Snapshots in Stone - Dinosaur Land

Dinosaur National Monument - Green River

Is this pen electrified? Chamo-Stego and Ernie - all matchy matchy.

We spent five days visiting Dinosaur National Monument located both in Utah and Colorado (north of Grand Junction, CO. and east of Salt Lake City, UT). It's an arid, high desert environment, but is right on the Green River which pours out of the Flaming Gorge dam (45 miles north).


It was very hot there - from 90 - 105 in the day - and thundershowers rolled in, with their gusts of wind - threatening rain, each evening - but the rain never materialized. So we explored and hiked early in the morning and late in the evening, then read by the river during the hot afternoons. We are learning to adapt too!

The Quarry Exhibit Hall was impressive with hundreds of dinosaur bones remaining embedded  in the hillside for visitors to see.  So many fossils were found there, the quarry was left intact.

Quarry exhibit hall built right over the dig site

Dino bones" in situ" - what can you identify?

The glass building protects the site from erosion.

A favorite activity in the park is rafting the green river.

Split canyon wall above Green River.

Chew ranch hay harvest circle art.

The Green River flows through this arid desert land and, other than the few cottonwoods that line the banks, little benefit can be seen from this rich water source other than the lush green farms nearby who use the water for their crops.  

Will it or won't it rain?

 

Bad hair day - petroglyph - early Fremont culture

Large warrior petroglyph - Fremont culture circa 1000 AD?

Oasis in the desert - Morris ranch pond - complete with mosquitoes

Water magic

Hike above Green River - note Ernie at hilltop to left.

Butterflies feed on flower nectar at Morris ranch

Original homestead cabin of Josie Morris from turn of the century

 At the turn of the century, Josie Morris homesteaded and built this ranch while she was in her mid-40's. She lived there, alone, tending to her horses, cattle and garden - until she was in her 90's.  Friends from Vernal - about 20 miles away - would visit infrequently.  Pictures of the ranch show her in her mid-80's working on the ranch and tending to her livestock...an impressive story...

We camped near the river and rested in the shade during the hot days.

Storm threatening at dusk

On Saturday, June 14th, we left Dinosaur National Monument and headed toward Bear Lake, and we camped at a small KOA just outside of Montpelier, Idaho - a lovely site offering a creek, greenery and quiet.  We are remaining here for two days to do the laundry, take showers and to get ready for dry camping at the Tetons for the next two weeks. We'll meet Lisa, Eric and Ava there, hopefully, next Friday. Can't wait!!!

Our little campsite in Montpelier.