Bryce, Zion & North Rim Bicyle Tour

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Bryce, Zion & North Rim

Epilogue

Junk cars in a ditch
This land doesn't tolerate abuse.

I'm currently on an airplane 37,000 feet above the American Midwest. On my flight out of Las Vegas, I got one final look at the eroding ancient seabed where we shared our adventure. This land is very beautiful. However, it is also very fragile. When abused it scars easily and heals slowly. On our tour of Pipe Springs National Monument, a ranger told us at the time the Mormon Pioneers settled in the region, most of Utah was covered in grass, not the scrub and sage brush that we see today. Cows ate the grass over 150 years ago and it hasn't come back. I thought of this often during our ride. One can only imagine how beautiful Utah appeared to these settlers back then. To these very religious people it must have truly looked like the land of milk and honey.

I could see the golden color of the aspens from the plane as we crossed the Rocky Mountains. Being from New England, I am used to colorful fall days. However, I found something magical in those groves of shimmering yellow trees against the green pines and deep blue western sky.
Our group was composed of six great friends who cooperated well together. We kept our sense of humor even though the tough climbs and headwinds. Although, we kidded each other about our differences in touring styles, they are all real cyclists.
Rockies from the plane
Aspens from 37,000 feet