:002023-08-12T15:58:02.263-07:00Not Able to Comment<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Some readers have expressed frustration at not being able to comment on this blog. The problem has been going on for years. I may have found out why. See this:</span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: "Google Sans Text", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.1px; outline: currentcolor;"><i><span style="color: white; font-size: medium;">Many people disable third-party cookies on their browsers, and that is the usual cause of the problem. <span style="letter-spacing: 0.1px;">Because of the nature of the internet, this is a choice that users make in their browser settings.</span></span></i></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(31, 31, 31); color: #1f1f1f; font-family: "Google Sans Text", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.1px; outline: currentcolor;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="outline: currentcolor;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I wish it were not so - I often disable cookies on my browser as well. Until we can find a solution to the pervasive problem of "Money is answer to everything" (meaning that cookies enable "free" internet sites to track your interests), I cannot think of a solution except to enable cookies for the time it takes to comment. Maybe that will work.</span></div><div style="outline: currentcolor;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="outline: currentcolor;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please know that I appreciate my readers, the personal comments you send to me about enjoying the blog, and that I share the frustrations this causes.</span></div><div style="outline: currentcolor;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="outline: currentcolor;"><span style="font-size: medium;">More posts to come! WR</span></div>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-83593455498905774092023-08-06T14:33:00.002-07:002023-08-06T14:33:38.709-07:00Trekking the Dolomite Mountains - Days 1 and 2<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7i-a0S6E62l9Fot4I1FC_JvXUzXrGqKVrJDWau_dqACdkUPq3-l6rkTkh6WnGLAbe0MQ3uM_oD5VY8CieEbi3mv_yv27JoHKkwfbAT0Kvz_udoLtyWjYw40zhBr-O7-8EtNWXt81WPSUQK6yO6IjfrAlCm8FJXzlQSwEH1GwRu_359pgE9KGpwA/s1103/Screenshot%202023-08-05%20at%209.02.09%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7i-a0S6E62l9Fot4I1FC_JvXUzXrGqKVrJDWau_dqACdkUPq3-l6rkTkh6WnGLAbe0MQ3uM_oD5VY8CieEbi3mv_yv27JoHKkwfbAT0Kvz_udoLtyWjYw40zhBr-O7-8EtNWXt81WPSUQK6yO6IjfrAlCm8FJXzlQSwEH1GwRu_359pgE9KGpwA/s16000/Screenshot%202023-08-05%20at%209.02.09%20PM.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>The mountain region visited between Munich and Venice</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Let the trek begin! We had six very nice days ahead of the trek in Munich, Innsbruck, and Monguelfo/Welsberg in the South Tyrol of northeast Italy. The Dolomites aare located at the eastern end of the Alps.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidomQhYLrI-mNTqyUXOvaI1EVd1Xw6mVPFIa8JdSkqBFUrbs4ki5jAgU8PrrT4vyG6Np1qgrvWiUlUrzg-8O0_NQN3OZUW31VJDtATfS02eGLDZn25ZYvxfy5wnjU1Ji9BSa3SIc_SnA1KsQBJSAMZivtf8fs6diUTtKrJhXgF3dTEsHsOd3fWtg/s1000/Screenshot%202023-08-06%20at%208.34.22%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="621" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidomQhYLrI-mNTqyUXOvaI1EVd1Xw6mVPFIa8JdSkqBFUrbs4ki5jAgU8PrrT4vyG6Np1qgrvWiUlUrzg-8O0_NQN3OZUW31VJDtATfS02eGLDZn25ZYvxfy5wnjU1Ji9BSa3SIc_SnA1KsQBJSAMZivtf8fs6diUTtKrJhXgF3dTEsHsOd3fWtg/s16000/Screenshot%202023-08-06%20at%208.34.22%20AM.png" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>Overland route and modes of travel to the trailhead</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />We took many forms of transport to get to the trailhead - double-decker bus, trains, and finally a private transport van from Monguelfo to the trailhead near Cortina d'Ampezzo. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Before we begin a description of the trek, I include two last looks at the area near Monguelfo.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjHQTeZO4AdgPYdVJREsJSPLjl16hBPRORtiWJdn6nA8FR2sgxZOhDJ6czGVdeYIwnSb3PYBxiQkC1U1S5KIhpnJPHX7KMCOeVUobPdfjQ1dbh8s3lqRn6zuwj5ZIj5N0lzDGceQ8UlbjhqvONGt_Y8lxZ6I87sfyCtav4zbYbQ2XSfLlRLlW8w/s4032/IMG_2964%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjHQTeZO4AdgPYdVJREsJSPLjl16hBPRORtiWJdn6nA8FR2sgxZOhDJ6czGVdeYIwnSb3PYBxiQkC1U1S5KIhpnJPHX7KMCOeVUobPdfjQ1dbh8s3lqRn6zuwj5ZIj5N0lzDGceQ8UlbjhqvONGt_Y8lxZ6I87sfyCtav4zbYbQ2XSfLlRLlW8w/w640-h360/IMG_2964%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>In the Val de Santa Maddalena northeast of Monguelfo - this is Bavarian!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We took public transport to a secondary valley called Santa Maddalena. Lots of milk cows graze these pastures and dairy farming is dominant here.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgZA5tg5iUxmvU-WY8zP5BV_1mQBDaFjyiGsFoypj_32j6CpG5i_bHg6wFgjYr9O5yZSKfgEvFF_dbtyN9Ak3v33Fl8AZ2sWIGYMM-8iAiWxkubuQcuo_joWDRfSRBmkatDf4T9IXUKDJTbi8CEv-MQ25g6DhFD27ENQU0QVKSvTSjxDVS-JyJA/s4032/IMG_2965%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgZA5tg5iUxmvU-WY8zP5BV_1mQBDaFjyiGsFoypj_32j6CpG5i_bHg6wFgjYr9O5yZSKfgEvFF_dbtyN9Ak3v33Fl8AZ2sWIGYMM-8iAiWxkubuQcuo_joWDRfSRBmkatDf4T9IXUKDJTbi8CEv-MQ25g6DhFD27ENQU0QVKSvTSjxDVS-JyJA/w640-h360/IMG_2965%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The mountains in the Val de Santa Maddalena are not the Dolomites limestone </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;">The crest of the mountains in the background forms the international boundary with Austria - since 1918. Italy entered World War I with the express purpose of taking territory from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. And they partially succeeded during negotiations at the end of the Allied victory. However, it was not all that they had hoped for and the bitter aftertaste left over from the agreements fertilized sentiment that eventually brought Benito Mussolini to power in the 1920s. The Dolomites are rich in ruins of World War I fortifications and an interesting story about Italy's involvement in The Great War can be found <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Italy_during_World_War_I" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Day 1 - June 21</b></u></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j-QTvR5qluD5hJkMOj2gchNeF83WjUtjiYgCJ9zUwHk_IviOCCA2C1mquKoFooEqnt0oJbGgmROLqceyqlxTLQcRfaext7br_2L8uMvvh9XGxReYn-ylGBqwHSsdLfNixgXVXTOgbrJqTLsWNn4ZzP3tygqPQISHLKOM1cU2a8mqZwRES6tEPw/s4032/IMG_3020%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j-QTvR5qluD5hJkMOj2gchNeF83WjUtjiYgCJ9zUwHk_IviOCCA2C1mquKoFooEqnt0oJbGgmROLqceyqlxTLQcRfaext7br_2L8uMvvh9XGxReYn-ylGBqwHSsdLfNixgXVXTOgbrJqTLsWNn4ZzP3tygqPQISHLKOM1cU2a8mqZwRES6tEPw/w640-h360/IMG_3020%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>Don, Anne and Helen at the trailhead near Cortina's D'Ampezzo</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally, we began our trek on June 21 at Sant Umberto at an elevation of 4,900 feet. This is the entrance to the Natural Park of the Ampezzo created in 1990. However, this area is also part of the Regole d'Ampezzo, a collective form of ownership of the pastures and forests in these mountains. The first documentation of the regola here goes back to at least the year 1225! You can read more about this interesting European institution <a href="https://www.regole.it/EN/page108-the-origins-of-an-ancient-institution" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.regole.it/EN/page110-the-regole-throughout-the-centuries" target="_blank">here</a>. Learn about the management of this collective heritage <a href="https://www.regole.it/EN/page112-management-of-collective-heritage" target="_blank">here</a>. All of this is information I found only after our trek and in composing the blog. So interesting!</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpKBD5-qibD03WK_NLMSckR-zEpoMY-oLATecdwr0mLGn8W_4OcckeZCNmo6qQzcnFhz5pqdYKG82Qhxgmy4URiSgFMA9LLHIxnzubIwCCH26_4GFbMINsEta7nQJq-k1PNw5G2792MSXkixmERPgFlfmB6fXWXytAMhDXKvza_-e7hvAeASbDQ/s2000/1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2000" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpKBD5-qibD03WK_NLMSckR-zEpoMY-oLATecdwr0mLGn8W_4OcckeZCNmo6qQzcnFhz5pqdYKG82Qhxgmy4URiSgFMA9LLHIxnzubIwCCH26_4GFbMINsEta7nQJq-k1PNw5G2792MSXkixmERPgFlfmB6fXWXytAMhDXKvza_-e7hvAeASbDQ/w640-h364/1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Google Earth image of the first two days of trekking. Refugios in orange.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>The annotated Google Earth image above shows our trailhead located just north of Cortina d'Ampezzo. I'll post a Google Earth image for each segment of the hike </span><span>and the above shows the route for days 1 and 2</span><span>. We began in a forest, entered a meadow at Ra Stua, then climbed up switchbacks on a dirt road to the plateau where our first Refugio, Fodara Vedla is located. The total distance on day 1 was about 5.5 miles and on day 2 was about the same (although the 2nd day felt more like 8 miles!).</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI0c7kXwDi4Y8-8Hh_5-beD5DLThEP5FgDgldAZxcOzzAWnVyU-b5APjkvSmxcijOF5QPtyQfox0buxQPuCPAtjtFgah9BWDt0QS09x18nwQDoTon4-WiWV45c6niQSfZvjMpK-i2FmCGV2rkuO_9KMnaaLPR_Vbvx8LDOn6qazDyHn51MtJiTA/s4032/IMG_3022%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI0c7kXwDi4Y8-8Hh_5-beD5DLThEP5FgDgldAZxcOzzAWnVyU-b5APjkvSmxcijOF5QPtyQfox0buxQPuCPAtjtFgah9BWDt0QS09x18nwQDoTon4-WiWV45c6niQSfZvjMpK-i2FmCGV2rkuO_9KMnaaLPR_Vbvx8LDOn6qazDyHn51MtJiTA/w640-h360/IMG_3022%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A view to the north of the Dolomites from near Ra Stua</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Throughout the hike, I noticed a gentle but persistent northeast dip to the rocks (down to the right in this view). Localized faulting and folding occasionally </span><span style="font-size: large;">would </span><span style="font-size: medium;">interrupt this pervasive dip but it was observed on numerous days in the mountains. When I took this photo, about an hour into the nine-day trek, I could not know how prevalent the dip would be - only as the days rolled on did it become apparent to me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkyRrJkQcNWxB8PFYzamxFifwzo9ZM5qZZKMs1OI3yL3hta_ewLcJFMXewTUyKr-XxmAUo5oosyVeKx_pRLvBe9JpHB3RU2E5Jm9Fd2xelMEsAxH5itxQPpduzWpdAVpuxMLzKRL1JHTHdQIIYqPnRXuvi9Odbtz_dqSwPDvezVUfYLvt03iDMg/s4032/IMG_3026%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkyRrJkQcNWxB8PFYzamxFifwzo9ZM5qZZKMs1OI3yL3hta_ewLcJFMXewTUyKr-XxmAUo5oosyVeKx_pRLvBe9JpHB3RU2E5Jm9Fd2xelMEsAxH5itxQPpduzWpdAVpuxMLzKRL1JHTHdQIIYqPnRXuvi9Odbtz_dqSwPDvezVUfYLvt03iDMg/w640-h360/IMG_3026%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Looking south as Helen crosses a bridge</i><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We had purchased a self-guided tour package that included 12 nights lodging, transportation to and from the trek, and a detailed itinerary to get us where we needed to go. The directions could have been a lot clearer on this first day - or were we just in need of getting used to the vagaries of European mountain travel? They measure distance in time. Still, not all of the signposts or junctions we encountered were mentioned in our notes for this stretch of trail.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtVefp3M8HD6aDBtsDYB6t0YBj6uqftjFJTf90zMiM1GIWnegc2Jonu_YYDumcVyQkGtf2krLGPRY1CdvjNJOVDVkrkYmwNxfkJrPBCOngVO6BI6QPSpgtp4fME3Bv61sxSWh8MSmAM7Th_enQdwsZhFxtAXVDM2vbFFmsUaLI2_eBX_9qHJF1w/s4032/IMG_3048%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtVefp3M8HD6aDBtsDYB6t0YBj6uqftjFJTf90zMiM1GIWnegc2Jonu_YYDumcVyQkGtf2krLGPRY1CdvjNJOVDVkrkYmwNxfkJrPBCOngVO6BI6QPSpgtp4fME3Bv61sxSWh8MSmAM7Th_enQdwsZhFxtAXVDM2vbFFmsUaLI2_eBX_9qHJF1w/w640-h360/IMG_3048%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>We eventually made it to our first lunchtime refugio, Ra Stua</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">About 1.5 hours on we enjoyed a cappuccino and some delicious French potatoes at Ra Stua. Hey, this is pretty civilized hiking and quite nice!</span><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEila38cltG_wI2zqtvPNNOubT_oGcoCHvVvA9QyYtIRZiGs7ig7aQWJTDP333_hXlNB08i2BLhGGD_i5lyBU6_vHvOFqIOpM2784fyO0CQOYUPfThVpV9p2Uqz8kPNxnw7ybYb5JuyXT6wmbBsOgaHwKbZ60lx5rtEAaY4foEkappk_Mx5Hu_3E4A/s3600/IMG_3049%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="2025" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEila38cltG_wI2zqtvPNNOubT_oGcoCHvVvA9QyYtIRZiGs7ig7aQWJTDP333_hXlNB08i2BLhGGD_i5lyBU6_vHvOFqIOpM2784fyO0CQOYUPfThVpV9p2Uqz8kPNxnw7ybYb5JuyXT6wmbBsOgaHwKbZ60lx5rtEAaY4foEkappk_Mx5Hu_3E4A/w360-h640/IMG_3049%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Figuring it out at Ra Stua</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Like a lot places around the world, the people in charge of making signs or describing routes may not travel themselves and since they are intimately familiar with their home, they don't always explain things that can be readily understood by visitors. It took us a few days to sense and feel what the locals have known for centuries. <i>Travel is fatal to prejudice - </i>Mark Twain.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pLkfsJVmR9ibzpMPSeQLpaEkCau3h2RV-mx_kWCT-hbX-J5la57IXMvks_cnGr95L-JSPgrS_8vcImU9VrISK_3SkAniuQTje2jDYmuHqBVCPKnkI5J3EBYADdB1cZx0Jl8sHrZWLRlM2KGxJITIAEi-F-Eg1VSrb189K_oU2tmc5Eb72dZpJg/s4032/IMG_3050%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pLkfsJVmR9ibzpMPSeQLpaEkCau3h2RV-mx_kWCT-hbX-J5la57IXMvks_cnGr95L-JSPgrS_8vcImU9VrISK_3SkAniuQTje2jDYmuHqBVCPKnkI5J3EBYADdB1cZx0Jl8sHrZWLRlM2KGxJITIAEi-F-Eg1VSrb189K_oU2tmc5Eb72dZpJg/w360-h640/IMG_3050%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On the "trail" after Ra Stua</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It was a bit surprising to learn that "the trail" actually included many roads, a few of them even paved. In fact, it wasn't "a trail" - it was many trails and with different numbers that are all patched together to form what they call the AV 1 or the Alta Via 1. It did make for nice hiking.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nEDB2HM_fiNGpEpiT9YZb0KYE3YgZv0l3e5WXkeYtBCzCx1qFvI7ikjRr_dpc5MWKxzNklAvnv7ixbirQFdozvqK9M6V304PGCEcIXerhDbed88hyRkni2wlD303yNy0ZA-SRlj_XsJCyzUC8DtEz80wk5ev7NP3POiJoHzi2s7kPTxvrk7QTA/s3240/IMG_3051%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1823" data-original-width="3240" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nEDB2HM_fiNGpEpiT9YZb0KYE3YgZv0l3e5WXkeYtBCzCx1qFvI7ikjRr_dpc5MWKxzNklAvnv7ixbirQFdozvqK9M6V304PGCEcIXerhDbed88hyRkni2wlD303yNy0ZA-SRlj_XsJCyzUC8DtEz80wk5ev7NP3POiJoHzi2s7kPTxvrk7QTA/w640-h360/IMG_3051%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Climbing up from Ra Stua</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Just past Ra Stua we left the valley and began a climb up to a plateau to the west (about a 750 ascent). I had bought a pair of new hiking pants with really deep pockets before the trip and kept pulling out a bandana to wipe the sweat off of my forehead. When we got to this place above, I reached into my pocket and the bandana wasn't there. So Helen (dressed in the yellow shirt above) offered to go back down the switchbacks to get it. What a sweetheart! She went down four or five switchbacks and came back without it. Turns out that the pockets on the pants are REALLY deep and the bandana was hiding deep down. My bad. But it gave me a chance to check out the Triassic limestone that would be our beacon for the next nine days.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnh8oKaVAfQiCm8NmbmPpIg9588hmAw9MxjSbOHL9zza8GknEr3TGmrKl7r0BIYfNvjz0Srh2V-xO8f9JVnJpsHBf32Q7QJiKCRg08mmrGphPxvnjFtRRK5dhEVtlc-tsEpesSXmwme90jAOBz-EwFzxSnTrUD_rwhodntbhD5YmYVSB57owGwEQ/s3600/IMG_3058%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnh8oKaVAfQiCm8NmbmPpIg9588hmAw9MxjSbOHL9zza8GknEr3TGmrKl7r0BIYfNvjz0Srh2V-xO8f9JVnJpsHBf32Q7QJiKCRg08mmrGphPxvnjFtRRK5dhEVtlc-tsEpesSXmwme90jAOBz-EwFzxSnTrUD_rwhodntbhD5YmYVSB57owGwEQ/w640-h360/IMG_3058%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>On the plateau and looking south to Sas dla Para (upper left) - it is shown on the last<br />Google Earth image - the one with the trails on it<br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">We had climbed 750 feet to an open plateau. Along the ay we saw two marmots, the only two I would see the whole trip. The mountains lay before us!</span></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgXBD0tFtTNxPFuZzgCmPthJCkvgW9BE_tiUT9HygMeOzaF8hEhyef-giE_JgfHMoaVb5DPHQ6doVxLgSUhu686t7I2zEXYDWiLe7R23wSZDPCreYbFLsUbBKnM_kLgMdbU_ACClfM5PevjYOD_GLb7HHx7-EJ03JK0pCt2iGOmhi9C9QybCpIQ/s8196/IMG_3063%20copy.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="8196" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgXBD0tFtTNxPFuZzgCmPthJCkvgW9BE_tiUT9HygMeOzaF8hEhyef-giE_JgfHMoaVb5DPHQ6doVxLgSUhu686t7I2zEXYDWiLe7R23wSZDPCreYbFLsUbBKnM_kLgMdbU_ACClfM5PevjYOD_GLb7HHx7-EJ03JK0pCt2iGOmhi9C9QybCpIQ/w640-h290/IMG_3063%20copy.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Refugio Fodara Vedla</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">At last, through a hazy sky, we arrived at <a href="https://www.fodara.it/en" target="_blank">Fodara Vedla</a>, elevation 6562 feet. I had chosen these specific dates in an attempt to "beat" the seemingly eternal haze that seems to settle over Europe in the summer. It looked like I might have failed in the attempt, at least on this day.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglWfZvoh1tDFxzBrxA4kEe0e2lJRxoOlCNiknBFLb3VngbxvKhNM7IQVogPycVzd7Gikc2YZ6Mfk5Uc-CuFg0R54Zmb9Sx87eYss2bAXNu2N5yPSDdHZlC2qTMoXSCuqp_GVZEmAws4dqdI3ClIas0O8AZ9thzuANoX7xxdXiYL6nQrA5Mal0Dg/s4032/IMG_3073%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglWfZvoh1tDFxzBrxA4kEe0e2lJRxoOlCNiknBFLb3VngbxvKhNM7IQVogPycVzd7Gikc2YZ6Mfk5Uc-CuFg0R54Zmb9Sx87eYss2bAXNu2N5yPSDdHZlC2qTMoXSCuqp_GVZEmAws4dqdI3ClIas0O8AZ9thzuANoX7xxdXiYL6nQrA5Mal0Dg/w360-h640/IMG_3073%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Note the reflection in the window too</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">The sign says it all - the is no connectivity here in the mountains but somehow we were able to connect! The occasional cell signal did migrate to many of the refugios.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ27Pwas8EXj33msij1b3Igcb4I0fLTadUyRkZrohEw4-ZyAmwH0LWCKkJS2BZD_ql1jF_-N3WB4QApTzxj_QRfwgxBWxy0LbIzw5AwNgDaO7tIcWMgvR8LFS-ygNKHvfrJ2JHesvKdGliqrUIV1Z2wxgC1m0OaDfwDJENg4-BlA7LQZ0nUzcz5A/s4032/IMG_3076%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ27Pwas8EXj33msij1b3Igcb4I0fLTadUyRkZrohEw4-ZyAmwH0LWCKkJS2BZD_ql1jF_-N3WB4QApTzxj_QRfwgxBWxy0LbIzw5AwNgDaO7tIcWMgvR8LFS-ygNKHvfrJ2JHesvKdGliqrUIV1Z2wxgC1m0OaDfwDJENg4-BlA7LQZ0nUzcz5A/w640-h360/IMG_3076%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Fodara Vedla dining room</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Every refugio we experienced was like a small, rustic hotel complete with running water, kitchens, full bars, beds, just about everything. And this is how day 1 ended. We had one of our best Primi Piatti's here (First Plate) - an eggplant ragu -lovely!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Day 2 - June 22</b></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5G26Qht5Zku3bY3lPofsVu_N4WkOLTolGzF900B08BylgKUicdIJbAoYFgBY65uBFsdxWbOXzsGIu6J1gQIQd8jZ7xUgagpVgxrAJOe_-ww5WAiWGzS21hD-LNspzkXlNq5hZHtqL1gRE69oaIWF3o7h04KYy5ggho0K8nz00H_I5OWFhliE1Q/s4032/IMG_3077%20copy.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5G26Qht5Zku3bY3lPofsVu_N4WkOLTolGzF900B08BylgKUicdIJbAoYFgBY65uBFsdxWbOXzsGIu6J1gQIQd8jZ7xUgagpVgxrAJOe_-ww5WAiWGzS21hD-LNspzkXlNq5hZHtqL1gRE69oaIWF3o7h04KYy5ggho0K8nz00H_I5OWFhliE1Q/w640-h480/IMG_3077%20copy.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A last look at Fodara Vedla and Sas dla Para (photo by H. Ranney)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The day began with a descent that was so steep we all commented about it. It was about 1400 feet and mostly on a paved road (to resupply Fodara Vedla). But it was only paved because vehicles would not be able to gain traction were it dirt. Our legs ached at the base of the hill.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccZIxgzUecwfD1NnORkTJyM9gPwB8M5vK2hp_2jTfyqek1OLKTdfz0MXKHQcco4XDsUBHpoFkW9qaKn9mdX52Txb_cDm3__lrV4zhpyiHfsgklHc9pYmcqzEEbZbEWHQxBFEVlztrfzpS8FrUPw_OAtDccJXVWwwCQcDwbqlizRfrk5m55AMZmw/s4032/IMG_3089%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccZIxgzUecwfD1NnORkTJyM9gPwB8M5vK2hp_2jTfyqek1OLKTdfz0MXKHQcco4XDsUBHpoFkW9qaKn9mdX52Txb_cDm3__lrV4zhpyiHfsgklHc9pYmcqzEEbZbEWHQxBFEVlztrfzpS8FrUPw_OAtDccJXVWwwCQcDwbqlizRfrk5m55AMZmw/w360-h640/IMG_3089%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Down, down, down</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On sections that were not as steep, the road reverted to dirt. But on the curves and the steep stretches - wow! You really had to watch your footing. The worst part - our next refugio was located at the same elevation as the last and we would have to make the climb back up on the other side. Note the same northeast dip to the rocks ahead. Many caves could be seen in the bedding planes of the strata.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnaY4flVIbZbxBPbz19y45r5X0UzCAbfFXyH_uab1zK_vbHV-GJ-vtq6q5s4p01Yy2xXTLKAx2HT5q7AVErtlF6D-2mpLfPKvu58YjWMPDQZVLvn_2Zr1o_FvMgHAiJRf53Kb_W7T2u6sFjorISdr5R_ipXhg-gUjfdHJlZ0d1wwIf3qfyYxttg/s4032/IMG_3096%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnaY4flVIbZbxBPbz19y45r5X0UzCAbfFXyH_uab1zK_vbHV-GJ-vtq6q5s4p01Yy2xXTLKAx2HT5q7AVErtlF6D-2mpLfPKvu58YjWMPDQZVLvn_2Zr1o_FvMgHAiJRf53Kb_W7T2u6sFjorISdr5R_ipXhg-gUjfdHJlZ0d1wwIf3qfyYxttg/w640-h360/IMG_3096%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Refugio Pederú in the Val de Tamersc</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can see the Refugio Pederú in the valley floor but note the debris flow coming off the mountain. Everywhere we went we saw evidence for recent events that had sent huge volumes of rock down these steep walls. It was impressive and I took many photos of them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39t-i5861QFHfL7WX-ABteh4ULAxgtnXwH3qe5wFo3unUQnCc9ZNHvn8SM45XvAEaz2FVNddAjxBANsgXTL-78HomSBaMSiSSbffjxa7dCmnGBHTxx1i3Hbo5yTByhqK8oFmfv8YGtasIgwYVKCNKbuNkaRy-mvEocTK17Scbn6-jKYsjU63pOQ/s4032/IMG_3100%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39t-i5861QFHfL7WX-ABteh4ULAxgtnXwH3qe5wFo3unUQnCc9ZNHvn8SM45XvAEaz2FVNddAjxBANsgXTL-78HomSBaMSiSSbffjxa7dCmnGBHTxx1i3Hbo5yTByhqK8oFmfv8YGtasIgwYVKCNKbuNkaRy-mvEocTK17Scbn6-jKYsjU63pOQ/w640-h360/IMG_3100%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Art installation on the valley floor at Pederú</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxea2tUMra1fcVlzIJYL9maAjLfHU8DzhVGZaF1Q91Azv-VatHkDAX0I6rE8DaGJt9n_AM-vLgqMS30nPoAqHtYI_RaW7hmgb-WUizAZHU-7IESei6T1x5Ia00Xg_dCekR2SA76irnmq5OJXJnCLgZX-UhoRZw-R6b0Yny2HQ5hAgnVEOCrgaDg/s3149/IMG_3098%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3149" data-original-width="2261" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxea2tUMra1fcVlzIJYL9maAjLfHU8DzhVGZaF1Q91Azv-VatHkDAX0I6rE8DaGJt9n_AM-vLgqMS30nPoAqHtYI_RaW7hmgb-WUizAZHU-7IESei6T1x5Ia00Xg_dCekR2SA76irnmq5OJXJnCLgZX-UhoRZw-R6b0Yny2HQ5hAgnVEOCrgaDg/w460-h640/IMG_3098%20copy.heic" width="460" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Cappuchino Italiano!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Helen doesn't normally drink coffee but the lure of a mid-morning cappuccino in Italy was too great a barrier! They were delicious.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sbi3VcenEAV76NWyEZV_iOc4rKAyBybc7Vl4DrgEWxVgBTTQJ5GJONmxqG6d7s1cbtzMMVGBdiJ4_PHDcraezxR-AIvgQ6evVpQ1Ki1_4dQ4-1OA685FrQ_YcYc14zWhjNCnmvSCOpK28ayw2AZFo5pvEu7KPdvdEaWUlZKJgmPUBcsAlppb2w/s4032/IMG_3102%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sbi3VcenEAV76NWyEZV_iOc4rKAyBybc7Vl4DrgEWxVgBTTQJ5GJONmxqG6d7s1cbtzMMVGBdiJ4_PHDcraezxR-AIvgQ6evVpQ1Ki1_4dQ4-1OA685FrQ_YcYc14zWhjNCnmvSCOpK28ayw2AZFo5pvEu7KPdvdEaWUlZKJgmPUBcsAlppb2w/w640-h360/IMG_3102%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The road to Refugio Lavarella</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0eXoOYeMJj2zW4NNMXBjJusSOC2f_XF6UMl3DU4t8GgEFx5CFZ6FSXER1pHJuGK7_G9rbh09TB3ESq686UCnw1SM3h7qEJVFdh7yFcHrsTFCcv3yDNo5ivTyr_o1mXnk--MRE9Yj3j2HvOp4JpiqgwARWeWhO3KEuuc2Eb1lVeN4EN63buC8aw/s3600/IMG_3105%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0eXoOYeMJj2zW4NNMXBjJusSOC2f_XF6UMl3DU4t8GgEFx5CFZ6FSXER1pHJuGK7_G9rbh09TB3ESq686UCnw1SM3h7qEJVFdh7yFcHrsTFCcv3yDNo5ivTyr_o1mXnk--MRE9Yj3j2HvOp4JpiqgwARWeWhO3KEuuc2Eb1lVeN4EN63buC8aw/w640-h360/IMG_3105%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>After leaving Pederú</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A steep climb was made on a trail to the west of the road (both visible with the trail on the left and the road on the right in this view north back toward Pederú). Mountain and power bikes took the road and hikers took the trail.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfNmKtrMW0-T5QrweOsqPHy9peNZZkzRV1noCUEA_CoqkOtkPk5PTufh1RiRR0oTAssikYQTsElhI-fh9v9Gv_TP4LMQnuaU52HrqiCoCsepa2BBtZ-ZgHROpW4YhzUK41z884pzh0QpulxEW6p4GoYx4M7NBQ_1IC5XqU8NauT75p_Ys5eBy3g/s3600/IMG_3117%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfNmKtrMW0-T5QrweOsqPHy9peNZZkzRV1noCUEA_CoqkOtkPk5PTufh1RiRR0oTAssikYQTsElhI-fh9v9Gv_TP4LMQnuaU52HrqiCoCsepa2BBtZ-ZgHROpW4YhzUK41z884pzh0QpulxEW6p4GoYx4M7NBQ_1IC5XqU8NauT75p_Ys5eBy3g/w640-h360/IMG_3117%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It seemed to go on longer than it should have or actually did. But the scenery was grand!</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XzV-n7tkvLl8QWPIg1Kbl_agTCs1brPSKpEFoFUfyCmXIQbrLo-hIKjS_BvFoIOSSO7jBvZWpyf5HyC4zptsC4fzjXIryvBRlWos6gmaJAI6a4Dh5ooacIdMGh0fQIFr60afB7QVl-QFQroefsRUof4FDk_xvJpkFP2O-qS-uoTVgop0_dv66A/s3201/IMG_3122%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="3201" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XzV-n7tkvLl8QWPIg1Kbl_agTCs1brPSKpEFoFUfyCmXIQbrLo-hIKjS_BvFoIOSSO7jBvZWpyf5HyC4zptsC4fzjXIryvBRlWos6gmaJAI6a4Dh5ooacIdMGh0fQIFr60afB7QVl-QFQroefsRUof4FDk_xvJpkFP2O-qS-uoTVgop0_dv66A/w640-h354/IMG_3122%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Sign to Refugio Lavarella</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEofcm7g1dOhNquu9T9yEuQPENg7a41zCm6EFxIOouQgngzuNS41q5tJYGl_Elez2QvuASvNOzsRZOJeVTCOxaUv4mRvjzFik-0FMa6fUqO7-xOCN9VHUW6zcOCnFl133oGqxTftJvBVuHuA4XrfC2zOyBXr80eLFD6cmbVKIlZn0ZFo1Mt_uOw/s4032/IMG_3129%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEofcm7g1dOhNquu9T9yEuQPENg7a41zCm6EFxIOouQgngzuNS41q5tJYGl_Elez2QvuASvNOzsRZOJeVTCOxaUv4mRvjzFik-0FMa6fUqO7-xOCN9VHUW6zcOCnFl133oGqxTftJvBVuHuA4XrfC2zOyBXr80eLFD6cmbVKIlZn0ZFo1Mt_uOw/w640-h360/IMG_3129%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Mandatory shoe racks in the refugios</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All of the refugios have shoe racks located in the basement of behind the bar. Upon entering one removes their hiking shoes and takes them to the shoe rack. This one at Refugio Lavarella has heated posts to dry out the boots (it often rains and there can be wet shoes).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGHg1Dp3DbSLmK9KaRj0RpMnDHXOK1wwJJjkhLRNo4kta1aLXadpa3eM8APPGAdZiaeyGJRztYXmddkE7-KBDRY_dMqfdmympAElHQTkzCaGiSC3khw_ssJPxFVjl-g58qWidr1R7EVORwiLyDDQOMtO-42PCw0WmAVvDeP8Ji5mvhoN9FsTW-Q/s4032/IMG_3131%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGHg1Dp3DbSLmK9KaRj0RpMnDHXOK1wwJJjkhLRNo4kta1aLXadpa3eM8APPGAdZiaeyGJRztYXmddkE7-KBDRY_dMqfdmympAElHQTkzCaGiSC3khw_ssJPxFVjl-g58qWidr1R7EVORwiLyDDQOMtO-42PCw0WmAVvDeP8Ji5mvhoN9FsTW-Q/w640-h360/IMG_3131%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Refugio Lavarella</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">You may have noticed on the sign two photos up an advert for beer. Lavarella has its own brewery and they announced it as the highest brewery in Europe. The beer was very tasty.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMl2ivtF7HnRvVyOwENFePT8ba0bgLfLG24oUl-jrU1PiJPTM-O_-p2_map-6Z_6PNFBzTdYeZPIF7_RHulwi_Q0xhkAH79rJIgIQixOW_ScwU6VN2G5pQEI3XWg6h4-IGLssheOP1QZeCGN6FA8aSDSZXrRSlO3PzhtpfbGcYZw333UerkZlN-g/s4032/IMG_3138%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMl2ivtF7HnRvVyOwENFePT8ba0bgLfLG24oUl-jrU1PiJPTM-O_-p2_map-6Z_6PNFBzTdYeZPIF7_RHulwi_Q0xhkAH79rJIgIQixOW_ScwU6VN2G5pQEI3XWg6h4-IGLssheOP1QZeCGN6FA8aSDSZXrRSlO3PzhtpfbGcYZw333UerkZlN-g/w640-h360/IMG_3138%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Sunset from Lavarella</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thus finished our first two days. I'll be posting more soon Thanks for reading.</span></div>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-51703533465136363952023-07-30T13:30:00.003-07:002023-07-31T11:42:26.497-07:00Long Time Dream Fulfilled - Trekking Italy's Dolomite Mountains<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Sometime in the late 1970s, while studying geology at Northern Arizona University, I came across some photos of the Dolomite Mountains in Italy. To say they were spectacular in those few photos would not convey adequately the way they touched me deeply. I vowed to go there one day. Then a few months after I met Helen Thompson in 2005, she casually asked me if there was any place I had not yet been that I would like to one day go. The "wheels" in that imaginary slot machine spun around in my head for a few moments, bypassing Milford Sound in New Zealand, Perth, Australia, and the Karoo in South Africa, until it finally settled on... the Dolomites. So I blurted out to her. "The Dolomite Mountains in Italy!" She never forgot that and 18 years later she made that dream come true for me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">This will probably take a few posts to capture the length and breadth of our trip. It was amazing in every way, scenically, physically, geologically, culturally, and culinarily. I'll try to embed the flavor of each of these somehow in this and subsequent posts. </span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yIpa3UQfl5PL3-8kCS8I4XwV1lzsR0jczXGvMTDivGPUKSEBoLS3_YCwNU-siz-Y4FppMIVsLu545U9P2NM9YNceYYLvcfOrPUTjwsf_HrfEoGEYUglXJ6eBvMBqMkyrRvXX_HV6sRgkkuPtc2_jmzWNFXe91wCJov6QFWubuFBi1Kou_ORlXQ/s615/dolomite-alps-italy-map-hike-dolomites-italian-alps.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="615" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yIpa3UQfl5PL3-8kCS8I4XwV1lzsR0jczXGvMTDivGPUKSEBoLS3_YCwNU-siz-Y4FppMIVsLu545U9P2NM9YNceYYLvcfOrPUTjwsf_HrfEoGEYUglXJ6eBvMBqMkyrRvXX_HV6sRgkkuPtc2_jmzWNFXe91wCJov6QFWubuFBi1Kou_ORlXQ/w640-h456/dolomite-alps-italy-map-hike-dolomites-italian-alps.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The location of the Dolomite Mountains in northeast Italy</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But first, what about that initial photo from the late 70s? It must have been in some geology textbook, showing the clearly deformed nature of the sedimentary rocks in the Italian Alps. (BTW, I had never seen nor </span><span style="font-size: medium;">visited </span><span style="font-size: medium;">the Alps before, a huge "hole" in my geologic résumé). In 1985, I purchased a used copy of a book called, "The Dolomites," by C. Douglas Milner, published in Great Britain in 1951. He was a climber and by then numerous Brits were making their way to the <i>Dolomiti</i>. It seems I was still on the trail of these (to me) elusive mountains.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33BTjU_ZwYYhm8yUCznqqrx8O1w2GY9_TlncEOboWBOgJb6zZws_ff1nBPwYrsRvBleRpvLvohrqd2OM43lh1DPB4Un658YppnZC1Sv0cbdqJD321siAId-bvVbaUE50QJZmvERCYMrw1oBZO1koNnS-soM6djGYtvTA4tbLw4GL666tbPD_ftg/s1970/IMG_4596.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1768" data-original-width="1970" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33BTjU_ZwYYhm8yUCznqqrx8O1w2GY9_TlncEOboWBOgJb6zZws_ff1nBPwYrsRvBleRpvLvohrqd2OM43lh1DPB4Un658YppnZC1Sv0cbdqJD321siAId-bvVbaUE50QJZmvERCYMrw1oBZO1koNnS-soM6djGYtvTA4tbLw4GL666tbPD_ftg/w640-h574/IMG_4596.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>An image from Milner's book. </i></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>Scenes like this inspired me to one day visit the Dolomites</i></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Our trip would include a nine-day trek over 85 miles in length through rugged mountains on what turned out to be poorly maintained trails (my personal post-hike assessment). But travel that far requires extra time to accommodate to the changes in time zones, insurance against delayed (or lost) gear, and to visit other desirable nearby places. So we flew in and out of Munich Germany with additional visits to Innsbruck Austria and Bolzano Italy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjOzjzEGF9nXDlfzFrgCuHGsOj1JuaY2H8uY8tBZQIKI6mPmG8sYDq7ijrJ1SlWY6IBW7JS4SmH4lL5GQLDkNixCoEK3srBj2UYTIMv5Ldv-bznKCuqTMXCAxgF1nZNBsi70uk76kJvuOY6Y00dbUZWoRrKl-t30HTdae2NTEddOFiNgCaVn_qQ/s3133/1%20Munich.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2234" data-original-width="3133" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjOzjzEGF9nXDlfzFrgCuHGsOj1JuaY2H8uY8tBZQIKI6mPmG8sYDq7ijrJ1SlWY6IBW7JS4SmH4lL5GQLDkNixCoEK3srBj2UYTIMv5Ldv-bznKCuqTMXCAxgF1nZNBsi70uk76kJvuOY6Y00dbUZWoRrKl-t30HTdae2NTEddOFiNgCaVn_qQ/w640-h456/1%20Munich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Marienplatz in Munich's city center</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">We arrived into Munich on time in the early afternoon, checked into our hotel and adjusted to the time zone by staying awake until it was bedtime in Munich. We were well situated to the city center and walked to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marienplatz" target="_blank">Marienplatz</a> (translation: Mary's Plaza). The Old World style of building always fascinates us Americans. As does World War II history and Munich has much of that (although we did not partake of much of that - except a very interesting and highly reflective visit to Dachau, the first of the concentration camps).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyt8yK36a7j-fPHlGN-PdbtNxVWb8Wvv8fpSI2ULTH8G2CTP_IYcCAolEDR_XmaP-ZpcAiofMlJO-ygZv0tq8oDWz_x6iumQOiZwLUeQXZFs_i2sZrcQ-QNgX2yQGjZPGcrb0PMcrikIeLdTepLM64xOEjIwfvqwbxLLDUhicgZbRVEsFLgHWEg/s3312/2%20Munich.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2139" data-original-width="3312" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyt8yK36a7j-fPHlGN-PdbtNxVWb8Wvv8fpSI2ULTH8G2CTP_IYcCAolEDR_XmaP-ZpcAiofMlJO-ygZv0tq8oDWz_x6iumQOiZwLUeQXZFs_i2sZrcQ-QNgX2yQGjZPGcrb0PMcrikIeLdTepLM64xOEjIwfvqwbxLLDUhicgZbRVEsFLgHWEg/w640-h414/2%20Munich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The Seigestor Gate on Munich's north side, commissioned by King Ludwig I in 1852</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We enjoyed Munich very much. There was a lot of history and Helen got to revisit the famous Hofbrauhaus from a childhood visit in 1970. We spent two night here and enjoyed it. But it was time to head south as we had not yet seen any mountains. That would soon change.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTsrobR5OnnDW51NT4OtW8X5GcvxJHCeETFoNWDOq8UjyLO_D90YPpxUjD9WQW8MnYeJUsUG9nKU6sdFiuRdigv_n06WoyMqP_yxJcTX2Fli9E204ZK19NhpIyve_ruD76zOMl5zvddWObO-vRz-O2ig-aTURHldRw73YkmUAJQlLgcQ8dH_LeQ/s2673/3%20Innsbruck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2010" data-original-width="2673" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTsrobR5OnnDW51NT4OtW8X5GcvxJHCeETFoNWDOq8UjyLO_D90YPpxUjD9WQW8MnYeJUsUG9nKU6sdFiuRdigv_n06WoyMqP_yxJcTX2Fli9E204ZK19NhpIyve_ruD76zOMl5zvddWObO-vRz-O2ig-aTURHldRw73YkmUAJQlLgcQ8dH_LeQ/w640-h482/3%20Innsbruck.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>On the road southwest toward Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We booked a Flix public transport on a double-decker bus. I did this in advance of the trip and saw that you could reserve specific seats. So I booked the very front two seats on the upper deck with a large windshield, so that we could look out and watch the landscape unfurl. About an hour out of Munich we captured our first glimpse of the Alps. One in Garmisch-Partenkirchen the officials came onboard and seriously checked out the passports of everyone on the coach - the driver was incensed that now he would be late getting in to Innsbruck. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GAgAR8_YnBd11YvzZXrdpQPbRq3lBZAGFq-SfPR1TzUBOybZwviUigCKCTCATDW2vLBtVOsFnapP5QT0-hTb5_ELK3BGUN9BfySh7OJ9n4kVyXcxcT33pXMlPhrlob0uGtNbbZ-TE1vEZZ2h5xjdMHmX1UfDHbSI4UXe-umWx-e6AjtA5GLa1w/s2513/4%20Innsbruck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="2513" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GAgAR8_YnBd11YvzZXrdpQPbRq3lBZAGFq-SfPR1TzUBOybZwviUigCKCTCATDW2vLBtVOsFnapP5QT0-hTb5_ELK3BGUN9BfySh7OJ9n4kVyXcxcT33pXMlPhrlob0uGtNbbZ-TE1vEZZ2h5xjdMHmX1UfDHbSI4UXe-umWx-e6AjtA5GLa1w/w640-h372/4%20Innsbruck.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Inn River in Zurl, Austria</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We crossed the divide between Germany and Austria and soon the road descended steeply into the valley of the Inn River. It was spectacular. The river begins farther west in Switzerland and flows east toward the Danube. There is a very obvious terrace that was apparent everywhere in the Inn Valley and a quick internet search suggested that it may be Pleistocene in age. The terrace is visible in the photo above. 10,000 years of downcutting by the Inn River may have formed the geomorphology here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjM0RdgqJJK40F8e7blGDiMD8jb_1e6zT35GjyktQ1mvv3m4xDp8n6SxUZG1oIGW73ls4lRXCTOol-c4NLyES-xOci2s7mLUvvdkrvPlQmQ8kkGAlCIR0Tfny1oriROYUMOIrblZBa3cbl72NiSuhs34dTOVf5QL5h5LJSv7smOffWAh5J6hpzA/s3816/6%20Innsbruck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2244" data-original-width="3816" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjM0RdgqJJK40F8e7blGDiMD8jb_1e6zT35GjyktQ1mvv3m4xDp8n6SxUZG1oIGW73ls4lRXCTOol-c4NLyES-xOci2s7mLUvvdkrvPlQmQ8kkGAlCIR0Tfny1oriROYUMOIrblZBa3cbl72NiSuhs34dTOVf5QL5h5LJSv7smOffWAh5J6hpzA/w640-h376/6%20Innsbruck.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A pedestrian bridge in Innsbruck's city center</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We loved walking the old city center in Innsbruck (The name means "Inn River bridge"). We walked everywhere, including the old tower, climbing 159 steps for a great view of the city. The public transport is easy and cheap. In fact, most hotels in the Tyrolian Alps will give guests a card to use public transport for free! I participated in a guest survey while in Innsbruck that asked how it would be paid for (they don't have it yet here). But while in Italy, our hotel hosts freely gave us these cards. They even include rides on the mountain gondola's - considered public transport. All very civilized, modern, and sensible. One other aspect I noticed on this trip - many dates given for the founding of these cities were about the mid-12th century. Munich, Innsbruck, Bolzano - they all seemed to have been established about that time. Makes me wonder if the Medieval Warm Period may have facilitated an expansion of humanity around that time? And interesting thought.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFT_NTGsSXZH7oUyC1-MuLL67TzHlUyIOrLWhhPYLGQ_FjYowdb5mjuO_dAeWbkZbyuwMjZ2J6C8-VvIhMdmQbCd0hOxIfS-r5AFYIbW8Au7bnwhpcSB7qtp6EeyU18GnhEXEIunq6ofJgWBWHS1p05_-8w8uwDJvdOerC6IuN6FsgIVbbVSvbPA/s3378/7%20Innsbruck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2167" data-original-width="3378" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFT_NTGsSXZH7oUyC1-MuLL67TzHlUyIOrLWhhPYLGQ_FjYowdb5mjuO_dAeWbkZbyuwMjZ2J6C8-VvIhMdmQbCd0hOxIfS-r5AFYIbW8Au7bnwhpcSB7qtp6EeyU18GnhEXEIunq6ofJgWBWHS1p05_-8w8uwDJvdOerC6IuN6FsgIVbbVSvbPA/w640-h410/7%20Innsbruck.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Colorful buildings along the north bank of the Inn River in Innsbruck</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>The city had 60% of its building damaged in World War II and those in the photo above look like newer construction. You can read a bit more about the bombing of Innsbruck <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Innsbruck_in_World_War_II" target="_blank">here</a>. Sad to think about as the vibe today is completely different - gelato shops everywhere! We were still just getting our bearing on being in such a foreign land so we did not venture too far from the city center and there was plenty to see here. But the gondola looks like a nice destination for the next trip.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yWRYmrPkZ0jCMFlx2Z3nKRnW4zXK0n2lzAC012s6QKgrDu9iqBx_UtHwyVjhvVjwliK-ahiCox6PhY5QrRk8t5W-TRg3gHYizTrpsj4Wgkq-NgS_teMdpgtDNx8Y7lMa_EHYlqWYelI_HegRvMYUJU_C8b0FCSxEycdOWrAxtANpiP1ZHvFhAA/s4032/5%20Innsbruck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yWRYmrPkZ0jCMFlx2Z3nKRnW4zXK0n2lzAC012s6QKgrDu9iqBx_UtHwyVjhvVjwliK-ahiCox6PhY5QrRk8t5W-TRg3gHYizTrpsj4Wgkq-NgS_teMdpgtDNx8Y7lMa_EHYlqWYelI_HegRvMYUJU_C8b0FCSxEycdOWrAxtANpiP1ZHvFhAA/w640-h360/5%20Innsbruck.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Arizona meets Austria</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>We ran into our dear friend Bil while in Innsbruck. His wife is of German descent and she comes to Germany often to visit family. It was a quick trip for him on the train from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Innsbruck.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTjUtt5gteCirSCJXVD4X5Uczpk7guwiFtK-rq3vbchzpBl493z1RGuf21QRlzsz3Q9N7ZS5I-EyaywCoSE9ECXAyF5ojK1psVk2Kc34-4V8-sy6F-7k5lsiAHNcuiHbw9XEjYf0iEnyN9XNayGJfSN-_Bb3-ab4BS00kOTsMp7HpYTdgV5vouQ/s3638/8%20Monguelfo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2054" data-original-width="3638" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTjUtt5gteCirSCJXVD4X5Uczpk7guwiFtK-rq3vbchzpBl493z1RGuf21QRlzsz3Q9N7ZS5I-EyaywCoSE9ECXAyF5ojK1psVk2Kc34-4V8-sy6F-7k5lsiAHNcuiHbw9XEjYf0iEnyN9XNayGJfSN-_Bb3-ab4BS00kOTsMp7HpYTdgV5vouQ/w640-h362/8%20Monguelfo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>View of the Dolomite Mountains from Monguelfo, Italy</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, we caught a train from Innsbruck to Italy and the staging area for our trek, Monguelfo. Northeast Italy used to be part of Austria until the end of World War I, when Italy took over some parts of that territory. You can read more about this interesting history <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Italy_during_World_War_I" target="_blank">here</a>. Therefore, all towns in this area have two names, a German name and an Italian name. Monguelfo is Italian but it is also called Welsberg. It is a quaint and friendly town. We loved it and our hotel hosts were so kind to us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now the hard part would begin - a nine day trek through the mountains. But the rewards were great and well worth the sweat equity!</div><p></p></span></div>
Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-49640855919793231872023-06-13T08:49:00.008-07:002023-06-13T16:10:42.425-07:00The 4th NAU Geology Alumni River Trip in Grand Canyon<p>In May of this year, 19 alumni of the Geology Program at Northern Arizona University gathered in Flagstaff for the 4th-ever alumni river trip in Grand Canyon. What a wonderful time traveling with old and new friends. Many of the participants this time were from my era at NAU. Some were from the 2000s and we had three from the 1970s. NAU Geology Rocks!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUipp_qEL5bjRI6qhpCvQS8ROtiMF5Tjq7Mr_rC2uTrQ3MeZg2Bb0XAWL7oxFCyvx_w0YNw43dS3CKwKnzGQ7UNQyhokeVZvmYooKZ1ZV0m3Ll_IjcLWtdur9YvDXoYVH0IZ3GBZZJj5X40BfTGX08hy_rL-h2BEFF9zt5hrXm-Cqn-Oyo1Q/s2000/IMG_2256%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUipp_qEL5bjRI6qhpCvQS8ROtiMF5Tjq7Mr_rC2uTrQ3MeZg2Bb0XAWL7oxFCyvx_w0YNw43dS3CKwKnzGQ7UNQyhokeVZvmYooKZ1ZV0m3Ll_IjcLWtdur9YvDXoYVH0IZ3GBZZJj5X40BfTGX08hy_rL-h2BEFF9zt5hrXm-Cqn-Oyo1Q/w640-h360/IMG_2256%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>Dr. Jim Gaherty of NAU was along as faculty along with his wife Dr. Donna Shillington. Here Jim is talking near Sunset Crater and the San Francisco Peaks about the migration of volcanism in the region.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePEfuuXDceZqk1XoBR4_sqj9AMDGaJz_nYIjKdzMTGAly_gJkPfdARoup4LUXUXdCrwi6JQJplIfmZv5wMFgIj8W8VKDFbwyljaNSmsW5mTwVlrl0JS3CRaBGdNYts5gSNKiuM8-TZxKJUFY4GcG1w65VR0ZTmoLjLMyALukQ32lA359a-iY/s2000/IMG_2258%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePEfuuXDceZqk1XoBR4_sqj9AMDGaJz_nYIjKdzMTGAly_gJkPfdARoup4LUXUXdCrwi6JQJplIfmZv5wMFgIj8W8VKDFbwyljaNSmsW5mTwVlrl0JS3CRaBGdNYts5gSNKiuM8-TZxKJUFY4GcG1w65VR0ZTmoLjLMyALukQ32lA359a-iY/w640-h360/IMG_2258%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>Two dear friends from NAU Geology in the 1980s - Ralph Hopkins (center) and Mike Darr (right). We are at the Desert View Watchtower on the pre-river trip field trip.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMR_XReNDOzljiZuV9Czj9hT5d2EnVhijKRl6QVtx-l9rK0bCXRzhLuQEbIXnRju9QJB2jFx53xI-yK__IKaNFsH5XMNuiowVE6NwyXR9tCZCxWi2pYEitP3lO-xVuZM2aO5WwWRXVnldt_OBcMAbfbQSG_fF-aQY1KzQt6LwbHUxqKt5Ff2g/s2000/IMG_2261%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMR_XReNDOzljiZuV9Czj9hT5d2EnVhijKRl6QVtx-l9rK0bCXRzhLuQEbIXnRju9QJB2jFx53xI-yK__IKaNFsH5XMNuiowVE6NwyXR9tCZCxWi2pYEitP3lO-xVuZM2aO5WwWRXVnldt_OBcMAbfbQSG_fF-aQY1KzQt6LwbHUxqKt5Ff2g/w640-h360/IMG_2261%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>At Lees Ferry getting ready to depart.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLvxIztAAFu4EgItHVViFbPbJiw-vUJUHw68ZOsbIHDpk_ZPPEWcP_RR2f8-gells6cVVXuUwKgzEzr0MsamiJ4pNolIRWM-ARjECmUCn8KTPFhvH02HdoLj9wSa6DvKi6_EE1kTc5X_soZ-_jqbeMpUk2TxEPvK_HByuZC08frn_FhB7IJQ/s2000/IMG_2264%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLvxIztAAFu4EgItHVViFbPbJiw-vUJUHw68ZOsbIHDpk_ZPPEWcP_RR2f8-gells6cVVXuUwKgzEzr0MsamiJ4pNolIRWM-ARjECmUCn8KTPFhvH02HdoLj9wSa6DvKi6_EE1kTc5X_soZ-_jqbeMpUk2TxEPvK_HByuZC08frn_FhB7IJQ/w640-h360/IMG_2264%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>Reptile trackway in the Coconino Sandstone. Avalanche features are also present on this surface.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2h0hDnnHCoy5ug8yBdwRgtJouelpHdYsHj85-dEmAnZ0OZuyaku1bOZbpbTW6uWRe8aMXKwHKCn_YvYVOG0xsnZSxjDIAFGw36VKwXoj3r_UrFVj5yrdcnhF2BmOBsunNPsE7DTVe8A18SzTxLQIyZ6M6TBkonHdVfH1jLdTP7zVRDBRu8jQ/s3556/IMG_2278%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3556" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2h0hDnnHCoy5ug8yBdwRgtJouelpHdYsHj85-dEmAnZ0OZuyaku1bOZbpbTW6uWRe8aMXKwHKCn_YvYVOG0xsnZSxjDIAFGw36VKwXoj3r_UrFVj5yrdcnhF2BmOBsunNPsE7DTVe8A18SzTxLQIyZ6M6TBkonHdVfH1jLdTP7zVRDBRu8jQ/w360-h640/IMG_2278%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></div>Vasey's Paradise is back after a bountiful snowpack on the Kaibab Plateau this past winter. This voluminous spring was virtually dry the last few years due to a lack of precipitation.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdK4T3kEyCgjGYpBbnD_0bKKRPZvrMl-_tmPEuQoDkT9eAYgIPY7DZ3K2u4Bfp34FMh4SqxH78J3js-jYCocmSCfcY0z6L4ZX2az0Pbjy1nuFNNQWTXSalUJxc2rSPwMXVXM_19BVxdLR7phFPRAFPzyM4Up91Gu0t8w1XrIovj-qd0HAyLvE/s2000/IMG_2292%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdK4T3kEyCgjGYpBbnD_0bKKRPZvrMl-_tmPEuQoDkT9eAYgIPY7DZ3K2u4Bfp34FMh4SqxH78J3js-jYCocmSCfcY0z6L4ZX2az0Pbjy1nuFNNQWTXSalUJxc2rSPwMXVXM_19BVxdLR7phFPRAFPzyM4Up91Gu0t8w1XrIovj-qd0HAyLvE/w640-h360/IMG_2292%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>The "hump" of limestone seen in the photo center is a mud mound within the Redwall Limestone. Algae likely was growing here on the seafloor some 340 million years ago, trapping silt and clay size particles.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIR-CnQzFH1eLlW1zQ_iNgbNkbph6igLQDXwaeb9hhyGBUIl24SxvsVR0hbq8f6PfI2DsjV62hDjqGvPyqd57cpaXd3jgz2-gOZf0tKOWdDvyAOglmbAcS0AIVsXoRr-7WujrGma-8GuTv6jFkDC_TDm2SlFn9CW_6wVX5kV1BuRvZQfMRjU/s3556/IMG_2310%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3556" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIR-CnQzFH1eLlW1zQ_iNgbNkbph6igLQDXwaeb9hhyGBUIl24SxvsVR0hbq8f6PfI2DsjV62hDjqGvPyqd57cpaXd3jgz2-gOZf0tKOWdDvyAOglmbAcS0AIVsXoRr-7WujrGma-8GuTv6jFkDC_TDm2SlFn9CW_6wVX5kV1BuRvZQfMRjU/w360-h640/IMG_2310%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></div>Rafting past Grey Castle carved into the Bright Angel Shale in Marble Canyon.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVK5hefsHCW3W2CJQSAVXYpARJMEqpdJAZTELmjHnnjgYwBBHCcr03osW494xvZXXaKYT9MyPcBPLTmk8C5XXD1JjTJfGqZgwf487i_k_7flIqbDdccgoXcLDb0WQmAe8IoWsbuoE4QqqIpNGuWKKYK2k9_Kh3bZ6gTg9K06a6P6256WkOIzc/s2000/IMG_2322%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVK5hefsHCW3W2CJQSAVXYpARJMEqpdJAZTELmjHnnjgYwBBHCcr03osW494xvZXXaKYT9MyPcBPLTmk8C5XXD1JjTJfGqZgwf487i_k_7flIqbDdccgoXcLDb0WQmAe8IoWsbuoE4QqqIpNGuWKKYK2k9_Kh3bZ6gTg9K06a6P6256WkOIzc/w640-h480/IMG_2322%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>Garnets found in the Vishnu Schist give an indication at what temperatures and pressures the schist was metamorphosed from shale or sandstone. This species of garnet forms at temperatures and pressures that today, are about 10-15 miles below the surface. Incredible to think that these rocks, now returned back to the surface, were once buried in that amount of crust! Where did it all go? Not to outer space - it was eroded onto the ancient landscape somewhere. But so much time has passed, who knows where it is now.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IwUGOxhi59NWVg2PmlmYHDAs6hc7QlRzXGx_Ddt1LQpGovnlkLfCV1v8BUKmn1MpSk2U4YI_N0cgtH21vq8qdjr62yPkReJewV9Tw8qa96kXWgJ9APGqY83Tny5Ig88krWc3BsjKtTpKkfd-stXy6BxXNr65z8xZxqhidFzyMzYbtcoRw_A/s2000/IMG_2327%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IwUGOxhi59NWVg2PmlmYHDAs6hc7QlRzXGx_Ddt1LQpGovnlkLfCV1v8BUKmn1MpSk2U4YI_N0cgtH21vq8qdjr62yPkReJewV9Tw8qa96kXWgJ9APGqY83Tny5Ig88krWc3BsjKtTpKkfd-stXy6BxXNr65z8xZxqhidFzyMzYbtcoRw_A/w640-h360/IMG_2327%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>A typical camp scene - this one at the lower Garnet Camp near river mile 114. The Powell Plateau is on the top left skyline.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5T99134A-3ogiC148NjtVqjBbvcnRua6VjFVeDfP4CWMwd5IpqxjaZ0KGYJJMKkFSjdzzDE5eyAIMPvSN7y4iA5Ehj2ZOiePMhg07gB0Gp7nrgYHevsjfdlTJp0TPqat6zLI3nTlNc3MZmH-9HKKYvD_K99s6xvVIdi7fSr_wEp1nEC4Sd8I/s2000/IMG_2335%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5T99134A-3ogiC148NjtVqjBbvcnRua6VjFVeDfP4CWMwd5IpqxjaZ0KGYJJMKkFSjdzzDE5eyAIMPvSN7y4iA5Ehj2ZOiePMhg07gB0Gp7nrgYHevsjfdlTJp0TPqat6zLI3nTlNc3MZmH-9HKKYvD_K99s6xvVIdi7fSr_wEp1nEC4Sd8I/w360-h640/IMG_2335%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></div>The oldest rock in the canyon is the Elves Chasm Gneiss, dated at 1.84 billion years old. This makes it 90 million years older than the Vishnu Schist.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEFIP0nvgXchPHiqGuFhS_CLZuWVHu1wE6TGxG-u50mnhzJYIFS82U8olnAoUKINvCwKiCOF4GN90qQSZHaFXWv-U3AiFL7slnm5BMOxGNe5lykAF4JGGrbrRRrg7OKj-I0YMadMVqWg5XhsEG9e4xthVfVLn2Az5vA5WX0L49yqGR48AFIc/s2000/IMG_2338%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEFIP0nvgXchPHiqGuFhS_CLZuWVHu1wE6TGxG-u50mnhzJYIFS82U8olnAoUKINvCwKiCOF4GN90qQSZHaFXWv-U3AiFL7slnm5BMOxGNe5lykAF4JGGrbrRRrg7OKj-I0YMadMVqWg5XhsEG9e4xthVfVLn2Az5vA5WX0L49yqGR48AFIc/w640-h360/IMG_2338%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>I am enamored with cavitation pits that form on limestone near the rivers' edge. As fast moving river water encounters a tiny protrusion on an otherwise smooth boulder surface, it hydraulically forces the water away from the rock surface, creating a vacuum between water and rock. When the vacuum collapses, the concussive force pops off a piece of the boulder creating the scalloped pits.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAU4aUmoKokWWPBtJpiEUw8effe3GfQ18b_-v8x-yrrOISrrGjmplX846DiIftC4pi_1euAUtD062jjq_u1Rk8vBbJkjpGY6l7VT6Sqp1pH2zjbuf4ETNVRQmmYbZQsBriG41a9I0H23i6_mBFzO3ViDjutx2VxswWeZ7Oq8FwFI-E9V1Dzw/s2000/IMG_2339%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAU4aUmoKokWWPBtJpiEUw8effe3GfQ18b_-v8x-yrrOISrrGjmplX846DiIftC4pi_1euAUtD062jjq_u1Rk8vBbJkjpGY6l7VT6Sqp1pH2zjbuf4ETNVRQmmYbZQsBriG41a9I0H23i6_mBFzO3ViDjutx2VxswWeZ7Oq8FwFI-E9V1Dzw/w640-h360/IMG_2339%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>I can never say it again - no one ever photographs this site - and landslide composed entirely of limestone debris. Fellow river runner Jon Hirsch was the first person to notice and describe this landslide.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRqyMF-FTbsR1axxppqQPODiueHHWTjmgX60HZs-s9ZS42DL2MadjItqBylUaPyyvv7dV3moN9hjMa4WqFUAdd1JSm0xgFBUqdoLLDJ3bfgHsWSAb9qswvSm5BFXIZneTsZ45sKiUJwYTAjmTD6KYp5uLFjQvEtPsI7lFmg7MdRORmgaIIjE/s2000/IMG_2255.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRqyMF-FTbsR1axxppqQPODiueHHWTjmgX60HZs-s9ZS42DL2MadjItqBylUaPyyvv7dV3moN9hjMa4WqFUAdd1JSm0xgFBUqdoLLDJ3bfgHsWSAb9qswvSm5BFXIZneTsZ45sKiUJwYTAjmTD6KYp5uLFjQvEtPsI7lFmg7MdRORmgaIIjE/w640-h480/IMG_2255.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>Our group - what a wonderful trip. So many memories and new ones made on the river in Grand Canyon!<p></p>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-52772655642723702722023-05-03T16:21:00.486-07:002023-05-13T08:12:39.869-07:00Two Billion Years in Two Minutes - The New IMAX Film at Grand Canyon Premieres<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Can you believe it's been 40 years since the first IMAX movie at Grand Canyon premiered? Yep, it was 1983, the year of high-water out of Glen Canyon Dam, when <b><i>"Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets</i></b> was filmed and released. The original river scenes in the movie captured some of the high-water drama and the organic debris left from the flood in riverside tamarisk trees. The production received only luke-warm accolades from the locals, who saw the plot, if plot it could be called, a bit simplistic and fanciful with quasi-true recreations of historical events. The general public however, must have liked it with 40 million viewers watching it in 40 years.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On March 30 this year, IMAX premiered a brand new movie for Grand Canyon at the theater in Tusayan. The new film is called, <b><i>"Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time."</i></b> This new version was the result of comments received from viewers of the original film, expressing a desire for more substantial information about the canyon. Happily, the new version contains more science and Voilá! a new film<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">**</i>Don't leave this post just yet - a short video clip of the new film is attached to the end of this posting and includes spectacular time-lapse sequences in the canyon and the full geology portion of the film!** And please note that a<span style="text-align: center;">ll of the still images used in this posting were provided by A</span><span style="text-align: center;">lan Markowitz, the visual effects producer, who shared his PowerPoint presentation with me about how the film was made. </span><span face="MontserratRoman-Regular">He presented his PowerPoint to the attending delegates at the Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) Film Expo, held in March, 2023, at Universal Citywalk in Los Angeles.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSIhzAMuu0cNdZk5us-Mwa_IM-1yFS5xzoqu2qmzZYeP_D78GWaahgFxW7l--K6goZioOTlSnHECL8P61cB13CGOieAbiapolla9AO3cG16pxF802g3a-hlq7T0GmoKozrJv6RncyE9MFfNo5lhjbCVgmdRjAcwknAeTptbWDfDpuhzNfYQM/s1882/Screenshot%202023-05-02%20at%202.22.41%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1882" data-original-width="1264" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSIhzAMuu0cNdZk5us-Mwa_IM-1yFS5xzoqu2qmzZYeP_D78GWaahgFxW7l--K6goZioOTlSnHECL8P61cB13CGOieAbiapolla9AO3cG16pxF802g3a-hlq7T0GmoKozrJv6RncyE9MFfNo5lhjbCVgmdRjAcwknAeTptbWDfDpuhzNfYQM/w430-h640/Screenshot%202023-05-02%20at%202.22.41%20PM.png" width="430" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Poster for <b>"Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time"</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In early 2020, just at the start of the pandemic, I was approached by Rick Gordon of RPG Productions in Los Angeles California. He asked a simple question: Could the 2 billion-year-long geologic story of Grand Canyon - get this - be told in two minutes! At first, I thought it was a joke. But Rick was quite serious as the owners of the film and the theater franchise were tasked with including geology in a new version of the film. I was brought on as the geologic consultant. Work on the project began in March, 2020 but, unfortunately, the pandemic stopped production work for two years. The project resumed in March, 2022.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobW8t5zOdG5VpbPxNPFpdcnus0KRvefpm7tIcJNihgIVv8YtOr4s1Wi5m4m8Zd68R3-WQJNVLfoHTOozKg8DBWsBXjtQFBhmq8orN9f60fEv8GPBceyuPGpkZ2ipSPcc-50xJjFli8Dan0TwKnpMn7Cc0tDsX6HOaYPJgn--yWpaRnOUvxDs/s1246/Screenshot%202023-05-02%20at%202.23.16%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1246" data-original-width="1138" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobW8t5zOdG5VpbPxNPFpdcnus0KRvefpm7tIcJNihgIVv8YtOr4s1Wi5m4m8Zd68R3-WQJNVLfoHTOozKg8DBWsBXjtQFBhmq8orN9f60fEv8GPBceyuPGpkZ2ipSPcc-50xJjFli8Dan0TwKnpMn7Cc0tDsX6HOaYPJgn--yWpaRnOUvxDs/w584-h640/Screenshot%202023-05-02%20at%202.23.16%20PM.png" width="584" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Two billion years of earth history in two minutes! Looking at the bottom line here, it's clear <br />even Alan admitted to the daunting task.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">One of the biggest challenges geologists face when asked to contribu</span>te to documentary or popular films is getting enough air-time to fully describe their subject matter. Other topics are also covered in these types of productions, and geologists must share the few precious seconds of air-time with charismatic wildlife, extreme sports action, or some other spine-tingling footage. Additionally, geology may seem too static or unchanging to those who crave action in their films, or do not know the joys and rewards of earth science. A tendency to minimize geology's underlying importance can take hold. This was not a concern for Rick since he was charged with including the geologic story.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOKwW_0Tzzokel_4_NYZq7lxZzc0e8DRc3nY_VbBlLmRyTD0TOirZhZ6D_wd234qf8BsK7UM2XrZkxklFD04nVfIShfS9VGBkGfrbTfVoPwl7B7vrBynB34mA6fO8Jjj3fCXDW-Kax5pmcFp9xU8XVxCXTOudKLyfx3humwdYm_f4i6dImS8/s1606/Screenshot%202023-05-02%20at%202.22.57%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1478" data-original-width="1606" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOKwW_0Tzzokel_4_NYZq7lxZzc0e8DRc3nY_VbBlLmRyTD0TOirZhZ6D_wd234qf8BsK7UM2XrZkxklFD04nVfIShfS9VGBkGfrbTfVoPwl7B7vrBynB34mA6fO8Jjj3fCXDW-Kax5pmcFp9xU8XVxCXTOudKLyfx3humwdYm_f4i6dImS8/w640-h588/Screenshot%202023-05-02%20at%202.22.57%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I worked closely with Rick Gordon, Alan Markowitz, and Mario Kourasis on the geology portion <br />of the film, helping to conceive images and video and writing script.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Back to the question posed by Rick, "Can the 2 billion year-long geologic story of Grand Canyon be told in two minutes. I've had a bit of experience distilling complex geologic ideas into more digestible phrases and images. But this would be an especially daunting challenge. Nevertheless, I replied to his team, "Yeah, we can do that." Of course, I was concerned some parts of the story would have to be left out. So I gently suggested on getting an extra 30 seconds or maybe even a whole minute in the ultimately 40 minute-long film. "No way," was the answer as 70% of the original production is re-used in this 2nd edition of the film.</span> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJZep2vEXq2Us9d-gOOd0mppSNMkaXF0JpuPybrlUx4eESSpwN3tzjxeDw9aDci_-SbI_-ZJqJHu39DkpAsjlFZPB_kVYe6AWzG94tVOG5eg0z2-6mwt_QvM3sA9sOhJT8uVRCsxDMfJ8RYaDfPhLefj_w1RPyKOqpX3EiiPp3Ri3qiTqnB4/s2330/Screenshot%202023-05-03%20at%2011.26.18%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="2330" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJZep2vEXq2Us9d-gOOd0mppSNMkaXF0JpuPybrlUx4eESSpwN3tzjxeDw9aDci_-SbI_-ZJqJHu39DkpAsjlFZPB_kVYe6AWzG94tVOG5eg0z2-6mwt_QvM3sA9sOhJT8uVRCsxDMfJ8RYaDfPhLefj_w1RPyKOqpX3EiiPp3Ri3qiTqnB4/w640-h488/Screenshot%202023-05-03%20at%2011.26.18%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A slide from </i><i>Markowitz's</i><i> PowerPoint showing some of the storyline and pre-production ideas. You<br />can seen the lower right that they utilized some of my lectures on YouTube for help. </i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For my part, the first thing to decide was how much of the story should (or could) be told in only two minutes. Could we mention the Grand Canyon Supergroup, a complex and sometimes confusing deposit found in only some parts of the canyon? Would it be a good idea to include this or would it tend to minimize other parts of the story? What about the Mesozoic rocks that once covered the canyon landscape but are now mostly eroded and gone? Should they be mentioned? All of this had to be carefully considered so I sent Rick a short description of the full story.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnm3qt_e0WRXNxwl9qI2rUpKCtp-Vm-9dbQl_ryS6MWwen06RPJgDTQpcX-r29Vmiw9boabCYqn0xgkfxUGOomvPU2NthdLyRS6ACvcZ3LneUUO2AifvdA7Pszy86t9iNnmi8gNH_oQsIxPo8SYx_0jUyCZclJ8wl6NmnWIEfUWfexKWeuGI/s2190/Screenshot%202023-05-02%20at%202.24.27%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2116" data-original-width="2190" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnm3qt_e0WRXNxwl9qI2rUpKCtp-Vm-9dbQl_ryS6MWwen06RPJgDTQpcX-r29Vmiw9boabCYqn0xgkfxUGOomvPU2NthdLyRS6ACvcZ3LneUUO2AifvdA7Pszy86t9iNnmi8gNH_oQsIxPo8SYx_0jUyCZclJ8wl6NmnWIEfUWfexKWeuGI/w640-h618/Screenshot%202023-05-02%20at%202.24.27%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>These are some of the web based images the group found to help them better understand the various aspects of the story. <br />Note that they were coming into the production without a basic understanding of Grand Canyon geology <br />and so had to learn what to portray in images and say in words for the narrator.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There was some great collaborations between myself and the group and eventually a script was written and adopted. </span><span face="MontserratRoman-Regular"><span style="font-size: medium;">At this stage, Alan and Marios began developing a visual component of the story. </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the hardest aspects involved was explaining to the animators (untrained in geology) how a line of island arc volcanoes, over 1,750 million years old, were formed by a subduction event; then transported into an oceanic trench where the sedimentary and volcanic rocks became compressed, metamorphosed, and melted into Vishnu Schist and Zoroaster Granite. This is a complex process involving a few different steps. But they hit on an idea to have inset boxes displaying concepts in cross-section, while the larger image of the surface remains visible. This technique was utilized in other sub-chapters of the story, I think with great effect (see the inset below in the next image and in the video at the end). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1VF6mVm27JQJ5lKB8cwcPV07BB3eJshwRxP4ZIYnJpFroXIcIcdpanlIY-shy3qUx5LT0vPJIjJbgsJirLNkrnTGbnLDuaAxUOO41t9mhYLLJBrowJvI7nelGI0zn4Jx6_shPgOWmhC6Y8CEU7Yu39sR2ecJHz-b8e97bA3Y_Ro4nkorWHI/s2752/Screenshot%202023-05-02%20at%202.25.54%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1656" data-original-width="2752" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1VF6mVm27JQJ5lKB8cwcPV07BB3eJshwRxP4ZIYnJpFroXIcIcdpanlIY-shy3qUx5LT0vPJIjJbgsJirLNkrnTGbnLDuaAxUOO41t9mhYLLJBrowJvI7nelGI0zn4Jx6_shPgOWmhC6Y8CEU7Yu39sR2ecJHz-b8e97bA3Y_Ro4nkorWHI/w640-h386/Screenshot%202023-05-02%20at%202.25.54%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Panel animations for two time slices. On the left is a depiction of an island arc approaching a continent (Precambrian time). <br />On the right is a depiction of a sandy desert and the deposition of eolian sand. Note the inset boxes <br />in each that show what was happening in the subsurface for each time slice.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In spite of the two-minute time limitation (hey, that's 1/20th of the entire film!), we were still able to include information about these many events in the final product:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1) the location and geographic dimensions of the canyon;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2) the volcanic arc sequence that ultimately gave rise to the Vishnu Schist and Zoroaster Granite;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">3) erosion of 13 miles of crust down to a low-lying plain;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">4) deposition of the two-and-a-half-mile-thick Grand Canyon Supergroup layers;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">5) deformation, faulting, and tilting of the Supergroup blocks;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">6) erosion down to a near-sea-level, hilly terrain;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">7) deposition of the Paleozoic layers of the canyon in seas, rivers and sandy deserts;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">8) deposition of the Mesozoic layers (the dinosaur-age rocks);</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">9) near complete erosion of the Mesozoic layers; and finally,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">10) the uplift and carving of the Grand Canyon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kudos to the production team as I would have never imagined at the start of production that all of these seminal events that formed the Grand Canyon landscape could be compressed into two minutes!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61_3buqBx10eO3CObXh77bgpqLwsKptpkjnuMxxZL0nLyWp7jznDdndHD_F640Azy3XZuZ6aKm2hzNp8cyL5j9QLhzxO2F4S_Eo3MkMP9_WM_3MT0HDAwcsn6psZNLka8CF7hPqJ-RJSU3Xgq6oPOdswbRwSE70soSXJnU26xK9ODpsAf1B0/s3228/Screenshot%202023-05-02%20at%202.25.02%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2404" data-original-width="3228" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61_3buqBx10eO3CObXh77bgpqLwsKptpkjnuMxxZL0nLyWp7jznDdndHD_F640Azy3XZuZ6aKm2hzNp8cyL5j9QLhzxO2F4S_Eo3MkMP9_WM_3MT0HDAwcsn6psZNLka8CF7hPqJ-RJSU3Xgq6oPOdswbRwSE70soSXJnU26xK9ODpsAf1B0/w640-h476/Screenshot%202023-05-02%20at%202.25.02%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Not all of these concepts were used in the end but it gives an idea for the possibilities.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">And now, please enjoy this four-minute clip of the introduction and the geologic story of the new IMAX film, <b style="font-style: italic;">"Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time." (</b>Please excuse the low-resolution limitations for uploading). </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwST5RoxVJMn5knBcS7XD7KtzHsjrRwsnnHEIKDMYwTlH7ErK_MdOslP09-M-c2jFVpZS3e2GY0PS8' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Four minute clip of <b>"Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time"</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The next time you are a the South Rim of Grand Canyon, be sure to view the new movie. If you cannot take the time, imagine watching this on a huge, six-story IMAX perforated screen, with sound coming to your ears in surround sound from all directions - including sound from behind the perforated screen! Many thanks to Rick, Alan, Marios, and everyone involved with IMAX for including the geologic story of Grand Canyon in this production. The canyon's geology will now be portrayed to millions of viewers, through many decades!</span></div>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-1698391979804859422023-04-29T08:49:00.009-07:002023-05-01T09:58:52.537-07:00<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span color="var(--primary-text)" style="caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); white-space: pre-wrap;">In 2018, Helen and I established the Wayne and Helen Ranney Geosciences Educator Award at Northern Arizona University. We are pleased to announce at this time that the first awardee is </span><span color="var(--primary-text)" style="animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/rhyleigh.abel?__cft__[0]=AZWIN8R7QgQqVZzh2cRR9lSI1wE_Y0HYqvNpyqyambptO1jMmqjKOe4yX3TRuLLNiTjspo0wDXzK0ZkK_W8Yedi9Pqg0iIGPbLR_FT8vCNzi2C4AAmQROolrvJg91zW9nt1L1OebUSYk8TyeFbn6jEhuyX7BoYJBo3X3ge_OMcuNmQ&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" style="animation-name: none; border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--accent); cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition-property: none;" tabindex="0"><span class="xt0psk2" style="animation-name: none; display: inline; transition-property: none;">Rhyleigh Abel</span></a></span><span color="var(--primary-text)" style="caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); white-space: pre-wrap;">, a senior in the geology department at NAU. The award allows her to partake in a 7-day, geology-themed rafting trip in Grand Canyon with fellow alumni and professors. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); white-space: pre-wrap;">The award is an endowed fund that takes interest earned to support the award in perpetuity. If you would like to contribute to our goal to encourage </span></span><span style="animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); font-family: trebuchet; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a style="animation-name: none; cursor: pointer; transition-property: none;" tabindex="-1"></a></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;">professional earth scientists to share their enthusiasm and passion for landscapes with the wider public, you can contribute, at any level of support, here: </span><span><span style="animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); font-family: trebuchet; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1898/giving19/form.aspx?sid=1898&gid=2&pgid=418&bledit=1&dids=3751&fbclid=IwAR1sJ0oCeWcBB5SyOHRbmIwgJpnwC-MCeDw-a72rs7uT6BuDqsFcXGDsU4o" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="animation-name: none; border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition-property: none;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1898/giving19/form.aspx...</a></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); font-weight: bold; text-align: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Congratulations </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); white-space: pre-wrap;">Rhyleigh and see you on the river!</span></span></p><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); transition-property: none;"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1l90r2v x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id=":r9d:" style="animation-name: none; 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I love Santa Fe, New Mexico. So when I got the opportunity to present a
lecture on the Colorado River for
<a href="https://southwestseminars.org" target="_blank">Southwest Seminars</a>,
we took a few extra days to explore more of the area. My colleague, Kirt Kempter invited us along to see first hand the results of his pandemic project,
making a detailed map of a <a href="https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/glossary/maar.html" target="_blank">maar volcano</a> to the southwest of the
city. These features form when magma interacts with groundwater to create a steam explosion, forming a shallow depression after the explosion. The depression can become filled with scoria (cinders) and lava flows, and sometimes a lava lake, which upon subsequent erosion can leave the post-maar volcanics standing in high relief. This is a difficult thing for beginners to understand since the maar formation creates a depression but the modern feature is a mountain (the infilling lavas are more resistant than the surrounding materials)</p>
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Santa Fe's historic Plaza is where the western terminus of the
<a href="https://www.nps.gov/safe/index.htm" target="_blank">Santa Fe Trail</a>
is located. The wooden structure seen in the center of the Plaza here hides an
obelisk and plinth that was erected in 1867 to commemorate the perpetuation of
the Union after the Civil War. However, one side of the obelisk praised <span style="font-family: trebuchet;">"<i>T</i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202122;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34);"><i>he heroes who have fallen in the various battles with savage Indians
in the territory of New Mexico</i>." In 1974, the word "<i>savage</i>" was chiseled out by an unknown
person. On October 12, 2020, the obelisk was </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">toppled and the city began a community conversation on the future of the
monument.</span></span>
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We always visit the small town of Chimayo where we buy our year's supply of red
and green chile powder. The Virgil Store shown here had a For Sale in front of
it - oh the horror!
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At the Santuario de Chimayo.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0CELKqfBOibY_-s989PSH70R6fu19RJpUUbB6gWxB3CSwurR05zWrYIwCkzUkyH3_fiddMrTfAdCZpVkNQ6d_GD-LXsOnl-pdNCzjSBG_-lM5SgM19Vb3jlH09aMRG_mHJciTUI0rBKlFIcmTKkUIXHQRCzNwoWbvJUd4Tm7T6wPWI651Z0/s2160/IMG_1168%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="2160" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0CELKqfBOibY_-s989PSH70R6fu19RJpUUbB6gWxB3CSwurR05zWrYIwCkzUkyH3_fiddMrTfAdCZpVkNQ6d_GD-LXsOnl-pdNCzjSBG_-lM5SgM19Vb3jlH09aMRG_mHJciTUI0rBKlFIcmTKkUIXHQRCzNwoWbvJUd4Tm7T6wPWI651Z0/w640-h360/IMG_1168%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a>
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On a nice sunny day, Kirt took us southwest of the city to the Diablo
volcano, where he has completed a detailed study of its history and mode of
formation. This is a view to the west looking downstream to Diablo Canyon, carved by the intermittent stream of Cañada Ancha.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKhp_imkyh2hl6uezIvLTjDM1deIuYr5RjZwvNO8tkwY0aGjvl4xkZ6oFrKb5N13ax6-5DLCXuTxus3M-p9D5bD2xW5FMnK1Em5HPJpXRFUx007L2LRwCSXzvMYSegWcvh45X4YOQ9EHbcyO2Z_gOkORBS7ttQMnXuyJVCHT0eukckSiB5CA/s800/Screenshot%202023-01-08%20at%204.15.57%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="800" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKhp_imkyh2hl6uezIvLTjDM1deIuYr5RjZwvNO8tkwY0aGjvl4xkZ6oFrKb5N13ax6-5DLCXuTxus3M-p9D5bD2xW5FMnK1Em5HPJpXRFUx007L2LRwCSXzvMYSegWcvh45X4YOQ9EHbcyO2Z_gOkORBS7ttQMnXuyJVCHT0eukckSiB5CA/w640-h464/Screenshot%202023-01-08%20at%204.15.57%20PM.png" width="640" /></a>
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Google Earth image of the Santa Fe area. The city and the Sangre de Cristo
Mountains are on the right. The Cerros del Rio volcanic field and Diablo volcano
are on the left. In all of my visits to Santa Fe I never explored to the
southwest of the city. I had been east, north, south and west and was always
curious about the hills to the southwest of the city. I have also been intrigued for why Santa
Fe grew so far from the Rio Grande and on a relatively featureless alluvial plain at the foot of the
mountains. I always wondered why the Camino Real diverged from the course of the river to climb onto the alluvium (there was a pueblo village here of some importance). Nevertheless, what existed between the city and river? I soon found out.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt-9xdw3yPaUhS3y7TwK6CYW97EFBnHVOjuyX3hCksQcYfjJmdhO0v1YGU3Gee0iZkFvaTgdTvSVqegCFEiQ8uXjjFa-oD83l7-3ZwpHwJIXPI5duEmPSB7mw-mqj2kBiU31zOP0vobVkZylCxrtHQ7fP0L8HLX2mSImfcls_3GwWSTkLGwA/s800/Screenshot%202023-01-08%20at%204.36.31%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="800" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt-9xdw3yPaUhS3y7TwK6CYW97EFBnHVOjuyX3hCksQcYfjJmdhO0v1YGU3Gee0iZkFvaTgdTvSVqegCFEiQ8uXjjFa-oD83l7-3ZwpHwJIXPI5duEmPSB7mw-mqj2kBiU31zOP0vobVkZylCxrtHQ7fP0L8HLX2mSImfcls_3GwWSTkLGwA/w640-h450/Screenshot%202023-01-08%20at%204.36.31%20PM.png" width="640" /></a>
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Close-up of the Google Earth image. The broad alluvial plain is carved into the
Tesuque Formation and overlying Ancha Formation. Note that the Diablo volcano is
partially bisected by Cañada Ancha - a big part of this story that will be revealed below!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyrkX4e8jGIlwTuYfljg7hDIC4osUBbybKoLhCgmflnzMKOqh2UMtVz1Kk8leMkdzv5I1viyFovWYIO3LeBacRHXLTzYisXGeAyy41-R4qRxcgAaIYoXUyKe6EWrX1QEFx2kR2k29cTI2HVwnWcdcNdJr5QITfyA2h0QaaIYWRN-BQDg6eLo/s1910/IMG_1170%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1910" data-original-width="1191" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyrkX4e8jGIlwTuYfljg7hDIC4osUBbybKoLhCgmflnzMKOqh2UMtVz1Kk8leMkdzv5I1viyFovWYIO3LeBacRHXLTzYisXGeAyy41-R4qRxcgAaIYoXUyKe6EWrX1QEFx2kR2k29cTI2HVwnWcdcNdJr5QITfyA2h0QaaIYWRN-BQDg6eLo/w400-h640/IMG_1170%20copy.heic" width="400" /></a>
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Beginning our trek up to the top of the volcano, located in the
<a href="https://publiclands.org/blogs/new-mexico-public-lands/diablo-canyon-recreation-area" target="_blank">Diablo Canyon Recreation Area</a>. The location is popular with rock climbers who find the columnar joints in the walls of the gorge
inviting.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrH3hPKlx0ErCKNg3pWHq4LuXbBy18V8gGaVPal5vxS8rMOagqtrXukDJD-7pMtDuqDODhVeTfje1CGS__IhTfo0r-kV_NFdf-Gni38SCX5wDz2gzcpNvgCyW93F58XOq66tNBsYeuYPHjRv0HXrpLiZWSGHA6lSPUKGRerZLVgP5zqae9U5M/s1800/IMG_1171%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrH3hPKlx0ErCKNg3pWHq4LuXbBy18V8gGaVPal5vxS8rMOagqtrXukDJD-7pMtDuqDODhVeTfje1CGS__IhTfo0r-kV_NFdf-Gni38SCX5wDz2gzcpNvgCyW93F58XOq66tNBsYeuYPHjRv0HXrpLiZWSGHA6lSPUKGRerZLVgP5zqae9U5M/w640-h360/IMG_1171%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a>
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Along the way, volcanic bombs were strewn over the ground, documenting a
sub-aerial origin in this instance.
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A view to the west of the Lengua del Diablo (Tongue of the Devil). Note the floor of Cañada Ancha on the far left and the Jemez Mountain and caldera on the horizon. The colorful rocks in the ridge of Lengua del Diablo are composed of tephra deposits from the maar explosion (the greenish, lower cliff formed by <a href="https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/glossary/phreatomagmatic_eruption.html" target="_blank">phreatomagmatic</a> processes), capped with dark basaltic lava, scoria and ash (photo center) that was erupted after the formation of the maar. Note the vertical dike within the phreatomagmatic deposit. This dike episode actually fed the flows on the uppermost part of the cliff. Within the phreatomagmatic deposit a very large blocks of the Tesuque Formation that were also thrown outwards from the steam blast. One of these large, pink-colored clasts can be seen at the base of the green cliff and left of the dike (partially hidden by a small juniper tree. An amazing exposure!<div>
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A large dike (center) intrudes through older scoria layers.</div><div><br />
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Complex interplay of maar tephra (golden color) and post-maar scoria and dikes.</div><div><br />
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A close-up of the previous photo showing the dark basalt dikes intruding the older tephra (golden).</div><div><br />
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View to the west from the top of the maar toward the Jemez Mountains and Chicoma Peak. Cañada Ancha is seen in the floor of the valley.</div><div><br />
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Panoramic view with Kirt Kempter pointing out features.</div><div><br />
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Another view of the Lengua del Diablo. After spending a few hours looking at the internal features of the volcano, I became curious about its eruptive setting. Kirt had explained that the age of the Cerros del Rio volcanic field is mostly constrained between 2.7 and 2.4 Ma, straddling the time boundary between the Pliocene and Pleistocene. Kirt further explained that the sequence of events went from initial phreatomagmatic eruptions that created a maar depression, which gave way to scoria cone formation and subsequent fluid lava flows and the formation of a lava lake. In the back of my mind, I kept thinking, "Why are we so high above the surrounding terrain? The answer of course, is that 2.5 million years ago, top of the maar was the floor of the valley and erosion of Diablo Canyon had not yet commenced. </div><div><br />
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And boy was this evident as we went to the lip of Diablo Canyon! Across Diablo Canyon and Cañada Ancha is a detached portion of a lava lake basalt that once filled the central maar. It has been separated from the foreground by incision of the stream. Thus, Diablo Canyon is approximately 2.5 Ma.</div><div> <br />
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Close-up of the far-side mesa. Note the small rise on top of the mesa - this is composed of rounded cobbles and sand from Cañada Ancha when it was flowing on top of the lava lake. The stream had no idea that its course was on top of the edge of lava lake deposits and as it incised downward its course was not deflected away - superposition in action! How fortunate that these remnant cobbles are left on the high-standing mesa for this interpretation.</div><div><br />
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Diablo Canyon from the top looking southeast and upstream on the bed of Cañada Ancha. Spectacular.</div><div><br />
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Kirt with his dogs looking across the top of the maar volcano to the Sanger de Cristo Mountains.</div><div><br />
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Our group at the end of the hike - Helen, Kirt and John. Thank you Kirt for a great day and a wonderful field trip! Kirt will soon publish a paper on his work and I will add an addendum to this post when it is ready.<br /><p></p>
</div>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-1203536923080100892023-01-01T21:05:00.044-07:002023-01-02T10:47:15.997-07:002023 Has Arrived!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yf_fZYveovnoBgaG6CGtv3sk93pYmFcbPCxfNPl2AlC8JIVYBAM0LDO11WK6FzcUPaKYay7-V1HdPVSphUCLfT8X3EkLAnCkRfMl7HnEk8dM-ag_y9-QCOpmRYRabk5T-WFyG-DgGN6iX_RQmcFxMTnqoVEeEiMsI-LVosG7iUo6nrxCf8k/s640/IMG_0447.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yf_fZYveovnoBgaG6CGtv3sk93pYmFcbPCxfNPl2AlC8JIVYBAM0LDO11WK6FzcUPaKYay7-V1HdPVSphUCLfT8X3EkLAnCkRfMl7HnEk8dM-ag_y9-QCOpmRYRabk5T-WFyG-DgGN6iX_RQmcFxMTnqoVEeEiMsI-LVosG7iUo6nrxCf8k/w640-h480/IMG_0447.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>At Plateau Point, Grand Canyon, November 2021. Photo by Helen Ranney</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>A new year has dawned along with the realization that I have been remiss in keeping up with this blog. Blame it on the pandemic and its lack of travel, these uninspiring times, or whatever. I'm aware of it and not pleased either, especially when I look back at some of the detailed and lengthy posts I previously typed here (I simply will not post if there is nothing to say). And, I've also been contemplating what the next phase of this online blog might be? I think readers this new year (if any of you remain) will still see posts pertaining to my love of geology and travel. But I also anticipate more personal reflections. Let me explain.</p><p>While everyone seems to wish, hope, pray, and implore that this new year will be everything that the last few have not, for me it is something a bit more. 2023 marks the beginning of a long string of 50-year anniversaries for me that define the beginning my independent, adult life. For the next few years, being completely captive to my insatiable appreciation for the endless march of time, I will mark the the half-century anniversaries where I first took to some fantastic hitchhiking explorations across the continent, fell in love with river trips and backpacking, and living at and within the Grand Canyon.</p><p>What sparks this little introduction is my rather sudden awareness that it was the year 1973 - 50 years ago - that I took my first steps at being an adult, stepping away from my cherished place of origin in Southern California and began to explore the larger world that lay beyond the 'California Dream.' I've always been proud to be a native of California, where I could enjoy a childhood of outdoor explorations in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and the last of the area's orange groves. Me and my brothers caught wild frogs and fed them to our pet snakes. We rode our bikes across the entire width of our hometown and only came back in time for dinner. As a freshman in high school, I found a nestling red-tailed hawk that had become separated from its nest and raised it to adulthood. I was a child of nature in a burgeoning urban wave.</p><p>But by the time I graduated from high school, urban California had lost its charm. So, in 1973 I set out on the first of some really great adventures. I hope to share these stories with you beginning this year.</p><p>Thank you for hanging in there with me. And if this is not the reason you come here to this blog, I understand and will not be offended if you leave. But maybe this is the beginning of the story of my life.</p>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-1297199868320386712022-10-26T11:28:00.001-07:002022-10-26T11:28:23.409-07:00The Montevideo Inscription in Grand Canyon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-K28zRZPhj1IM0pqVFKVz2FK50e_Mm9Tx2qdL0x8BWSujcd2k9V1iO1Gw37JW9GPCrazAKwVrPEio-bL9mgAVohuOdlY8tsOk2MWAE07NKD5PpA6CEXfx9HLmkA9B63lPvbKZlUlZbni46URCafj9Ijgi4G3F9zG4mw9ilKqLlb3lR9DF1Q/s2016/image3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-K28zRZPhj1IM0pqVFKVz2FK50e_Mm9Tx2qdL0x8BWSujcd2k9V1iO1Gw37JW9GPCrazAKwVrPEio-bL9mgAVohuOdlY8tsOk2MWAE07NKD5PpA6CEXfx9HLmkA9B63lPvbKZlUlZbni46URCafj9Ijgi4G3F9zG4mw9ilKqLlb3lR9DF1Q/w640-h480/image3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>On November 30, 2010, I posted a piece about an inscription found near the South Bass Trail in Grand Canyon. It is in a neatly ornamented style with the word "Montevideo." You can view that posting <a href="https://earthly-musings.blogspot.com/2010/11/did-cardenas-party-leave-rock.html" target="_blank">here</a> and the story that goes with it. A few days later, I posted an addendum and that can be viewed <a href="https://earthly-musings.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-most-recent-blog-post-was-written.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>Recently, a friend of my wife visited the site and literally stumbled onto another adjacent inscription that shows the year 1896. While this does not prove that the Montevideo inscription was left in the Wm. Wallace Bass era at Grand Canyon, it does show that Bass was leading people to this site at that time. I think the nearby inscription lends credence to the idea that Montevideo is more recent than the 1540s and from a member of he Cardenas party. The photos above and below are courtesy of Larry Kinser.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUrlF7Vo0Os80MqFuhYd3oroa3pde2_s14NODEPWKCVgMcSbOqMQfgjkXUCkdA--VasIZV76FNtzhOSs4L_8arP7ZPT_gcZjEDVkAmg3jhi2kd6L3uaj7RVJ4Yw1e7FY1MdVTSyX9_ve3So2UMvsDKXwhHKjgb_57ZdYHTcweDroELiR5GlU/s2016/image0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUrlF7Vo0Os80MqFuhYd3oroa3pde2_s14NODEPWKCVgMcSbOqMQfgjkXUCkdA--VasIZV76FNtzhOSs4L_8arP7ZPT_gcZjEDVkAmg3jhi2kd6L3uaj7RVJ4Yw1e7FY1MdVTSyX9_ve3So2UMvsDKXwhHKjgb_57ZdYHTcweDroELiR5GlU/w640-h480/image0.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkzQbopseiYZXYrYO3e8-ri3mGB9hH7oT5LBatvAF0cDLY1GMirH40HwvPWY7fsSVgQoP6Qdh302sJRhxvJJcCm1RwCsIjTbX9Usfhx8WgNUF0EiExVjsDGS_lO9v9pWXYNmu5OvS3WfvmoGXNaCKVxtel-dtXRLvx6nPbVj17tVauhj9RCQ/s1280/image0%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkzQbopseiYZXYrYO3e8-ri3mGB9hH7oT5LBatvAF0cDLY1GMirH40HwvPWY7fsSVgQoP6Qdh302sJRhxvJJcCm1RwCsIjTbX9Usfhx8WgNUF0EiExVjsDGS_lO9v9pWXYNmu5OvS3WfvmoGXNaCKVxtel-dtXRLvx6nPbVj17tVauhj9RCQ/w640-h360/image0%202.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-16386142737048091722022-10-16T09:26:00.002-07:002022-10-16T10:12:32.345-07:00An Autumn Hike in the San Juan Volcanic Field, Colorado<p>In early October, Helen and I journeyed to southwest Colorado and the San Juan Mountains near Ouray. We embarked on a five-day, four-night backpack along the Dallas Trail, traveling hut to hut. Thus, we carried no sleeping bags or tents to make the load lighter. The fall colors were at their peak and admittedly, this post is more about autumn than the San Juan Volcanic Field.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3Rc8FciitMfthLhfUrMNNZUNUhm_M0Mlp9ZIsHXmZesHUVuaHpsLjQ6AgNgk_F8I0AMc5eovSm98YjIrnqDEAS-npFdK2o3yntyW4UaJNZ4K_cOmDyfyYah2VXt3YjZR9vAruGY4cQidg9MPdNqhi0Mnu8vPvrUKQki4wN-6IJWjSpGvu_g/s2520/IMG_0784%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3Rc8FciitMfthLhfUrMNNZUNUhm_M0Mlp9ZIsHXmZesHUVuaHpsLjQ6AgNgk_F8I0AMc5eovSm98YjIrnqDEAS-npFdK2o3yntyW4UaJNZ4K_cOmDyfyYah2VXt3YjZR9vAruGY4cQidg9MPdNqhi0Mnu8vPvrUKQki4wN-6IJWjSpGvu_g/w640-h360/IMG_0784%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>We had a group of seven and this is near the start of the hike.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_Ia9R-vA9V2C6FvtoL0SXKMzKYY9hXHv9xVT2yUPRrhJRIZJxUa2lEUjnOYZY_Mz5MpV6BdFKcEPDbb43A6lMmXBbqqYZCkf38VTRcZ5AxeLi47cBqEsr27GWNEsZoh2j2WC5Mww6UGrjIj92DdAcBCvqLIxeGOiCvw-nTdbmYoKYO--rS4/s2520/IMG_0785%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2520" data-original-width="1418" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_Ia9R-vA9V2C6FvtoL0SXKMzKYY9hXHv9xVT2yUPRrhJRIZJxUa2lEUjnOYZY_Mz5MpV6BdFKcEPDbb43A6lMmXBbqqYZCkf38VTRcZ5AxeLi47cBqEsr27GWNEsZoh2j2WC5Mww6UGrjIj92DdAcBCvqLIxeGOiCvw-nTdbmYoKYO--rS4/w360-h640/IMG_0785%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></div>Some of the route was along old logging roads.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkkuOHpL4Gc61QmhwK89NzeWgiss1oPdbfJg8DfzxfqxP6TP1EkyrIF5giTfNwmBZvguDE-joMJECaBUiVvcDnx3iv7fM5Pl_iEUmlV1CRppfTE1pTADUB4paO7_EfPRNFA_icFS-g28aHBq6RrdUScl0dDztXZcjUpUVQVwo7vabSBRuqtw/s2520/IMG_0791%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkkuOHpL4Gc61QmhwK89NzeWgiss1oPdbfJg8DfzxfqxP6TP1EkyrIF5giTfNwmBZvguDE-joMJECaBUiVvcDnx3iv7fM5Pl_iEUmlV1CRppfTE1pTADUB4paO7_EfPRNFA_icFS-g28aHBq6RrdUScl0dDztXZcjUpUVQVwo7vabSBRuqtw/w640-h360/IMG_0791%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>This is our first hut, called North Pole hut. One of the peaks near here is called North Pole Peak. If you would like to know more about the hut experience you can view San Juan Huts <a href="https://sanjuanhuts.com/hike/hiking-hut" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKtRBLnRm0TEm1erp3rLKxA2l4CpucTLJvVF62ztkXFSgIOgX9T5ykH8P-n-6YCu7mhEvkzwyeI9Tp9mShThsu5mSCHCcLqJdvswbL05ayH4YdzxDczc4t7KIgUFEAJwj2PgdC59UINpHIsDEy2aLjwBxcV_Z9jU5WZy05wrjjMqPgRtDa_8/s2520/IMG_0793%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2520" data-original-width="1418" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKtRBLnRm0TEm1erp3rLKxA2l4CpucTLJvVF62ztkXFSgIOgX9T5ykH8P-n-6YCu7mhEvkzwyeI9Tp9mShThsu5mSCHCcLqJdvswbL05ayH4YdzxDczc4t7KIgUFEAJwj2PgdC59UINpHIsDEy2aLjwBxcV_Z9jU5WZy05wrjjMqPgRtDa_8/w360-h640/IMG_0793%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></div>Each hut comes with a separate outhouse not far from the sleeping hut. These were very clean, modern, and well kept.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MXuwQfU2xFmNgnxQ6qHRUIbKUGgjrLVZcpaiGBJ-TDPpXcALiHmdU0kTcVM22OQfrDSIVolqIH23xi08f7ONwGyQHIDeFo2b8CSatBF5HzgTvk29ZjkGyxzuaGdEYOvFxAEkTFqiO4vvi96dgUekfshndT7UjEOVvpO1QFw7fTS0AUnFjFI/s2880/IMG_0801%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2880" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MXuwQfU2xFmNgnxQ6qHRUIbKUGgjrLVZcpaiGBJ-TDPpXcALiHmdU0kTcVM22OQfrDSIVolqIH23xi08f7ONwGyQHIDeFo2b8CSatBF5HzgTvk29ZjkGyxzuaGdEYOvFxAEkTFqiO4vvi96dgUekfshndT7UjEOVvpO1QFw7fTS0AUnFjFI/w640-h360/IMG_0801%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>A view to the northeast toward the Cimarron Range of the San Juan Mountains. Ridgway Colorado sits in the valley of the Uncompahgre River in the valley below.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWMeugvvaT46YbtwxKIXDIhBlT5_w4ulR99A-6N6j2b8V9L7CPHWwnnfgOhjtNRrVbLcs6BbGV8hkW4wI8ylgeiJuf0E302cNwP15FCMAZQ2RMUB09AyeFFFaL43NtC_uogTR8SDvOMnEUhj83TnbKTJzE8qGR72T_aECzxRu9xtnawZMpn8/s2520/IMG_0805%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWMeugvvaT46YbtwxKIXDIhBlT5_w4ulR99A-6N6j2b8V9L7CPHWwnnfgOhjtNRrVbLcs6BbGV8hkW4wI8ylgeiJuf0E302cNwP15FCMAZQ2RMUB09AyeFFFaL43NtC_uogTR8SDvOMnEUhj83TnbKTJzE8qGR72T_aECzxRu9xtnawZMpn8/w640-h360/IMG_0805%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>The Sneffels Range loomed large to our south as we made our way from west to east. An early season snow made the views dramatic against the changing aspens.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu-U8tjBFY0guDFyDeQ-MU68YtIr3xUbK2_zu9od-hIXsSR39_9Oaq0N9w4NbLcycpbu0m4X_XTDbdeBwLFUbFGUuWqj2xikD7e8Dt-httwjccdkSVyFMPijTaF9tPL046ujvxhwK3gOCv0h6DKTMn-A12FbpI9fI5dOcNSJdT9TvzH8KdlY/s2880/IMG_0807%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2880" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu-U8tjBFY0guDFyDeQ-MU68YtIr3xUbK2_zu9od-hIXsSR39_9Oaq0N9w4NbLcycpbu0m4X_XTDbdeBwLFUbFGUuWqj2xikD7e8Dt-httwjccdkSVyFMPijTaF9tPL046ujvxhwK3gOCv0h6DKTMn-A12FbpI9fI5dOcNSJdT9TvzH8KdlY/w640-h360/IMG_0807%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>More Sneffels Range.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S28bNoOW8fJb7kuh1NtFdkfMDoyE_ZZw9peWlvYfXbKhx7F6DuPtVjuRsaX0ZGZEofae0hS_nrNP5gt5vi-JADhPW0seSuLd0uxUunXRFY0TKk_aEL7Aof-gUXM0uS-W9PhTWcXB7ohH58YAMYp5MDI0QOj4QcsFNchXzlvpQEhUd0iX2CA/s2520/IMG_0825%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S28bNoOW8fJb7kuh1NtFdkfMDoyE_ZZw9peWlvYfXbKhx7F6DuPtVjuRsaX0ZGZEofae0hS_nrNP5gt5vi-JADhPW0seSuLd0uxUunXRFY0TKk_aEL7Aof-gUXM0uS-W9PhTWcXB7ohH58YAMYp5MDI0QOj4QcsFNchXzlvpQEhUd0iX2CA/w640-h360/IMG_0825%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>The average elevation of the hike was 10,000 and never deviated from between 11,000 and 9,500 feet.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2UClyCAYyPYhpyxrHi3XI3KYFF3hQZHGWKsxx-aJRsNBgg_3myCa827xfBSaOsjAOjoUhWKEG3j1eO0KbemA7z10umwDuApFwv-O23ou7vhTSxa5vRmAVRz2UiyT8--SrKIj9wzlsaWePaGgwXYS-CzZa8w8AXfRZES0otXOJUL4paEzCBM/s7680/IMG_0832%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5760" data-original-width="7680" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2UClyCAYyPYhpyxrHi3XI3KYFF3hQZHGWKsxx-aJRsNBgg_3myCa827xfBSaOsjAOjoUhWKEG3j1eO0KbemA7z10umwDuApFwv-O23ou7vhTSxa5vRmAVRz2UiyT8--SrKIj9wzlsaWePaGgwXYS-CzZa8w8AXfRZES0otXOJUL4paEzCBM/w640-h480/IMG_0832%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>A wild geranium also was in on the colorful show.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijsMM0XIIdJpERmhKH5qhd7wHv4XRLZP6buGC_E9HlIqiHEfOo9MMUTGtXL2xFZpc_k2tghJVNrXolE0QBLQnp432_5T9H1thn_1bFjn1Im480iOtxrVyuhP7c7fB2nh7yC9Kx8gBXYn2kQkYtaYpZipnTpjdOZvnKDt4Rfg3BKJ7F-SwSAA/s2520/IMG_0836%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijsMM0XIIdJpERmhKH5qhd7wHv4XRLZP6buGC_E9HlIqiHEfOo9MMUTGtXL2xFZpc_k2tghJVNrXolE0QBLQnp432_5T9H1thn_1bFjn1Im480iOtxrVyuhP7c7fB2nh7yC9Kx8gBXYn2kQkYtaYpZipnTpjdOZvnKDt4Rfg3BKJ7F-SwSAA/w640-h360/IMG_0836%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>Most of the hike was through forests of aspen and conifer.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfCT7KORZeuvygd7oTfiQHVdrbcaWLteZTMUQbsKeTW1TrpMXp9YhLHM_Anw6w7DGTeMNBeWvZj5Q1GUu2xurez9VRLk4gTXaR1MPxr4_5XfJQ6vvwvUrhnnPyWV2BgEZT3f88s5VARkejaqIda_TAATbHhltoIrdaSpqPWhp41ctFZlPNyU/s2520/IMG_0849%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="2520" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfCT7KORZeuvygd7oTfiQHVdrbcaWLteZTMUQbsKeTW1TrpMXp9YhLHM_Anw6w7DGTeMNBeWvZj5Q1GUu2xurez9VRLk4gTXaR1MPxr4_5XfJQ6vvwvUrhnnPyWV2BgEZT3f88s5VARkejaqIda_TAATbHhltoIrdaSpqPWhp41ctFZlPNyU/w640-h480/IMG_0849%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>An early morning frost.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGBbdYr1S4RgxuQxFoO3J0dJUujkTBxEpjuyQ6EusBVECC3JZWUgtIm7Q3TUJAXwQ7bMrNdEgltwzXtjy2TEyiGFUpvkzl6pHiPyKud74U0Dmkm0JV4FjNikh90vHyEpqERv3CMkDStgUzu20I5EeyG-IM9WHUz56_Hn0LDhd8D4kqkd_stA/s2520/IMG_0862%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGBbdYr1S4RgxuQxFoO3J0dJUujkTBxEpjuyQ6EusBVECC3JZWUgtIm7Q3TUJAXwQ7bMrNdEgltwzXtjy2TEyiGFUpvkzl6pHiPyKud74U0Dmkm0JV4FjNikh90vHyEpqERv3CMkDStgUzu20I5EeyG-IM9WHUz56_Hn0LDhd8D4kqkd_stA/w640-h360/IMG_0862%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>Finally, we reached Wilson Summit at 11,000 feet and were rewarded with a spectacular view!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFw2yhYs_n-acbwSKZ0bgtAp8CLTrD-tXSwUutaCIkirrLb3Zz-Ym9541eRcDFlYnO6Uf6b_sLMBwdtTbD-VtgBr3CiPA_KwuXvUQpb6a-icoTarKahpmVd0Fvl1ZEBYshq0rfwTFaWALv3l7HMWABvMdseZ8cSKLg9LVsE4sWCIchY7I5wpA/s3240/IMG_0869%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1823" data-original-width="3240" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFw2yhYs_n-acbwSKZ0bgtAp8CLTrD-tXSwUutaCIkirrLb3Zz-Ym9541eRcDFlYnO6Uf6b_sLMBwdtTbD-VtgBr3CiPA_KwuXvUQpb6a-icoTarKahpmVd0Fvl1ZEBYshq0rfwTFaWALv3l7HMWABvMdseZ8cSKLg9LVsE4sWCIchY7I5wpA/w640-h360/IMG_0869%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>Note the previously glaciated valleys in the distance as we took our lunch at the summit.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczlb1rEbzL7pESbJEnQAIntyPTUM9qPNY3LMkVuQr_uMUjSU4kwgrdN_whA6Lm9syLXnWDyIk9LITFWBUaEL2PDTb0tUKUyxILikqCvHji-d4H_yT-g52TpHNHCl3IMoGY5e3zOvFlGR9BtqFzcbh_osFv-JYCSMB3MRSBHSs7TY1og0rht0/s4320/IMG_0871%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2430" data-original-width="4320" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczlb1rEbzL7pESbJEnQAIntyPTUM9qPNY3LMkVuQr_uMUjSU4kwgrdN_whA6Lm9syLXnWDyIk9LITFWBUaEL2PDTb0tUKUyxILikqCvHji-d4H_yT-g52TpHNHCl3IMoGY5e3zOvFlGR9BtqFzcbh_osFv-JYCSMB3MRSBHSs7TY1og0rht0/w640-h360/IMG_0871%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was always a threat of rain during the five days (forecasted) but we managed to avoid precipitation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIsVrZkqgODzww1SBga1l690yea3SpP_IYMYrNVKpqSmfp4pmFgOII6v8rzKss0NZEdtavDralyiVNwPRLZx6JQLFl3zur815lG7WXjkrZI_5bJ8lpq1Ish6grkpk232tQ6K7Mrau57fOL7PYt-egm26Kn_2FaJo6rhxsaJHA8eJiiq4Lyw0/s4320/IMG_0883%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2430" data-original-width="4320" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIsVrZkqgODzww1SBga1l690yea3SpP_IYMYrNVKpqSmfp4pmFgOII6v8rzKss0NZEdtavDralyiVNwPRLZx6JQLFl3zur815lG7WXjkrZI_5bJ8lpq1Ish6grkpk232tQ6K7Mrau57fOL7PYt-egm26Kn_2FaJo6rhxsaJHA8eJiiq4Lyw0/w640-h360/IMG_0883%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>In the Ridgway hut on night 3 planning the next days route.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u9uwCFOq9VVTBWItROAGO_CbTYZlzo13PEg14MHmd04nqqTHx_FOJ4D2WWFe5mWAuusDqfrQ8uWjaN0w4Uf_zjh9UIoeXC_XBqdGPax-uj4MpvoFu3uiNbw5_GfWZBc7K4aypppcGbv2HdYiBiUiO7z8OQYveP-FnoOfk6F77Yzla-nnn84/s2880/IMG_0906%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="1620" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u9uwCFOq9VVTBWItROAGO_CbTYZlzo13PEg14MHmd04nqqTHx_FOJ4D2WWFe5mWAuusDqfrQ8uWjaN0w4Uf_zjh9UIoeXC_XBqdGPax-uj4MpvoFu3uiNbw5_GfWZBc7K4aypppcGbv2HdYiBiUiO7z8OQYveP-FnoOfk6F77Yzla-nnn84/w360-h640/IMG_0906%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></div>An especially beautiful section of trail on day 4.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjUMCREPKuKzKjvKqoOFi4QlOrcVKv7tP6ovDTrqdN65OrMtWTJFV0f4cCaiIvFLr9JNMboxnC55eN7DlHTTUZtOj5XmupHa841OPn4mI8MtP9LTzOHFadMr5CaQFrkr9u8lAdwFuWvsBOkRlK2ZWuLH6k-GfvM_9n2afjJizi7zF2TGZs5U/s2520/IMG_0917%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjUMCREPKuKzKjvKqoOFi4QlOrcVKv7tP6ovDTrqdN65OrMtWTJFV0f4cCaiIvFLr9JNMboxnC55eN7DlHTTUZtOj5XmupHa841OPn4mI8MtP9LTzOHFadMr5CaQFrkr9u8lAdwFuWvsBOkRlK2ZWuLH6k-GfvM_9n2afjJizi7zF2TGZs5U/w640-h360/IMG_0917%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>Aspens, aspens everywhere.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzhz3xK8zkMTuIl2gbvCdBHmT_RQ8klCVTIfewMWwuVU4HrB6jtAQ-GNVFIYKxDy9WKQnjKCqNKblDTgpbw9ztPNpA9qal8TF4nNMvQ761FtE6gazPFMpGIfyp6fgFH8XufGX-gIO5Lzffiyqt1LDBuxhOxI84uZkrXjHw4ql4CzOLlQZNsM/s2880/IMG_0928%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="1620" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzhz3xK8zkMTuIl2gbvCdBHmT_RQ8klCVTIfewMWwuVU4HrB6jtAQ-GNVFIYKxDy9WKQnjKCqNKblDTgpbw9ztPNpA9qal8TF4nNMvQ761FtE6gazPFMpGIfyp6fgFH8XufGX-gIO5Lzffiyqt1LDBuxhOxI84uZkrXjHw4ql4CzOLlQZNsM/w360-h640/IMG_0928%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></div>Burn Hut, our fourth and last hut.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4QLN2zQluOOJ_W3CobwUktAGrVDuDF9_NQf_Ij72okYniLY3vKpoVTQKryY67r88ac7xdoL4c6QcJINkOHirAtfVXOOVaKegdIS9Bey3Tt_wzwFSjTfhOU7HA8gGO4pb5wQs9N9IuXl6OemY8BOetxRo9Zw1GIywIJDZOvOiiBskyBAbmhI/s2520/IMG_0935%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4QLN2zQluOOJ_W3CobwUktAGrVDuDF9_NQf_Ij72okYniLY3vKpoVTQKryY67r88ac7xdoL4c6QcJINkOHirAtfVXOOVaKegdIS9Bey3Tt_wzwFSjTfhOU7HA8gGO4pb5wQs9N9IuXl6OemY8BOetxRo9Zw1GIywIJDZOvOiiBskyBAbmhI/w640-h360/IMG_0935%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>Near Burn Hut.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAZkBtLAGPKMX0c9XZwGGahG7UnZLzVjewASfQFSOhmB0XyAPucl9b9xX02ZW1RHUcQ00W57UwONZRDwpx4ttyQR5pw1m917kz7NHUjxPHnFJLJAbm2t3Ky8RzRpiVg1KcDL0dW1fBkzxtlVJvqw1Ho1bh5b-pSEAIsbugBE0bdk5UGqKLcs/s2520/IMG_0938%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2520" data-original-width="1418" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAZkBtLAGPKMX0c9XZwGGahG7UnZLzVjewASfQFSOhmB0XyAPucl9b9xX02ZW1RHUcQ00W57UwONZRDwpx4ttyQR5pw1m917kz7NHUjxPHnFJLJAbm2t3Ky8RzRpiVg1KcDL0dW1fBkzxtlVJvqw1Ho1bh5b-pSEAIsbugBE0bdk5UGqKLcs/w360-h640/IMG_0938%20copy.heic" width="360" /></a></div>Roots and aspen leaves vie for sunlight.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFuhffjsfXuwi9OACNpyfmvwfrk9-mW4l9RhSobNx-iD7goxox7ZyV0BDX7FqikaxTaTswq0gj3CCnHF0B0QGdgHw-SIHh9ZalUU7HXk4IV1wwle6gfbw87SN5y3H_tZkqW8UNGGCZPKSElT98b3DQRY-gkQnmO6VebXKtqyaDXTXEAY2acg/s2520/IMG_0941%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFuhffjsfXuwi9OACNpyfmvwfrk9-mW4l9RhSobNx-iD7goxox7ZyV0BDX7FqikaxTaTswq0gj3CCnHF0B0QGdgHw-SIHh9ZalUU7HXk4IV1wwle6gfbw87SN5y3H_tZkqW8UNGGCZPKSElT98b3DQRY-gkQnmO6VebXKtqyaDXTXEAY2acg/w640-h360/IMG_0941%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>Approaching our final descent into the Uncompahgre Valley.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwgHw-EFYrSi3_e70ZpI1uSAHvtFy95G-huQL-T0p-JThvZSB1396kQ_6DA2xDATxOIKFPNZBGSBApmKdoPT_Dv7kT6sA255Wn0ESDb0WKBbO5BttNBIOPlwIHL3g6bXPH4SlS8FR0x0PTgQwo7iB1rsyB_um4G2-Y4UzcJpwHnR28fV3UGM/s2016/IMG_0954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2016" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwgHw-EFYrSi3_e70ZpI1uSAHvtFy95G-huQL-T0p-JThvZSB1396kQ_6DA2xDATxOIKFPNZBGSBApmKdoPT_Dv7kT6sA255Wn0ESDb0WKBbO5BttNBIOPlwIHL3g6bXPH4SlS8FR0x0PTgQwo7iB1rsyB_um4G2-Y4UzcJpwHnR28fV3UGM/w640-h360/IMG_0954.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Across the way, the San Juan volcanics sit atop a basement of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. We saw mining shacks at the contact of the two rock types.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiF-AVWiNMK6kkoro4KKxaBYQuXxQ3wIPReglz-FIYH_6a22fbDHsHUplqGdJZEk4FEkd9NHcf0BhRb1JgvBxVfz9wyoIm8i9WqAME0BIuvxYAldbMs7ZsqD4ch1S35Z4qPid9QCxbHXifwM6zwZ8dLI4VO1dQA3qGT_2KjsVG94M_nzxG8M/s2016/IMG_0958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2016" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiF-AVWiNMK6kkoro4KKxaBYQuXxQ3wIPReglz-FIYH_6a22fbDHsHUplqGdJZEk4FEkd9NHcf0BhRb1JgvBxVfz9wyoIm8i9WqAME0BIuvxYAldbMs7ZsqD4ch1S35Z4qPid9QCxbHXifwM6zwZ8dLI4VO1dQA3qGT_2KjsVG94M_nzxG8M/w640-h360/IMG_0958.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Colorful descent - this time in. rocks!<br /><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLOYSi3ko_2yTSJB1OFFvIW3-cynF8kC-HlRYbtbfA_UbEFQWB45TKF98n5nkVUmU-SsxmvUPLJ97BEjsCYG7p63V21hBSeWK3brYvODtorKQelHN5QAvkRmPhIJnVAZXgFm873wldq5FgjkwY02hgBuWWFXrWTj3YnH3E1t3fiRcEqaqtjc/s2520/IMG_0953%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLOYSi3ko_2yTSJB1OFFvIW3-cynF8kC-HlRYbtbfA_UbEFQWB45TKF98n5nkVUmU-SsxmvUPLJ97BEjsCYG7p63V21hBSeWK3brYvODtorKQelHN5QAvkRmPhIJnVAZXgFm873wldq5FgjkwY02hgBuWWFXrWTj3YnH3E1t3fiRcEqaqtjc/w640-h360/IMG_0953%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>As we descended below the San Juan volcanic rocks, the basement was composed of the Cutler Formation, a Pennsylvanian sandstone, shale and conglomerate that was shed off of the Ancestral Rocky Mountains.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhMQChccbIlWopsf4hgLDSFBfXdrrEdKz8igwomjmmANRWZaRpZGtxnGliYoHL69kQWRxKG9QP5U6LQE7gjDcpPsSaCbFWOU6YDgv1nJ1-pcXdkVPAAbxYAeZuHgp8kIIo0kf_eb7aMyGxQQ4RmdMcj9c2S6r2LVptaxTzkEAQtvrw0-TOq0/s2520/IMG_0963%20copy.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhMQChccbIlWopsf4hgLDSFBfXdrrEdKz8igwomjmmANRWZaRpZGtxnGliYoHL69kQWRxKG9QP5U6LQE7gjDcpPsSaCbFWOU6YDgv1nJ1-pcXdkVPAAbxYAeZuHgp8kIIo0kf_eb7aMyGxQQ4RmdMcj9c2S6r2LVptaxTzkEAQtvrw0-TOq0/w640-h360/IMG_0963%20copy.heic" width="640" /></a></div>A channel of very coarse conglomerate is set within floodplain mudstone and shale. A very good trip with great people and fantastic weather!</div></div>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-34609838772411799502022-08-30T15:49:00.012-07:002022-08-31T05:41:40.749-07:00From the Erzgebirge to Potosi<p>I heard from <a href="http://www.seandalyauthor.com/book.html" target="_blank">Sean Daly,</a> a mining geologist and author who has published a book called, "From the Erzgebirge to Potosi". He has written a poem that rests inside the front pages of the book and I include that poem here for your reading pleasure. The book looks very interesting for those who may want to better understand the development of mining and its boon to the development of society and civilization. You can visit his personal website <a href="http://www.seandalyauthor.com" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxUArfVnDF3JDUJsob1UmE-dWE99keKis3wnpKjVf9ePskHevx0djndzyBFVinYrYortvL5Mx0KYOkffTJ2ZeBLCnV2W17tS7_hXT7kyC6NX98vHNQ4Ofw4pIkPwObGMnLeEf4Mpd__q5rtX_QnGt4yMtgviWYVV5-edQs_h_7RxrofgZYvM/s2389/Scan_20220822.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2389" data-original-width="1782" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxUArfVnDF3JDUJsob1UmE-dWE99keKis3wnpKjVf9ePskHevx0djndzyBFVinYrYortvL5Mx0KYOkffTJ2ZeBLCnV2W17tS7_hXT7kyC6NX98vHNQ4Ofw4pIkPwObGMnLeEf4Mpd__q5rtX_QnGt4yMtgviWYVV5-edQs_h_7RxrofgZYvM/w480-h640/Scan_20220822.png" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOQCaVOr5AOelsY8K1XUOS6UZN3EXlQxqjgL_p_9EYXqAV2gy5pO6OsK49jGiYwmQZfUlBBEv2AmZvX40Je35FDb281deULewr8ci38KFX9fyHE67lMGRXMlt5MZOkxwCl-fYXKtjdWufpA_Z-udYPzA_k9JVs3OGbNExdUvPBWDAIS3uI84/s2578/Scan_20220822%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="1757" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOQCaVOr5AOelsY8K1XUOS6UZN3EXlQxqjgL_p_9EYXqAV2gy5pO6OsK49jGiYwmQZfUlBBEv2AmZvX40Je35FDb281deULewr8ci38KFX9fyHE67lMGRXMlt5MZOkxwCl-fYXKtjdWufpA_Z-udYPzA_k9JVs3OGbNExdUvPBWDAIS3uI84/w436-h640/Scan_20220822%20(2).png" width="436" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdycl0BLQxkbIsdqv_Th8wO5nuZuoAEhOqdf3WXB7ypaX3fY7rwq4GncI_IGjZb9wLIo5spW6Jwcjadq0uGx5QA5LiQPJUk9gHn2WBIGcUfkr8bnDBzWmbHcTZ9Lze6suEmsWUyIY3Fr9rs2cKyFjnvn4UolBRKdj3Tfz05j1Xeez_WZc83hQ/s2562/Scan_20220822%20(3).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2562" data-original-width="1757" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdycl0BLQxkbIsdqv_Th8wO5nuZuoAEhOqdf3WXB7ypaX3fY7rwq4GncI_IGjZb9wLIo5spW6Jwcjadq0uGx5QA5LiQPJUk9gHn2WBIGcUfkr8bnDBzWmbHcTZ9Lze6suEmsWUyIY3Fr9rs2cKyFjnvn4UolBRKdj3Tfz05j1Xeez_WZc83hQ/w438-h640/Scan_20220822%20(3).png" width="438" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-57599167190406698912022-08-17T15:06:00.126-07:002023-01-06T14:29:56.622-07:00Meteor Crater Like You've Never Seen It Before<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeiUFeAD3wTPsqcu1M1lZhFqp9pHChzyhPHy4TqbQnVD_jWYtmn3R3fSitS5GuRsWfb6am7J0Iy3XT9IiMzhVPTfG8ODAlW8ftUwaILebi1SndmqLi8qZoK0_BYX8pXeDiD8rP9LdhucF0gJoYOcmw4ScpkHnklcH3ylS5aiuagoDLufQmlc/s4032/IMG_0559.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeiUFeAD3wTPsqcu1M1lZhFqp9pHChzyhPHy4TqbQnVD_jWYtmn3R3fSitS5GuRsWfb6am7J0Iy3XT9IiMzhVPTfG8ODAlW8ftUwaILebi1SndmqLi8qZoK0_BYX8pXeDiD8rP9LdhucF0gJoYOcmw4ScpkHnklcH3ylS5aiuagoDLufQmlc/w640-h480/IMG_0559.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ejected and overturned Kaibab Formation sitting atop the younger Moenkopi Formation on the rim of <br />Meteor Crater. The sudden and violent impact peeled these layers backwards out of the impact site.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Northern Arizona is rich in geologic features including the Grand Canyon, the San Francisco Mountain composite volcano, Monument Valley, the Petrified Forest and Oak Creek Canyon. One other attraction that qualifies for this list is Meteor Crater, where a space rock the diameter of a football field slammed into the Earth's crust around 50,000 years ago. It excavated a hole 600 feet deep into the otherwise flat Coconino Plateau.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I have written on this blog about exclusive trips to the crater I have made </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>previously</span><span>.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> In 2010, I descended to the floor of the crater (not open to the public) with friend Drew Barringer, whose grandfather bought the property after determining that it was an impact crater. You can <a href="https://earthly-musings.blogspot.com/2010/12/ground-zero-hike-into-meteor-crater.html" target="_blank">view the images and the post here</a>, one of the most viewed posts I have written. And i</span><span style="font-size: medium;">n 2015, I circumambulated the rim of the crater </span><span style="font-size: medium;">with the geology alumni of Northern Arizona University. See the images, graphics and geologic map and cross-sections of the crater</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://earthly-musings.blogspot.com/2015/09/circum-ambulation-of-meteor-crater-at.html" target="_blank">in this post</a>. Both posts are very instructive in understanding the magnificent preservation of this young impact crater.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBRCmfjvUOkGBYAJ8ZsS8-ojYZSY_UljWRpPtKFg1bor_CgEisXPYIYl5v4-bIwN8lrKJUqXpPLKFVyOoL2X7h8_p_Cfnkws-dl0q_RUdY5RLO2Vos4906wXuHfUIK4jbVfJp7ddYTGVov3pE5l0290JKltNM08s_MlP7VOIwAXqiwAQmqHI/s4032/IMG_0557.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBRCmfjvUOkGBYAJ8ZsS8-ojYZSY_UljWRpPtKFg1bor_CgEisXPYIYl5v4-bIwN8lrKJUqXpPLKFVyOoL2X7h8_p_Cfnkws-dl0q_RUdY5RLO2Vos4906wXuHfUIK4jbVfJp7ddYTGVov3pE5l0290JKltNM08s_MlP7VOIwAXqiwAQmqHI/w640-h480/IMG_0557.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Panorama of Meteor Crater looking to the south</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Now, you too can visit Meteor Crater and hike around its entire rim with a geologic expert on impact craters! The Museum of Northern Arizona's Venture Program is offering a one day trip to the crater on Sunday September 18 from 9 AM to Noon. Participants traverse the rim trail with a scientist who knows it intimately. This trail is approximately 2.5 miles long and is not generally open to the public.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The trip will be led by <a href="https://www.lpi.usra.edu/science/kring/" target="_blank">Dr. David Kring</a>, a world-renowned geologist with NASA who trains astronauts in geologic studies. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">The link to sign-up for this trip can be accessed <a href="https://musnaz.org/travel/meteor-crater/" target="_blank">here</a></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14.666667px;">. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><u>Admission to Meteor Crater is included in the trip price.</u></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">A </span><span style="font-size: large;">trip </span><span style="font-size: large;">description is here:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Sunday, September 18, 2022 from 9:00 AM to Noon</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Join geologist Dr. David Kring on an up-close tour of the World's best preserved asteroid impact site, Meteor Crater.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Participants will get an unusually intimate tour of the impact site by one of its leading geologists. From several locations around the rim, guests will learn of early exploration efforts, the evidence that the creator was produced by a near-Earth astroid impact, the tremendous explosive energy of that cosmic impact, and how it has forced seemingly immovable rock to flow, nearly instantaneously, to excavate an extraordinary geological site.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>The trip will be led by Dr. Kring, who has been conducting research and leading training activities for NASA astronauts at the crater for about 30 years. He is also one of the well-known discoverers of the Chicxulub impact crater in Mexico, which he and others linked to the extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>The hike will be on the exposed rim of the crater and last approximately 2.5 hours. Please wear sturdy hiking shoes, wear sun protection, and bring water. Guess we'll be able to visit the Barringer Space Museum and bistro following the hiking tour. Participants will drive themselves to Meteor Crater. Please park in the lower lot labeled "Mars" and meet at 9 AM in the upper lot, near the building entrance.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Meteor Crater is located approximately 35 minutes east of Flagstaff, off of I-40 east exit 233.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you live anywhere near northern Arizona, don't miss this trip! An incredible opportunity awaits.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3m80y5YE5jNrIQrs30bGPgrWi-TL4X260nvs-TaNjvKZN6t0Ohm9GjlYPN--Xw-GENTgiy1AD-LW52yFeX9ihfTjBk-O7dh3rMnDRBth_IspWPRLIlL3AO3_lT16Fnb-aqMugWetjgnfyG5JZjR4IfW4aR-Kb-0oD6OPlHRbYNvhiDRCd8M/s3888/IMG_5020.JPG" style="background-color: #0c343d; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3m80y5YE5jNrIQrs30bGPgrWi-TL4X260nvs-TaNjvKZN6t0Ohm9GjlYPN--Xw-GENTgiy1AD-LW52yFeX9ihfTjBk-O7dh3rMnDRBth_IspWPRLIlL3AO3_lT16Fnb-aqMugWetjgnfyG5JZjR4IfW4aR-Kb-0oD6OPlHRbYNvhiDRCd8M/w640-h426/IMG_5020.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><i>The rim trail at Meteor Crater is not generally open to the public and gives a wonderful perspective <br />of the impact site. And going with an expert is a never to be forgotten experience</i>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-89074495624706136122022-08-03T13:41:00.009-07:002022-08-04T16:57:25.725-07:00Descending Into the Throat of a Young Iceland Cinder Cone<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQIaqyiIdLNw_MjeQBfgQoMLkbip-OMh9g4K1JzN5FX8Zc3VROlc_uQjlMlOEKpb62X7xtEh28XpouRkHHOsvrLs9imEBVuHMFxIlqXZTw8T34GSE3CQQaqvtFiYjWQjKNz-UE54ACi8uCGh136sdED01noQJoUHJsxOZ7zJzo7Hf4tf47wA/s2040/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-03%20at%2010.58.41%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1424" data-original-width="2040" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQIaqyiIdLNw_MjeQBfgQoMLkbip-OMh9g4K1JzN5FX8Zc3VROlc_uQjlMlOEKpb62X7xtEh28XpouRkHHOsvrLs9imEBVuHMFxIlqXZTw8T34GSE3CQQaqvtFiYjWQjKNz-UE54ACi8uCGh136sdED01noQJoUHJsxOZ7zJzo7Hf4tf47wA/w640-h446/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-03%20at%2010.58.41%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Screen capture the new fissure eruption taken August 3, 5:58 PM local Iceland time</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With news this morning of renewed fissure eruptions in Geldingadalir Iceland, I thought it would be fun and instructive to share photos and descriptions of a unique trip I </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">recently </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">completed in Iceland. On the trip</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">from July 7-17</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> I served as a geologic lecturer and interpreter for Smithsonian Journey's. Imagine my disappointment at missing this new activity by only a little more that two weeks. (I may go back). </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A live feed of the new eruption can be viewed </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCa4EMcWuoI" style="font-family: helvetica;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: helvetica;">.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg816S2vPxBZ7HKBfqRlSZxuNnF0O1u3bqF_XEf7wyxKIOyxau-e2vRCFc52SY1Jl--yvEpJroqviDVT9oc5CA63L2aZwVovjlU5FS3-UuCpKeLyhWz3AofpfBCBihX2uevxfj5KaUR7-OoXfh_vWUHQfzsdJb9x3hOlZz0b0ausdZUe8w3yk0/s2448/IMG_9261.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1723" data-original-width="2448" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg816S2vPxBZ7HKBfqRlSZxuNnF0O1u3bqF_XEf7wyxKIOyxau-e2vRCFc52SY1Jl--yvEpJroqviDVT9oc5CA63L2aZwVovjlU5FS3-UuCpKeLyhWz3AofpfBCBihX2uevxfj5KaUR7-OoXfh_vWUHQfzsdJb9x3hOlZz0b0ausdZUe8w3yk0/w640-h450/IMG_9261.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The Ericsjökull ice cap on the Ring Road to Reykjavik</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After touring the island with our Smithsonian guests for nine days, I had a free day while in the capital city of Reykjavik. A chance opportunity to go on a local tour known as "Inside the Volcano" popped up for me. I jumped on it! This is an excursion </span>a short drive out of Reykjavik <span style="font-family: helvetica;">where visitors descend about 150 meters through a narrow vent into an extinct cinder cone. Of course, I said yes to the opportunity.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJrErKIgmJ0nLqyL8gtURu1CZRpqCa0dGFk7LNNPw16kcyTvOI_pyPzMbdNZRAuuaxgsQgvFpltjyIpK6Ki-Xtx6I_kHhGrSf86YQ0VabiDovHGLxaYM9BuHCln9sOKmVcHZgBqye6jd-vHlo2MJjOa74HDgQm9q3_VASX--OnVKxUhDALxU/s4032/IMG_9375.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJrErKIgmJ0nLqyL8gtURu1CZRpqCa0dGFk7LNNPw16kcyTvOI_pyPzMbdNZRAuuaxgsQgvFpltjyIpK6Ki-Xtx6I_kHhGrSf86YQ0VabiDovHGLxaYM9BuHCln9sOKmVcHZgBqye6jd-vHlo2MJjOa74HDgQm9q3_VASX--OnVKxUhDALxU/w640-h360/IMG_9375.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing for the short walk</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After the 45-minute drive out of the city and toward an upland area, visitors are brought to a waiting room where they receive instructions and rain gear. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAj_6uGYC-HE-fkHjxc2WuZvaMOC8IIbw0_rTBrJomX7ez4Y8EejEM549eJacPAnlW2b17viSlxxq3647sU_wx8QXzj2jIRrvdx2AM_zfIH76s3OU2DjL-_4JGROBiHYsG9cDh7PG1MDO3u1_nnZp-suyYMW9PBrUrIABgqhgJMsLb4B9k_cI/s1516/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-03%20at%2012.59.53%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="1016" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAj_6uGYC-HE-fkHjxc2WuZvaMOC8IIbw0_rTBrJomX7ez4Y8EejEM549eJacPAnlW2b17viSlxxq3647sU_wx8QXzj2jIRrvdx2AM_zfIH76s3OU2DjL-_4JGROBiHYsG9cDh7PG1MDO3u1_nnZp-suyYMW9PBrUrIABgqhgJMsLb4B9k_cI/w428-h640/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-03%20at%2012.59.53%20PM.png" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>Cross-section of the volcanic neck (depths in meters) with the Statue of Liberty for scale</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was impressed with the signage inside the waiting room, which graphically explained the age, composition, and eruptive history of the volcano. A great resource for folks to understand the deeper story of the "thrill descent."</span></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImYo7GvPIENamEyaE9NcVajdHK-7t8hHGc_qo3FVDGbeyv7a-D95EeP3WnWoFNsvRkhesdgxQwxSOSq4_g8LPur2nkpABuBcP6FAYyRZ57qVVv8w7cNFM_2coifaucgWE8a2rtCu7UukRcYfGRm38Nqp2U6BqqV8-iN50KLL6ZUR6_JIEWUY/s4032/IMG_9370.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImYo7GvPIENamEyaE9NcVajdHK-7t8hHGc_qo3FVDGbeyv7a-D95EeP3WnWoFNsvRkhesdgxQwxSOSq4_g8LPur2nkpABuBcP6FAYyRZ57qVVv8w7cNFM_2coifaucgWE8a2rtCu7UukRcYfGRm38Nqp2U6BqqV8-iN50KLL6ZUR6_JIEWUY/w640-h360/IMG_9370.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The trail to <span style="text-align: left;">Ᵽrínúkagígur, two miles one way</span></span> </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The cone is called Ᵽrínúkagígur (</span>Ᵽrínúka C<span style="font-family: helvetica;">rater) and it was formed a</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">bout 4,500 years ago in a post-glacial eruption. Iceland classifies its younger volcanoes as glacial or post-glacial. </span>Ᵽrínúkagígur is one of three closely-spaced scoria cones (also called cinder or tephra cones) erupted along part of Iceland's southwest rift, part of the Brennisteinsfjöll (Sulphur Mountain) rift.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_RHFFFXdNrU1oYZvT4ETzsD4-WbvzX5oOwxUf25OZZPxL9qF1Xog--hRBfwEgBTPSokBpGE1UPsdrAwgP4F0suIKpZEgYHG_5bqXBYsnTyVrc9YhoRU4CHIdEuI1-uDXclQttbDgOljYRgFDInfboSi7brrjAVntyHsvfxyp0lXZr9IfRQU/s4032/IMG_9394.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_RHFFFXdNrU1oYZvT4ETzsD4-WbvzX5oOwxUf25OZZPxL9qF1Xog--hRBfwEgBTPSokBpGE1UPsdrAwgP4F0suIKpZEgYHG_5bqXBYsnTyVrc9YhoRU4CHIdEuI1-uDXclQttbDgOljYRgFDInfboSi7brrjAVntyHsvfxyp0lXZr9IfRQU/w640-h360/IMG_9394.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>The opening at the top of the cone</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Finally, we arrived at the opening to the volcano. The site was discovered and initially explored only about 20 years ago. Numerous studies were made to determine the advisability and safety of developing the site for visitors. The main concern was that in most scoria cone eruptions, the removal of magma in the terminal phase of an eruption causes the crest of the newly formed cone to collapse into a crater. It was determined that this cone did not collapse due to its relatively small size. The cavity that we would descend is bell-shaped.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzL44NNqurX_aeD_eebAVGFTQosnZ5NLDzACIpz_kfKgZiG3x3JFFBdfWxWIuBf_Ff2XoDwcirfh9Vl975D1K37O_rE4eNP9MRoJcIjYg2KuSTsCBlPm2kavTlP51KyaZRRaiDsJgc2jKFlW8kV511RWGwuDDYtplcEu6cReJmm1KDmlr3ztA/s4032/IMG_9397.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzL44NNqurX_aeD_eebAVGFTQosnZ5NLDzACIpz_kfKgZiG3x3JFFBdfWxWIuBf_Ff2XoDwcirfh9Vl975D1K37O_rE4eNP9MRoJcIjYg2KuSTsCBlPm2kavTlP51KyaZRRaiDsJgc2jKFlW8kV511RWGwuDDYtplcEu6cReJmm1KDmlr3ztA/w640-h360/IMG_9397.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Looking down after entering the cable car</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The descent takes about seven minutes. The cable car has rubber "runners" on its sides as it comes quite close to the walls. There is just enough room.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRsV3s-N_GHf5mIycUGvGh7T77tWC-bsrMqWfg00sYZhCx8macd5Oh8QDr45x5QsLXXpM0Eo7Bk4OnK7hiaYEZpCA608C1a2UDN8KiDik2q3mAh25_tLpZvVUcld8qlJX6mw_CfFxr0iCZeslC5a2MrViC1KLAJIvuIQBuVBOno1JMmuCNhE/s7134/IMG_9400.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7134" data-original-width="3868" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRsV3s-N_GHf5mIycUGvGh7T77tWC-bsrMqWfg00sYZhCx8macd5Oh8QDr45x5QsLXXpM0Eo7Bk4OnK7hiaYEZpCA608C1a2UDN8KiDik2q3mAh25_tLpZvVUcld8qlJX6mw_CfFxr0iCZeslC5a2MrViC1KLAJIvuIQBuVBOno1JMmuCNhE/w348-h640/IMG_9400.HEIC" width="348" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;">On the floor of the volcano l</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>ooking up to the surface opening </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On the way down we viewed multiple dikes that were feeding the surface lava eruptions. In the photo above, note the linear dike trending upwards toward the opening and a subsidiary dike above the person with with the purple jacket.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJkfOjVX4_SUiehUsMaJZe5PRa547__FvvdRtntMbfP29u4kqVF4SWoVQo0UMpsGxhd6ZmZt_dlUR8WeQJyJBa2N4UcFE-2LMBtAXlrlVmt-1hpZsbaDMoHe30WLjPpDNgK5TZenUb07GptiiVw6oUbMywNZQTa8OJnYkA7387GvWip2lqAk/s4032/IMG_9402.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJkfOjVX4_SUiehUsMaJZe5PRa547__FvvdRtntMbfP29u4kqVF4SWoVQo0UMpsGxhd6ZmZt_dlUR8WeQJyJBa2N4UcFE-2LMBtAXlrlVmt-1hpZsbaDMoHe30WLjPpDNgK5TZenUb07GptiiVw6oUbMywNZQTa8OJnYkA7387GvWip2lqAk/w640-h360/IMG_9402.heic" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Another party descending to the floor of the volcano</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The feature is well-visited and is well-organized for visitors. Three separate parties of about seven people each are rotated through the inside the volcano and cable car at any one time. </span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi220Z56YmbZQ7Cd-sZjGMDuzFcn-BZe2InNDttH25YniO_rtj3nM433Hwpc8TQPUzNg5FdF1puCLFQmme2JgmjYeB4I0euA0fCjHI8mtgXYy2KT9nw9xF3S5mD8LGtx1nTN23HzwQxkEKFpvyQ8jN0TiYxH95GArc8lBxKKUPysc7q00vX00s/s4032/IMG_9406.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi220Z56YmbZQ7Cd-sZjGMDuzFcn-BZe2InNDttH25YniO_rtj3nM433Hwpc8TQPUzNg5FdF1puCLFQmme2JgmjYeB4I0euA0fCjHI8mtgXYy2KT9nw9xF3S5mD8LGtx1nTN23HzwQxkEKFpvyQ8jN0TiYxH95GArc8lBxKKUPysc7q00vX00s/w360-h640/IMG_9406.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The trail marking the path on the volcano floor</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A loop trail over very coarse rubble can be made. This is not for the faint of heart - the lighting is low, the trail very rough and water constantly drips down from the roof making things slippery.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugpSoVKTO5t3CwPhBcEWgjfBnpmZObnAR4wMDi8HuwQbrX7R9RWFNBwYhRNDUCrm_UkfCmjW_uPO331tCddC_bzMEEURodM5ZFbE-t1dfRKvpaBhrDQd-vf_u-Z6sBrCtX1EJtEDo7yuVT_MxAzamd3N142y3Oh4TfbhHCkyvRK602ckLx1I/s4032/IMG_9410.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugpSoVKTO5t3CwPhBcEWgjfBnpmZObnAR4wMDi8HuwQbrX7R9RWFNBwYhRNDUCrm_UkfCmjW_uPO331tCddC_bzMEEURodM5ZFbE-t1dfRKvpaBhrDQd-vf_u-Z6sBrCtX1EJtEDo7yuVT_MxAzamd3N142y3Oh4TfbhHCkyvRK602ckLx1I/w360-h640/IMG_9410.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Note the person in white for scale</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The temperature is quite cold at about 38º F and many people found gloves useful on the trip. After 4500 years, the inside of the volcano has cooled sufficiently.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzP6OHgpa-yG6X6zcOWWT7g-WWrjKo41zWomGOQtbZYoIJ1nCH_Dw9u9JsLj6SU5PzHcWUUaQB72ll2PdkiLWIgtG3kpVln4tQnww-rz5_OKKU93MSkT2o42J6FabH5tPbn6sy_ztxp9f-dQkULDtT3qpwPCiuw_coJAaqapnKUjN1RWtCaoY/s4032/IMG_9412.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzP6OHgpa-yG6X6zcOWWT7g-WWrjKo41zWomGOQtbZYoIJ1nCH_Dw9u9JsLj6SU5PzHcWUUaQB72ll2PdkiLWIgtG3kpVln4tQnww-rz5_OKKU93MSkT2o42J6FabH5tPbn6sy_ztxp9f-dQkULDtT3qpwPCiuw_coJAaqapnKUjN1RWtCaoY/w360-h640/IMG_9412.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Dike swarm in the walls of the volcano </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The colors are due to the various states of oxidation adjacent to the dikes in the walls.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDYI7RuKPR5IXQGvGpXoLgZPhcmK8nCpxpsFv-S4U_14BMl4oabASw41Lrx849MTnGjjAL4jrz6fhauyky0EyImkGXz-xXOax6RwKa-7_fMX3T3qmBxWb0VxJEIg3OKPcTBPuONwnPeHzf95pRjFr62mnS-yXSpEGyYuq2ZD4DiMk394nJUw/s4032/IMG_9418.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDYI7RuKPR5IXQGvGpXoLgZPhcmK8nCpxpsFv-S4U_14BMl4oabASw41Lrx849MTnGjjAL4jrz6fhauyky0EyImkGXz-xXOax6RwKa-7_fMX3T3qmBxWb0VxJEIg3OKPcTBPuONwnPeHzf95pRjFr62mnS-yXSpEGyYuq2ZD4DiMk394nJUw/w360-h640/IMG_9418.heic" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Lavacicles form on the walls</i></span> </td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This was a very unique trip<span style="font-size: medium;">.</span> It is somewhat expensive being about $300 US per person. But it does include excellent and geologically literate guides, a bowl of hot, Icelandic meat soup in their kitchen near the volcano, hot tea and coffee, and heaps of fresh Icelandic air (and likely rain). See their website for more information <a href="https://insidethevolcano.com" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p><p></p>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-78319938397838818072022-07-20T06:29:00.179-07:002022-07-22T10:07:10.914-07:00A Review of "Unconformity" - A New Indie Film Featuring an Impressive Geology Theme<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRdupRdnv0lSGtLZ3Vtgqzh0dn-NZVpwy-yLvtnQKEGRc7hlCZVsPcavAWLLl_xSTztuSjsLO-5IfKLHrRPOTWtscKtgyVnRr4jq4yE0kymJy1ykslB5lOrDf6iDuHOObdHntRn4dWOx-kVXdeG3YVcrz0focaKIXZ3ubypWcLQ4vmMzVJYU/s1342/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-20%20at%205.39.37%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="896" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRdupRdnv0lSGtLZ3Vtgqzh0dn-NZVpwy-yLvtnQKEGRc7hlCZVsPcavAWLLl_xSTztuSjsLO-5IfKLHrRPOTWtscKtgyVnRr4jq4yE0kymJy1ykslB5lOrDf6iDuHOObdHntRn4dWOx-kVXdeG3YVcrz0focaKIXZ3ubypWcLQ4vmMzVJYU/w428-h640/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-20%20at%205.39.37%20AM.png" width="428" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>As a geologic educator who has been around since the latter quarter of the 20th Century (read 'ancient'), I occasionally receive requests to review books, articles and now, films, that contain </span><span>geologic themes. On July 11 of this year, I received an email asking if I would be interested in watching a new film and writing a </span><span><span>review </span><span>on this blog. I was skeptical at first but then I watched the film's opening and was hooked. That's what I call a good opening (described below). </span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">FYI - I am receiving no compensation of any kind in making this review.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now I do not claim to be any kind of a bonafide film critic and I have virtually no idea what to look for in reviewing a film. My wife is much more talented than I in seeing beyond the mere visuals of a film. I typically need every ounce of my energy just to keep up with the storyline and often need to ask her, 'which character is that'? (Let's not even discuss the plot or who is likely </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">the </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">villain in a "who dun it" film). </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Still, when Director Jonathan DiMaio allowed me to view his film, I found myself taken in by the story. I'm sure the primary reason is because of its geologic theme. Second perhaps is the side-story of public lands issues and the ways rural ranchers relate to the Bureau of Land Management. Third is because of the great acting that Alex Oliver presented, depicting a young PhD candidate struggling with issues of identity, purpose, and some of the darker aspects of academia. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1025" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90-TQuQ5TPGCm0JDDQ2KjLHCsJSGutVb9PZQAjkMSYbMwFbvwg1ZvdGQRadImgVp4ETECAgHgPD68Cp8LvPLkAra3XiQcYR8CeNMwUgGOO2T-Vg-j9Fi6DL1trMfrA4UKAxEc_ru0pkfEMDFU4EPTOHYsJL9V_EdHhMWqN3PeSOJMsRjVeSQ/w640-h422/Still3.png" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: georgia;">Actress Alex Oliver examines the Ediacaran fossil </i><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dickinsonia </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">after discovering it in Nevada<span style="font-size: medium;">. </span>Director Jonathan DiMaio used this fossil, to date only found in Australia, to depict an original scientific discovery in the plot of the film.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The trailer for the film can be viewed </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8--BwBzpaEM" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> gives just a few hints of the Basin and Range scenery that I felt could have been used more prominently in the full-length feature (I'm a sucker for landscapes depicted in film). One of the scenes shows a close-up of what I believe is the Ordovician Eureka Quartzite. Another is of a beautiful, tilted stack of central Nevada limestone. I would have loved to see more of that imagery sprinkled throughout the film but it is nonetheless there in short clips. Early Paleozoic limestone anyone?</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What initially drew me into the film was the opening credits where thin sections are shown rotating in cross-polarized light. Anyone who has ever taken an optical mineralogy class will view these opening scenes with remembrances of those fantastic, shifting colors. Non-geologists may be confused about what that imagery represents, but it is colorful and I found it mesmerizing. I was hooked from these scenes forward.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Which makes me wonder, will those who are not geoscientists be attracted to the film? There is a human story that is at the heart of the film that I would summarize as youth trying to find their way in a confusing world. Maybe there is some appeal to the film in that aspect. I was swept away in the film by the geologic theme, used as a backdrop to this human drama. If you do watch the film, and I recommend that you do for a mere $3 on Amazon, please let me know what you think.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As of now, the movie is available to rent in the US. You can find it <a href="https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0SF4BRLU2391543ZTLL1WUURJG/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r">on Amazon.</a> Toward the end of the year, it will be available worldwide (except for a few autocracies) on various platforms, some of which are "free" and ad driven. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When was the last time the Neoproterozoic was featured in an American film? Let's go to the movies!</span></p>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19032021.post-61493744572429975102022-05-07T06:17:00.005-07:002022-05-07T06:19:38.015-07:00Private Jet Adventure Over the American Southwest<p>The story and video that was posted here yesterday has moved to my personal blog site, <a href="https://all-in-a-days-karma.blogspot.com" target="_blank">All In A Day's Karma</a>. Google changed some functions on its platform and I am still learning to navigate the changes. Sorry for any confusion. However...</p><p>It's been awhile since I posted something here. I've been busy on lot's of trips. One was a Private Jet adventure over parts of the American Southwest. Here are a few photos from the trip.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2D51ZHj5cYhfyi7QzfyWGud9r__9w8E0fEh29PrGpkuMcjqQtO__GH4BH4_jn_CrUoNOhDSiEr5Q2pRtPeyLfDRrBkQOFT5mZFL2-qx5HAX0HEF3TjIpHM7JAkKYqkYAGqKxkBaNvj-HlO7kMND1ylOT9gSCRmkTd5w8b40nmwjAWfjOhCOU/s4032/IMG_7061.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2D51ZHj5cYhfyi7QzfyWGud9r__9w8E0fEh29PrGpkuMcjqQtO__GH4BH4_jn_CrUoNOhDSiEr5Q2pRtPeyLfDRrBkQOFT5mZFL2-qx5HAX0HEF3TjIpHM7JAkKYqkYAGqKxkBaNvj-HlO7kMND1ylOT9gSCRmkTd5w8b40nmwjAWfjOhCOU/w640-h360/IMG_7061.heic" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">The Sonoma California coast</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrfjrsYFnu9MWkuynQuyaFZv6C1rQiuJ-SzANTRNYmcDV1uPMdOPHmuFbESLhOq1oWloqZdyJ3OBsYoWLzX73YCHrfo7aYdBgCQwTnnSYTL_AQ-RV6Qr3QPHqyM52NVEcX9I-eghjwcP715KO6Mzwjgt2cmji8KOJqMuKPBq8PwZtW7nAafE/s4032/IMG_7088.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrfjrsYFnu9MWkuynQuyaFZv6C1rQiuJ-SzANTRNYmcDV1uPMdOPHmuFbESLhOq1oWloqZdyJ3OBsYoWLzX73YCHrfo7aYdBgCQwTnnSYTL_AQ-RV6Qr3QPHqyM52NVEcX9I-eghjwcP715KO6Mzwjgt2cmji8KOJqMuKPBq8PwZtW7nAafE/w640-h360/IMG_7088.heic" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Mono Lake California </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2Cp0hMiD3vswRxIX7cBfRrZ2DeRbluO31T915yIuGB4AJ9TYgXrwGaFW4NJqIYEnnAr7fUJx9bRXGaqOXpEwvKUShHfg2YORY985382RhXY7ieIpHACAw3Zr3Vz954BRQ6n6JoshciS7AKXfYE70mPLwrZNslnNmOcgNoO12EhO_JAZP5B8/s4032/IMG_7105.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2Cp0hMiD3vswRxIX7cBfRrZ2DeRbluO31T915yIuGB4AJ9TYgXrwGaFW4NJqIYEnnAr7fUJx9bRXGaqOXpEwvKUShHfg2YORY985382RhXY7ieIpHACAw3Zr3Vz954BRQ6n6JoshciS7AKXfYE70mPLwrZNslnNmOcgNoO12EhO_JAZP5B8/w640-h360/IMG_7105.heic" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Frenchman Mountain Nevada</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju28WNGSg2ipqK2btafFsFT-jzdUDne7VJ-4RhUl7faFQp4EyCDI2h9ISuB8LBJbG82eAAAgOY41V7KiASxKXZSzq1uP9CuYHEy-S8rLtphub1gcILKlvDSjbBmtgWS1n6M-WTduD28EtLvVJryepbkpQu1OF3Yaf1PKYBg9FLy_BeypeFNMA/s4032/IMG_7336.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju28WNGSg2ipqK2btafFsFT-jzdUDne7VJ-4RhUl7faFQp4EyCDI2h9ISuB8LBJbG82eAAAgOY41V7KiASxKXZSzq1uP9CuYHEy-S8rLtphub1gcILKlvDSjbBmtgWS1n6M-WTduD28EtLvVJryepbkpQu1OF3Yaf1PKYBg9FLy_BeypeFNMA/w640-h360/IMG_7336.heic" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Where the San Juan river (bottom) meets the Colorado River (top) now under the Powell reservoir, looking west</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFkqFexIUGrziSRuLM_m_LeCnXfq6IEhThVY5OCRsoUZyOjRvVCEyzY3YTzfzDBM0G6dx0hFhc-nkaq8Io77w46MI-5_CmNEZYjKaqNVvBgN35PicRsvg7mGSwgxuUSzJBgjGbedt6aQRlP_-_euBppdX7R07I3air0aSRariyONKqc2rJFc/s4032/IMG_7386.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFkqFexIUGrziSRuLM_m_LeCnXfq6IEhThVY5OCRsoUZyOjRvVCEyzY3YTzfzDBM0G6dx0hFhc-nkaq8Io77w46MI-5_CmNEZYjKaqNVvBgN35PicRsvg7mGSwgxuUSzJBgjGbedt6aQRlP_-_euBppdX7R07I3air0aSRariyONKqc2rJFc/w640-h360/IMG_7386.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Salt Valley Utah</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_3uC1Pm1tVdBQ6yElxUTQ2pzXHmIVSJ_ErPpAHoWH1l2mCCdkQMhz7sqtbx26dbEmLMzmz5F9ecRiukgv5wk-lenpvBZ4vPaGcMbXI4Crg6O8UbTyVsLyTTiDA2aiNoubH0ZIIRoLXCA0JYCByrDl290odmWA_DxPggPirvjdccUNghOxy8/s4032/IMG_7417.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_3uC1Pm1tVdBQ6yElxUTQ2pzXHmIVSJ_ErPpAHoWH1l2mCCdkQMhz7sqtbx26dbEmLMzmz5F9ecRiukgv5wk-lenpvBZ4vPaGcMbXI4Crg6O8UbTyVsLyTTiDA2aiNoubH0ZIIRoLXCA0JYCByrDl290odmWA_DxPggPirvjdccUNghOxy8/w640-h360/IMG_7417.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Grand Mesa Colorado</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVxoo7faHujbXlxrZNsC39lOS-UnNGodRPltTyGofajJoV9CP95dGm-phcQVd4v3jmbC6vtfYHmCaSzELdVTOQA6nZAlwL8zL1f_e1CRDNmCM0vy24E4JvK-6GNB3FjJrsVRSmXJDPAnHfPX72RyyFZWk1iAfehceT0xrjhUlIkHOnEMR4fE/s4032/IMG_7424.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVxoo7faHujbXlxrZNsC39lOS-UnNGodRPltTyGofajJoV9CP95dGm-phcQVd4v3jmbC6vtfYHmCaSzELdVTOQA6nZAlwL8zL1f_e1CRDNmCM0vy24E4JvK-6GNB3FjJrsVRSmXJDPAnHfPX72RyyFZWk1iAfehceT0xrjhUlIkHOnEMR4fE/w640-h360/IMG_7424.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Black Canyon of the Gunnison River Colorado</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPWz4KmGG1QAW-xK8MJ7tEm3RehKaBYeIoiEjgx6YvILiIvJzTaWfROx6WE4wxAs4-rUpXWQPWuhTLR7dvrXUfyEvObHrd8Kf_7aiucOzws3YZyib0cn-r9whYunqOYJURx5AAeRRgRCTjFRQj6G4O3baH6umWZ8EaALiBlQEVhQEAHRoJk8/s4032/IMG_7509.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPWz4KmGG1QAW-xK8MJ7tEm3RehKaBYeIoiEjgx6YvILiIvJzTaWfROx6WE4wxAs4-rUpXWQPWuhTLR7dvrXUfyEvObHrd8Kf_7aiucOzws3YZyib0cn-r9whYunqOYJURx5AAeRRgRCTjFRQj6G4O3baH6umWZ8EaALiBlQEVhQEAHRoJk8/w640-h360/IMG_7509.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Charcoal kilns, Ted Turner's Rancho Vermejo New Mexico</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-3EHlVHvXgcwPJpJbzdQ5aGdSoxUrR2iZRAr87-fBwq65SakIM-lBy3nYp5WP5-ltMX5Z2qUX_mZyNAiyzEVJ_WQxCNwKTbajj-yt1DrXHwAeNBmHRQ-iZ6nIzg9GxijmCRi8ijQ1SfmdPX_subIDAUt6QwqQdcAVJSO45uZ4VM1qaY24S4/s4032/IMG_7519.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-3EHlVHvXgcwPJpJbzdQ5aGdSoxUrR2iZRAr87-fBwq65SakIM-lBy3nYp5WP5-ltMX5Z2qUX_mZyNAiyzEVJ_WQxCNwKTbajj-yt1DrXHwAeNBmHRQ-iZ6nIzg9GxijmCRi8ijQ1SfmdPX_subIDAUt6QwqQdcAVJSO45uZ4VM1qaY24S4/w640-h360/IMG_7519.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Ted Turner's Rancho Vermejo New Mexico</div>Wayne Ranneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15571579037328414935noreply@blogger.com1