USA

Kennecott's Mine, Orem

The morning was occupied with pieces of housework of which a laundry and, the washing of my truck before leaving Salt Lake City. I had plan to visit Kennecott's Mine, largest and deepest open pit  in the world visible from the moon. Alas when I arrived the Visitor Center was closed for Winter Season… I continued my road up to Orem to bivouac at Wal-Mart.

Kennecott's Mine by Google Earth	Entrance

En route, Price

The following day was one driving day  without interest with a lunch pause on a rest area exposing a replica of a rotunda of railroad with interpretative panels. Then I crossed a pass at more 2200m high. Once again I bivouacked at Wal-Mart.

Landscape, Hwy #15

Rotonda of railroad

Landscape, Hwy #6

Hwy #6, rest area at 49 km southwards

Before leaving the Wal-Mart carpark during the inspection of my truck I noticed a fatty stain under the left diesel tank. By lowering me I observed drops at the level of the drain plug under the tank. Anxious I leave the tools and I checked the tightening of the plug. Actually the leak came from a connection above the tank, but why! I decided to leave and stop at the first rest area for a fuller investigation. At 49 km southwards from Price a surface accommodated me. Curiously there was no more leak, this was due to altitude. I tightened despite everything connection, to follow. Weather being mild and rest area quiet,  I decided to do my truck serviced, in particular anti-rust paint on the back bar anti-embedding and in various places. I lunched around 1 p.m. Around 2 p.m. I decided to bivouac on the spot at 1700 m high. Around 5 p.m. I attended an exceptional sunset, during few seconds the landscape flared up, unforgettable.

Sunset

Arches National Park

While arriving in the latef afternoon at Arches National Park, second visit, I discovered at Visitor Center weather forecasting for the end of the week, disastrous. A true weather on November 11th,  Veterans Day. I quickly revisited, on themove towards the campground, Windows and Delicate Arch from Lower view point. The night was very windy.

North Window	South Window

Turret Arch	Delicate Arch

I wanted to make again the walks on April 14th, 2011, follow the hyperlink above. Alas I noted that the swiftness of my legs was not with go, osteoarthritis had not only progressed but it had also reached hips and wrists. As Pierre Dac says in the Marrowbone, "With the age stiffnesses move". Admittedly the weather was rainy and maybe with snow. However thus I traversed not the Primitive Trail at Devils Garden and I was not going to see behind Delicate Arch. Nevertheless I took pleasure to walk, more slowly. There were some beautiful breaks between two downpours to take pictures. While walking in showers, I remembered an excursion in Dolpo, Nepal. It was years ago!

Sunrise at 8 a.m.

Landscape Arch	Partition Arch

Navajo Arch

Landscape at 10 a.m.

North & South Windows	Turret Arch

Tree in sand	Snake!

Delicate Arch from upper viewpoint at 3 p.m.	Delicate Arch from lower viewpoint at 4.30 p.m.

Canyonlands National Park

Weather forecasting was always also bad. I made a short half-day stop in Canyonlands NP where I had taken walks on April 13th, 2011. The sun briefly appeared around 2 p.m. to light Upheaval Dome then the sky became again sinks and snow started to fall at 3 p.m. O'Clock. I spent the night at Willow Flat Campground. For the weekend of the Veterans Day, the entry in the park was free but not the campground.

Green River overlook

Upheaval Dome

Grand View Point

On Sunday morning the landscape was whiter than white… As of 8 a.m. I went on foot to admire Green River in low-angled light. Then I revisited the sites seen the day before under a slightly buckled morning sun. I left Canyonlands NP around 11 a.m. to lunch in Moab and to read my e-mailbox before heading on Hwy #191.

Green River at 8 a.m.	Green River at 9.30 a.m.

Upheaval Dome at 9 a.m.

Mesa Arch at 10.30 a.m.

Monticello

I arrived at Monticello around 4 p.m. to bivouac in front of Visitor Center while profiting from Wi-Fi connection. At an altitude of 2200 meters the night promised to be cold.