On Friday we awoke up to a beautiful day. We stayed in our sleeping bags waiting for it to warm up from a cold night. We had an easy breakfast and go started on breaking camp.
View North from Red Pocket
Once packed and loaded we drove south to a place called red pocket. I saw this landmark on the map and thought it would be worth checking out. We found Red Pocket which is a small red sandstone area of sandstone mounds. It also seemed to have an active spring. There was a ton of pottery shards littering the ground leading us to wonder if the sandy mounds that seemed to circle the spring on one side had been surface dwellings. We then drove west winding our way across the plateau to house rock valley. Our last bit of off road driving for the trip.
Almost back to House Rock Valley
Once on the main dirt/gravel road in House Rock Valley we headed south towards Highway 89. Our main objective for the day was to see the condors at Vermilion Cliffs. I was not sure where to stop but we found a pull out that was for the condors. While viewing the condors flying above the cliffs LJ spotted a truck parked near the base of the cliffs.
LJ At the Condor Viewing Site
I found a road that looked like it led to the area the truck was parked. We piled back in the FJ and headed out this side road towards House Rock Spring and found a parking area directly under where the condors are released and roost area. We saw over 15 in the air at the same time. One of the biologists working for the condor project was in the parking area which afforded us the opportunity to ask questions. It was sad to hear that 1 of the 4 condors released in the last month had not survived the high winds and snow earlier in the week.
An old sign from before the Monument Was Created
Condors over the Cliffs
LJ talking with the Biologist
After spending a while watching the Condors it was time to get rolling again.
An old ranch house
We reached the end of the dirt road and it was time to air the tires back up to 40 psi and drive to Navajo Bridge.
Navajo Bridge
For the last part of our trip were planned on viewing a few man made wonders. One of which was Navajo bridge, which is really 2 bridges now, in a spectacular span across the Colorado River. Far below are the clean waters of the Colorado River as released by the glen canyon dam.
The Colorado River
After spending some time marveling at the construction of the bridges we rolled on down the road to Page and Wahweap for a night in a developed camp ground.