Possible southern reef closure

[DandyDon]

DD, you definitely have a pair!

What? I grew up farming in Texas heat. I've also tended cattle in blizzards but dressed well for those days.

If you've never toured Utah's Big Five, it's worth a trip from anywhere: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion. I flew into Saint George, landing at 103F I think it was, stocked up on sodas and a gallon of emergency water and headed to Cedar Breaks NM. The views from parking lots are breathtaking but I wouldn't hike any of it. Almost all of the southern state is scenic driving so I didn't mind all of the miles. Stop at Arches after Canyonlands but before the office closes to get a map, then leave Moab before sunup to beat the crowds. Don't miss Goblin Valley State Park either! The night before I left Bryce for Zion a strong storm caused landslides in Zion closing it the next day. I was going to use the east entrance and see sights on that road but had to detour down into Arizona a ways, visiting some unscheduled parks down there. Some of those scenic roads are so breathtaking that strong road discipline is important, like the one switching back & forth along the top of a high ridge with steep drops on either side. Zion started opening parts my last full day and I got to tour it some even tho I am too old & lame for strenuous hiking. It's certainly the most crowded being so close to Saint George and not far from Las Vegas.

The last morning I still had my sealed gallon jug of emergency water and gave it to some Germans in the parking lot, then visited a lovely city park before catching my plane. The hardest part of the trip were the two long layovers in Denver's airport.

 

[mediumone]

Grand Escalante is worth a couple of days.
The road from Canyonlands into Grand Escalante (Hwy 12), will separate the men from he boys too - or more accurately, the sane men from the crazy ones.

 

[DandyDon]

Grand Escalante is worth a couple of days.
The road from Canyonlands into Grand Escalante (Hwy 12), will separate the men from he boys too - or more accurately, the sane men from the crazy ones.

Since we are already over 800 posts on this thread, yeah I actually took the 12 shortcut from Captiol Reef to Bryce, and that was a wild ride. I was not expecting that zigzag down along the top of that ridge, but it had my full attention. I would have liked to stop for photos,, but there was no room for a pullout along there. I hate that much of Grand Escalante NM is being opened up to the savages of mining.

 

[Doctor Rig]

Reef closure thread???

 

[ggunn]

Last April while I was there the corals were spawning....

I was literally just about to book a trip in August so now that's out. I'm afraid to book a trip because they keep closing the southern reefs.

The southern reefs have been closed one time for a couple of months.

 

[Charred]

The southern reefs have been closed one time for a couple of months.

But they are now talking about a closure in August and there are whispers of a closure in April.