National Monument Slam — Idaho and Utah

By Glen Bruels
This is part of a series called National Park Slam 2015
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Well, it’s September, so it must be time to take the rig out on the road.  On this trip we hope to visit friends and check on our house in Colorado, fish with Glen’s former partners in Wyoming, and visit as many national parks and monuments in the Dakotas and Montana as we can while on the road.  Since we had a target date to get to our friends’ house, this first part of the trip was pretty compressed, making stops in Idaho and Utah, and then traveling into Colorado.  We joked that it was quite generous of the National Park Service to put so many national monuments so close to the interstates we traveled on, but I guess it makes sense.  The natural and cultural sites we visited either caused or used natural lines of communication that later became paved roads — and ultimately interstates.

As usual, Deb and I shared the driving and Deb only got seriously concerned once as we attempted an overland “shortcut.”  Lots to see, do, and learn!

Our first stop was at the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. This area was protected because it represents one of the richest paleontological sites in the US, with a continuous, undisturbed stratigraphic record going back over 500,000 years. It also has a great concentration of guys like the one in the picture -- the Hagerman Horse, which appears to be a link between prehistoric and modern horses.
Our first stop was at the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. This area was protected because it represents one of the richest paleontological sites in the US, with a continuous, undisturbed stratigraphic record going back over 500,000 years. It also has a great concentration of guys like the one in the picture — the Hagerman Horse, which appears to be a link between prehistoric and modern horses.
They have also found a number of mastodons.
They have also found a number of mastodons.
But the one I would have missed on the test was this guy -- the North American Camel! He was bigger than modern camels, standing about 10 feet at the shoulder and weighing about 1500 pounds.
But the one I would have missed on the test was this guy — the North American Camel! He was bigger than modern camels, standing about 10 feet at the shoulder and weighing about 1500 pounds.
Our next stop was much more sobering -- the Minidoka National Historic Site. This was one of 10 relocation centers where nearly 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans were shipped after being taken from their homes and lives, shortly after Pearl Harbor. Much of the site is gone, but there have been efforts to preserve and restore some of the buildings as a reminder of what we are capable of doing to minority groups when we are fearful.
Our next stop was much more sobering — the Minidoka National Historic Site. This was one of 10 relocation centers where nearly 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans were shipped after being taken from their homes and lives, shortly after Pearl Harbor. Much of the site is gone, but there have been efforts to preserve and restore some of the buildings as a reminder of what we are capable of doing to minority groups when we are fearful.
This camp received people from Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. Families, often with only what they could carry with them, lived for years in these large communal barracks in very harsh living conditions.
This camp received people from Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. Families, often with only what they could carry with them, lived for years in these large communal barracks in very harsh living conditions.
One of the entrances.
One of the entrances.
Privacy was non-existent, but people tried to make the best of their situation and maintain some level of family and community life within the barbed wire and armed guard shacks.
Privacy was non-existent, but people tried to make the best of their situation and maintain some level of family and community life within the barbed wire and armed guard shacks.
The Honor Roll recognizes the Japanese Americans who served in the US military during WWII. A sad chapter in our history...
The Honor Roll recognizes the Japanese Americans who served in the US military during WWII. A sad chapter in our history…
From the camp, we headed over to Twin Falls, ID to look at the Snake River Gorge.
From the camp, we headed over to Twin Falls, ID to look at the Snake River Gorge.
People routinely jump off the bridge and parachute to the bottom. It's actually legal to do this!
People routinely jump off the bridge and parachute to the bottom. It’s actually legal to do this!

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Here's a close-up. Yup, this is the ramp that Evel Knievel unsuccessfully attempted to jump the 1600 foot wide Snake River canyon on his rocket cycle in 1974!
Here’s a close-up. Yup, this is the ramp that Evel Knievel unsuccessfully attempted to jump the 1600 foot wide Snake River canyon on his rocket cycle in 1974!
We then drove over to the City of Rocks National Reserve. The area, which features a lot of spire rock formations, was a waypoint along the California Trail. In fact, at the height of emigration, in 1852, over 52,000 people passed through City of Rocks on the way to the goldfields of California. These are replicas of some of the wagons that passed this way.
We then drove over to the City of Rocks National Reserve. The area, which features a lot of spire rock formations, was a waypoint along the California Trail. In fact, at the height of emigration, in 1852, over 52,000 people passed through City of Rocks on the way to the goldfields of California. These are replicas of some of the wagons that passed this way.
Some people stayed and others offered services to the people passing through.
Some people stayed and others offered services to the people passing through.
The rock formations reminded us of a cross between those in Yosemite and the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.
The rock formations reminded us of a cross between those in Yosemite and the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.
Early graffitti from the travelers.
Early graffitti from the travelers.
Lots of very cool formations...
Lots of very cool formations…
... and panoramas!
… and panoramas!
Deb recording the beauty for posterity.
Deb recording the beauty for posterity.
It turns out that City of Rocks is very popular with climbers. Here is a climber enjoying a rest...
It turns out that City of Rocks is very popular with climbers. Here is a climber enjoying a rest…
... after climbing this little spire. No thanks!
… after climbing this little spire. No thanks!
So as not to retrace our steps, we took a "short cut" out of the back side of the park. After riding around 20 miles through increasingly wildnerness areas, Deb started to get a little nervous. Deb: "Where the hell are we??!!" We had no idea where we were, but we were making great time!
So as not to retrace our steps, we took a “short cut” out of the back side of the park. After riding around 20 miles through increasingly wildnerness areas, Deb started to get a little nervous. Deb: “Where the hell are we??!!” We had no idea where we were, but we were making great time!
Glen: "We're on an adventure!" Needless to say, our short cut took about 50 miles out of our way -- but we saw some beautiful countryside!
Glen: “We’re on an adventure!” Needless to say, our short cut took about 50 miles out of our way — but we saw some beautiful countryside!
We then went to Dinosaur National Monument, which spans Utah and Colorado. This is an amazing place! The highlight is the Carnegie Quarry where over 1500 dinosaur fossils are visible in the partially excavated cliff face.
We then went to Dinosaur National Monument, which spans Utah and Colorado. This is an amazing place! The highlight is the Carnegie Quarry where over 1500 dinosaur fossils are visible in the partially excavated cliff face.
What is really cool is that they actually let you touch some of the bones.
What is really cool is that they actually let you touch some of the bones.
After the quarry, we took we hiked one of the trails to see some examples of fossils in situ!
After the quarry, we took we hiked one of the trails to see some examples of fossils in situ!
Deb setting the pace.
Deb setting the pace.
These are actually fossils of clam shells. Yeah, I don't see them either...
These are actually fossils of clam shells. Yeah, I don’t see them either…
Some amazing colors in the canyons.
Some amazing colors in the canyons.
And also a large number of petroglyphs -- some at road level and others, like these, higher up along the cliff wall.
And also a large number of petroglyphs — some at road level and others, like these, higher up along the cliff wall.
More.
More.
And even more!
And even more!
This is the Josie Bassett Morris Ranch. Josie built this place in 1914 and lived there alone for the next 50 years, raising livestock and crops to subsist on. Pretty amazing!
This is the Josie Bassett Morris Ranch. Josie built this place in 1914 and lived there alone for the next 50 years, raising livestock and crops to subsist on. Pretty amazing!

 

This entry was posted in Idaho, National Park/Monument, Travel, United States, Utah
Glen Bruels

I am a traveler and sometimes clay sculptor, following a long career working in consulting. My work allowed me to travel the world extensively and I was hooked. Today, I travel with my wife/best friend to explore new places, meet new people, and learn new things.

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