More Bryce Shots

Here's a row of fins at Bryce (this post should probably have been entered earlier, putting it below the previous one). The fins are caused by erosion, mostly by rain and the freeze thaw cycle, which occurs about 200 days a year here; the erosion processes separate harder rock from softer material, and wedge similar pieces of rock apart when water freezes and expands as it becomes ice. Further erosion will divide the fins up into individual hoodoos. The pine and fir trees nestling between the fins add contrast to the scene; I'm always surprised to see them in what otherwise looks like a desert environment. Bryce is quite dry as only 15-20 inches of precipitation fall per year, but its elevation of 7500-9100 feet keeps temperatures cool, allowing the conifers to thrive.

A wider shot of the fins above reveals a couple of windows in the rock to the right. No, Bill Gates didn't invent these particular windows, they're just another byproduct of erosion.

This is a skyline shot as a thunderstorm approaches. I had hiked a little way down into the canyon when I took this picture. Would have gone farther, but aside from The Lizard the other thing I forgot to take along on the trip was an umbrella! Notice another window on the far right.