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Dave Beedon | profile | all galleries >> Places >> Utah >> Moab (environs) >> Shafer Trail >> Shafer Trail: Cross-Country Descent to the Colorado River >> River Hike, Part 2: The Bench tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

River Hike, Part 1: Descent to River Bench | River Hike, Part 2: The Bench | River Hike, Part 3: Amphitheater | River Hike, Part 4: The Return

River Hike, Part 2: The Bench

The mouth of the dry canyon opened up onto a level rock bench that ran parallel
to the bank of the Colorado River. Here's a view from Shafer Trail, looking
southeast: ( https://pbase.com/listorama/image/52557553 ). I followed this
bench northward over bedrock and dirt colored orange, red, and purple. Boulders
taller than I littered the ground. The river was always in view about 300 feet
(90m) away, muddy but quiet. Lizards darted across the ground as I approached.
An occasional bird flew above. The warm sun felt good. I felt good.
This is what I saw on the bench...
.
Canyon mouth and descent slope
Canyon mouth and descent slope		 Colorful rock bench
Colorful rock bench		 Evidence of animals
"Evidence" of animals		 Layers and swirls: a work of art
Layers and swirls: a work of art
Fanciful erosion (shadow about one foot [30cm] tall )
Fanciful erosion (shadow about one foot [30cm] tall )		 Looking northwest at Shafer Trail
Looking northwest at Shafer Trail		 Paintbrush blossoms and stones of mystery
Paintbrush blossoms and stones of mystery		 Homage to red (paintbrush)
Homage to red (paintbrush)
The Fateful Decision (northeast slope of The Gooseneck)
The Fateful Decision (northeast slope of The Gooseneck)		 Hey, bud!
Hey, bud!		 River bench, river cliff, DHPSP
River bench, river cliff, DHPSP		 The airplane that was
The airplane that was
Boulders, bedrock, cliffs, river, and tamarisk
Boulders, bedrock, cliffs, river, and tamarisk		 White Rim sandstone, relocated (downward)
White Rim sandstone, relocated (downward)		 River bench, looking south
River bench, looking south		 Depression on the bench
Depression on the bench
White vehicle on Shafer Trail
White vehicle on Shafer Trail		 Evidence of flowing water, just like on Mars
Evidence of flowing water, just like on Mars		 Forward past the boulders!
Forward past the boulders!		 Remnant of desert varnish on a boulder
Remnant of desert varnish on a boulder
Fateful Decision re-affirmed
Fateful Decision re-affirmed		 Two levels
Two levels		 2006-04-13: My version of The Color Purple
2006-04-13: My version of "The Color Purple"		 Animal trails
Animal trails
Lonely White Rim boulder by the Colorado River
Lonely White Rim boulder by the Colorado River		 More early-stage cactus buds
More early-stage cactus buds		 Getting closer to the amphitheater (around the corner)
Getting closer to the amphitheater (around the corner)		 Looking back at where I've been
Looking back at where I've been
My highway
My highway		 Philosophy of drooling
Philosophy of drooling		 Form, texture, and color
Form, texture, and color		 I smell an amphitheater
I smell an amphitheater
Can cattle appreciate geologic beauty?
Can cattle appreciate geologic beauty?		 Boulder, grass, and tamarisk
Boulder, grass, and tamarisk

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