Fremont County Library, Lander, Wyoming
A sunset from just south of Dinosaur, CO [taken on 7 Jun 2013; hereinafter I'll give the dates the first of a set of photos was taken].
Blossoms on prickly pear cacti south of Dinosaur.
Even in near-desert there are blossoms after sufficient rain.
Yet another type of wildflower where I dry-camped (aka boon-docked) south of Dinosaur, CO.
This Welcome sign was only a few miles west of Dinosaur on US40.
Inside the Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit Hall at Dinosaur National Mounment. The treasure trove of dinosaur bones was discovered in 1909 by paleontologist Earl Douglass while he was working for the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburg, PA.
In 1915 the quarry became Dinosaur National Monument -- all 80 acres of it. Today it is many times that size.
Most of the bones you see are from vegetarians which ate ferns, moss, etc.
One such vegetarian was the Camarasaurus ("chambered lizard") which, during the Jurassic Period was large and slow-moving, making him prey for such carnivores as one or more Allosaurus.
While it's true a Tyrannosaurus Rex was bigger than an Allosaurus and had a bite that scientists estimate to have been seven time stronger [see links below], the T-Rex must have had a better press agent since it has lately gotten much press as the Number-1 Bad Actor.
Over 500 dinosaurs and other animals which lived during the Morrison Formation, a subdivision of the Jurassic period, have been discovered at the Dinosaur Natl Monument quarry.
Panel at the right from the plaque in the photograph immediately above.
On the road to the Green River CG a plaque explaining the ranch on the other side of the river from the campground. [Click once to enlarge; press ESC to return here.]
The Chew Ranch on the far side of the Green River with the Natl Park Service CG on this side.
An egret motionlessly waiting for a small fish to swim by its reed-like legs on the far side of the Green River from my campsite.
A plaque outlining Josie Bassett Morris's homestead and cabin on Cub Creek. [Click once to enlarge; press ESC to return here.]
Josie's cabin. Note the many windows on the south side for capturing both sunlight and heat.
The most impressive part of Josie's homestead is this spring. Presumably it runs year-round. The sign asks if the water is safe to drink. Because of giardia lamblia the NPS suggests you filter it before slaking your thirst.
Petroglyphs plaque along the road to the Josie Morris homestead.
Can't recall if John Wesley Powell, who ran both the Green and Colorado Rivers through the Grand Canyon in 1869 and 1871 ever saw any petroglyphs, but here are some of those near Cub Creek.
Panning right....
Of the many brochures I've received from National Parks, Monuments, etc., the Dinosaur Natl Monument Brochure seems the most educational.
Links:
- National Park Service website for Dinosaur National Monument
- NPS biography of Earl Douglass
- Wikipedia article on Tyrannosaurus Rex
- Wikipedia article on the Allosaurus
- USGS biography of John Wesley Powell
- Wikipedia article on Craig, Colorado
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Su 9 Jun Actual Route: Green River NPS CG - Josie Morris Cabin - Jensen Utah Welcome Ctr - Valera - Roosevelt - Unitah Crk - Valera Walmart
M 10 Jun Actual Route: Valera, UT, W/M - Flaming Gorge Natl Rec Area - Mann's USFS CG
T 11 Jun Actual Route: Mann's USFS CG - Manila - Green River, WY, Lib - Rock Springs Walmart
W 12 Jun Actual Route: Rock Springs W/M - Rock Sprs Lib - Farson - South Pass bd
Th 13 Jun Actual Route: South Pass bd Lander USFS Ranger Sta - Sinks Cyn USFS CG
F 14 Jun Actual Route: Sinks Cyn CG - Lander Lib - Ft Washakie - Arapahoe - Riverton Walmart
Sa 15 Jun Actual Route: Riverton W/M - Shoshoni - Pavillion - US26W bd
Su 16 Jun Actual Route: US26W bd - DuBois Lib - DuBois Fish Hatchery - Togwotee Pass - Bridger-Teton NF bd
M 17 Jun Actual Route: Bridger-Teton NF bd - Moran Jcn - Teton Natl Park - Jackson - Hoback Jcn - Hoback USFS CG
T 18 Jun Route: Hoback USFS CG - Pinedale Lib
Finding Campgrounds:
- RV Campgrounds from TrailerLifeDirectory.com
- Family Camping Directories from Woodalls.com
- Free campsites website
- Info on finding BLM Campgrounds
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