DAY 7 - JUNE 29, 2010 - BRYCE CANYON, UTAH

Today we all got up at 5:30 am and had an early breakfast at the Grand Canyon Railway Restaurant. We left promptly at 7:00 am for Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. Everyone was fascinated by the changes in the geography along the route. After 6 hours of driving we pulled into Bryce Canyon National Park and met up with Ranger Sean Duffy. He knew some sign language and communicated with us about a wide variety of topics. He explained how plants have built up natural defenses and had us explore some of the defenses that plants have against their natural predators. He also described a variety of animals in the park and their habits. We all learned that most animals at Bryce Canyon are nocturnal since it is cooler at night and water is more accessible through condensation. Ranger Duffy also touched on some of the fossil history at Bryce Canyon and elaborated on how the area used to be covered by a huge sea which led to the natural formations found in the canyon today. Ranger Duffy pointed out the hoodoos throughout the area and took the time to answer everyone's questions. The canyon itself was a fascinating sight. The geography was awesome and everyone enjoyed the uniqueness of the canyon. We stayed at Ruby's Best Western Hotel just outside of the national park and ate a buffet style dinner. Everyone wrapped up the evening by doing laundry, going to the general store and swimming. Tomorrow we take in some more inspiring geological sights as we drive 90 miles to Zion National Park and its unique geography such as the Emerald Pools and the Kolob Canyon Arch.