Bristlcone Trail & Bryce Museum

6/26/2010


While waiting for Diane's mail we decided to do some more site seeing and get some much needed exercise. We drove up to this overview and picked up this trail head for our exercise and enjoyment. This is a bristlcone pines. These trees thrive where few plant can grow at the windiest point of the trail, on bare rocky ground, this bristlcone has lasted more than 1,600 years. Bristlcone pines can survive prolong drought. When branches and portions of the trunk appear dead, other limbs may function as the main trunk. This bristlcone's trunk has been dead a long time, while a surviving branch has become the new tree. I know this tree looks like it is dead, the the sign says otherwise. This is another bristlcone pine, that is much more healthy. They have what is called a "fox tail branch". Diane comes across this ponderosa pine, with this interesting bark pattern. Leave it to Diane to take a close-up picture of the bark on a tree. As We continue our hike we take in some of the impressive views that Bryce Canyon has to offer. We both feel that Bryce Canyon Park rates right behind the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for breathtaking views. After our hike we must.....stop at this section of the road to capture the hill side of blue flowers. Oh look, some pronghorn with their babies, better find a place to turn around and go back to capture their picture! Oh look, a mountain lion sitting beside the road, better find a spot to turn around and capture his picture! I get tired of having to turn around every time Diane sees some animal she wants a picture of. Actually we decided to check out this wildlife museum. Ok here we are at the wild life museum that is located a few miles outside of the Park. Exotic grasshopper from somewhere around the world.

We go inside to see what it is about. We met the owner who claims to have shot most of the wild life in the museum and had it all mounted for display. Then he built this huge building along the highway to display it in. He says he is ready to sell the place and buy a yacht and sail around the world, and then buy a Motor home and drive around the US.Butterfly from Madagascar. Out of 1600 butterflies, Diane liked this one the best. I told Diane to take a picture of the outside of the building, but she must not have been listening to me. And I can't believe she didn't take a over all picture of all the wild life inside. Outside the wildlife museum there are some deer called Fallow from Europe that the guy is raising and selling. You can hand feed them, which is right up Diane's alley. At first, just a couple come up to the fence. Next thing you know there are twenty or more fighting for a place in line. Diane says, " see the babies... take a picture of them". This is a view of the mountains across the highway from the wildlife museum.