Capitol Reef Album--Scenic Drive

Capitol Reef Album--Deer near camp grounds

Tasty bush

Capitol Reef Album--Canyons

Capitol Wash

Capitol Wash varnish

Grand Wash

Grand Wash narrows

Capitol Reef Album--Sunset on the reef

Capitol Reef Album--Hickman Natural Bridge hike

Capitol Reef Album--Us

Capitol Reef Album--Huge old Cottonwoods

By Fremont River

6 feet in diameter

Capitol Reef Album--Interesting plants

Little bush with holly-like leaves

Brigham Bush--pioneers used it to make tea

Small Pinyon Pine with 2 cones

Capitol Reef Album--Fall colors at Kosharem

Capitol Reef camping

Wendy and I and Michael and Brian went to Capitol Reef NP for the first three days of this week.  We camped in the camp ground in the midst of the old fruit orchard Monday and Tuesday nights.  Some of the things we did:
*Hiked to Hickman Natural Bridge
*Petroglyphs on cliffs along the river
*Drove down the Scenic Drive (10 miles along the west face of the Reef)
*Drove to the end of Capitol Wash, then hiked a mile or so into the wash to see some more petroglyphs and also what they call the Pioneer Registry
*Hiked half of Grand Wash and then drove around to the other end to pick up Brian and Michael who hiked all the way through. 
*Hiked to Sunset Point to see the sunset on the west side of the reef.
*Enjoyed:
    The clear Utah-blue sky
    The red cliffs
    The yellow leaves (especially whole mountain-sides of Aspen–best near Koosharem)
    Some massive old cottonwood trees
    100s of deer
    The isolation and stillness
    Pretty little river in the Park–the Fremont
    Ancient fruit trees
    Good conversations with Michael and Brian.
    Lunch at Café Diablo (SW cuisine-#1 rated restaurant in Torrey, out of 12)
    Hamburgers at Slacker’s Burger Joint (#2 rated restaurant out of 12)
    Finding out I could still camp and hike (well, while taking lots of rest stops)