In life it's not where you go but who you are with……Charles Shultz
Vagabond Tales- The Old Goat and Capitol Reef National Park
***. STAY TUNED.. Contest #2 coming up tomorrow!
April 30, 2021- Capitol Reef National Park- We registered 13,501 steps today. It was an easy, 80 degrees, in the slot canyon we traversed. If you visit these western parks, you really should bring an all wheel drive, at the very least. We have had our truck in four wheel drive more than on any trip and we sure needed it! We had to use it getting to the trail head today!
We didn’t know what to expect but Capitol Reef has delivered profound beauty.I confess, I am a lilac lover! I couldn’t resist this shot of the red wall!We visited the Gifford House in Fruita , Utah. This area had fifteen orchards- 2000 trees and just like The Great Basin Orchards…if they have fruit, you are allowed to pick, although you may have to pay a small fee. The house in the upper right is the Gifford House, they sell canned goods from their trees and little hand pies. Harry shared a mixed fruit pie with me for lunch. Very yummy!The Grand Wash was a really fun hike! If you have been to Zion National Park and walked through the Narrows in ice-melt waters, over slippery rocks in water, sometimes up to your thighs…this was very similar, only you walked on the dry river bed! No dogs allowed on this hike. It would have been too hot anyway for Onyx!We were fortunate to see this mountain goat! Truth is, I don’t know if he is old or not! He was browsing on the shrubs growing up on the rocks. And didn’t seem to be bothered by the fellow hikers.I know this is a strange picture but there were quite a few of these holes eroded into the walls. Some of the young men on this path thought it would be fun throwing rocks from the stream bed into them as most were very high! Can you see the middle hole has some it has collected.The view from Gooseneck Overlook- trail 600 feet.More fun at Capitol Reef tomorrow!
Some Googling of Capital Reef web resources suggests that your “Mountain Goat” is actually a “Desert Bighorn Sheep” but without horns due to gender or age. Dan (PhD, Zoology)
hkdorr 
You two continue to amaze me with your hiking!
Since this was in a creek bed we didn’t have much change in altitude! This was an easy one!❤️
Beautiful pictures. I’m especially jealous of your Goat! Dan
He certainly did not seem concerned around people but then…he was at a higher elevation than us creek-bed walkers!😄
Some Googling of Capital Reef web resources suggests that your “Mountain Goat” is actually a “Desert Bighorn Sheep” but without horns due to gender or age. Dan (PhD, Zoology)
Cool! I like that even better!