Capitol Reef and GSENM

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10 April, Friday - We were surprised yesterday that the campground filled up, but it's almost Easter weekend, so I guess it's still spring break time. Today we got up pretty early in the cold (low 40's?) even before the sun reached the campground, packed-up almost everything but the tent, and went over to the visitors center. The same couple who did last night's presentation were on duty and suggested we visit the pioneer schoolhouse, petroglyphs, hike to Hickman's (Natural) Bridge,
(Hickman's Bridge, Capitol Reef NP, left)
and then drive the scenic tour down the center of the waterpocket fold and hike Capitol Gorge, a narrow, tall, canyon, to the pioneer registry (names chiseled on the rocks dating back to 1887) and the (waterpocket) tanks. We did all that in unexpected sunshine since the forecast is for snow or rain this evening. If the forecast hadn't been so grim for camping we probably would have stayed another day.

As it was, we packed the tent and left Capitol Reef sometime after 1300. We stopped for brochures in Torrey, then
drove SR 12, a scenic byway, over Boulder Mtn (9600 msl) with views to the east of Capitol Reef and, nearby, of aspens in snow. At some point between Boulder and Escalante we decided that we needed to find a motel for the night because the precip. prob. had increased to 100%. C.J. found us a deal at Fosters motel/steakhouse/store/bakery, which is being renovated, right outside the entrance to Bryce Canyon NP. After driving through Escalante,which looks like a major outfitting area for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, we stopped at the GSENM multi-agency visitors center in Cannonville.
(C.J. in Capitol Gorge, Capitol Reef NP, left)
Scenery along Route 12 had been great but we hadn't been off the highway at all. One ranger suggested a late afternoon hike but we were pretty much hiked out for the day so we drove on to our motel. The room turned out to be fine but we have to step over tools and such in the lobby to get to the newly pine-paneled room. Later we went to the Bryce Pines Restaurant for huge burgers for dinner and a slice of one of their "famous" pies for dessert. (Coulda passed on the pie.) The sky definitely looks threatening and snow is forecast for tomorrow up here at 7500 ft. We'll decide if we'll stay or go in the morning. Bryce is supposed to be really scenic in the snow...