Bryce Canyon, hoodoos at sunset: 1998

The hoodoos, amazing pillars of rock, in Bryce Canyon are formed as a result of erosion by ice. The view from the rim, over one of the most impressive landscapes on Earth, is breathtaking. No wonder we came back after our first visit in 1995 en probably will return here in the future!

"It's a hell of a place to lose a cow"

Ebenezer Bryce - immigrant on Bryce Canyon (1875)

Grand Canyon, walking into the Earth’s heart: 1998

Amazed by the view from the South Rim over the Grand Canyon we knew in 1995 that we had to return to this wonder of nature. Overlooking a canyon bigger than our home country, the Netherlands, we realized that the only way to fully comprehend the greatness of the Grand Canyon was to descend 1.6 kilometre down to the Colorado River. This spring we obtained the necessary permit for a two day hike and one night at the Bright Angel Campground at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

We descend down the steep and dusty switchbacks of the famous South Kaibab Trail into the canyon.

South Kaibab Trail

South Kaibab Trail

Colorado River and the Kaibab Suspension Bridge

















Kaibab Suspension Bridge

At the bottom of the Grand Canyon wee cross the Colorado River by the Kaibab Suspension Bridge and reach the Bright Angel Campground.

Colorado River and the Bright Angel Campground

 

Avoiding mule trains we climb back to the rim using the Bright Angel Trail.  

Bright Angel Trail

Looking back from the South Rim into the Grand Canyon just one thought comes to mind: we did it all, we did the whole thing!

"The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it. What you can do is to keep it for your children, your children's children and for all who come after you, as one of the great sights which every American, if he can travel at all, must see."

Theodore Roosevelt - US President on Grand Canyon

Arches, Balanced Rock: 1998

Another geologic wonder in Arches National Park: Balanced Rock. When will it fall ..... ?

Arches, eye in the sky: 1998

An eye in the sky, or vice versa: the North Window in the Windows Sections of the beautifull Arches National Park.

Yellowstone, a super volcano: 1998

The Yellowstone Caldera, is considered to be an active supervolcano. Half of the world's natural geothermal features, present in the caldera, are fuelled by this ongoing volcanism. Atop of one of the largest volcanoes on Earth sits the world's first national park, Yellowstone National Park.

To us Yellowstone is the most amazing place we have visited so far. It was a privilege to see bears, moose’s, bison’s in Hayden Valley, the waterfalls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the impressive devastation of the forest fires of 1988, all against the scenery of the beautiful natural geothermal features. We simply had to return to Yellowstone after our first trip in 1995.

The last Yellowstone Supervolcano eruption was some 640,000 years ago, and the two prior eruptions were 1.3 million and 2.1 million years ago. Based on this track record, a major event approximately each 730.000 years, the next eruption is expected soon .....

Steam

Mammoth Hot Springs

Thermophilic bacteria create brilliant colours in the  hot springs, pools and run-off channels of Yellowstone National Park.

Beauty Pool

 

Rainbow-coloured bacteria surrounding the Grand Prismatic Spring

Aerial view Grand Prismatic Spring

Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Moose

Bison in Hayden Valley

"For the benefit and enjoyment of the people"

Theodore Roosevelt - US president on Yellowstone National Park (1904)

Peyto Lake, a turqoise jewel: 1998

Peyto Lake, a glacially fed and brilliantly turquoise mountain lake along the breathtaking Icefields Parkway, in the Canadian Banff National Park.

View from Bow Summit

During the summer, meltwater flows into the lake which is loaded with finely ground particles of rock debris known as rock flour. These particles reflect the blue-green sector of the light spectrum resulting in the unique turquoise color of Peyto Lake.

This photo was published in the Time To Travel Agenda 2005.

Mount St. Helens, this is it: 1998

At 8:32 a.m. on May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted.

Shaken by an earthquake, measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the north face of the volcano collapsed in a massive rock debris avalanche. A gap occurred in the mountain, allowing the release of pent-up pressure that erupted laterally in a huge blast. A pyroclastic flow of pumice, superheated ash and gas poured out of the crater. Nearly 230 square miles of forest was blown down or buried beneath volcanic deposits. At the same time a mushroom-shaped column of ash rose miles skyward and drifted downwind, turning day into night as dark, gray ash fell over eastern Washington and beyond. The eruption lasted 9 hours, but Mount St. Helens and the surrounding landscape were dramatically changed within moments.

Mount St. Helens, an impressive volcano in a landscape still devastated after all these years!

"Vancouver, Vancouver, this is it!"

David A. Johnston - volcanologist on the eruption of Mount St. Helens (18 May 1980)

"The moon looks like a golf course compared to what's up there"

Jimmy Carter - US president on Mount St. Helens

18 April 1980, 8.32 am: Mount St Helens erupts. Gary Rosenquist captured the first minute in his world famous photo sequence:

08:32:21.0 am

08:32:47.0 am

08:32:49.2 am

08:32:53.3 am

08:33:03.7 am

08:33:18.8 am