September 23, 2007

September 23, 2007

It rained all night and it is very cloudy this morning in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. It is also cold. A big change from the desert of Moab, UT. There is also more vegetation but not a lot more. Mixed in with the junipers and pinons are some shrubby type of oak tree. I would think that this was a freakish cold front except these oaks are turning color. I know that this is Mother Nature’s way of telling me that colder weather is coming and we need to head south and soon.

Before we do we are going to see the Black Canyon. We first stop at the visitor center to watch the movie and get oriented. We then make our way up the short scenic drive along the canyon rim. The Black Canyon is very deep, very narrow and comprised of very dark, hard granite-type rock. A nice change from the red sandstone canyons of Utah. This canyon was carved by the Gunnison River far below. Even 2000 feet above we can hear the roar of whitewater. We stop at most of the vista points. I am a little disappointed that there are no trails down to the shoreline but the canyon walls are almost vertical. Aimee is not disappointed. She doesn’t like hiking in cold, rainy weather. She stays in the RV and makes us hot chocolate. Something she couldn’t do if we were car tourists. It is nice traveling with your kitchen in the trunk.

We stop for lunch at one of the overlooks. I find some particularly colorful lichens that look like modern art. We then leave the park and head south. As we do the rain picks up again and it looks like it isn’t going to quit anytime soon. So we stop for the day at a private park south of Montrose, CO. We make popcorn and watch a DVD movie. We are hoping for drier, sunnier weather tomorrow.