1998 Northern Rockies Trip

"ALL" of Utah
Timpanogos Cave NM, Great Salt Lake, Bonneville Salt Flat
31 May 1998

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From Mark's "Book of Doom"
Day 16: Sunday, May 31st
A lot of driving today - we're going to see everything in Utah today :-)

Well, we made it to the Great Salt Lake, which was loaded with brine shrimp. I also walked out on the Bonneville Salt Flats, which was a unique feeling on bare feet.

And also toured Timpanagos Cave NM, after a grueling hike up. After that, we drove to Ely, NV to camp for the night at Ely KOA...

The grueling hike up to Timpanogos Cave is advertised to take 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. The cave entrance is a 1.5 mile walk that feels like it's straight up despite the massive numbers of switchbacks. Over the 1.5 mile walk you gain 1,065 feet of altitude. There are several benches and low rock walls along the way where you can stop and catch your breath. You are, afterall, at about 6,000 feet. You would do well to bring a snack and plenty to drink as what air there is at that altitude is pretty dry. When you get back down and visit the gift shop you can buy yourself "The Official I Survived the Hike T-Shirt". We did.


(pardon the postal-processing skid-mark in the middle of the photo)

Text on back of postcard:
TIMPANOGOS CAVE National Monument
Utah
Stalactite and stalgmite, framed by a banded drapery, slowly build
toward each other.

My message to recipient:
A.K.A. "Cave Bacon"

mmmm...
Ba-a-a-acon...

As you may have gathered by now, there are lots and lots of different formations in caves and they all have special names. Just about everyone knows about stalactites and stalagmites and columns (when a stalactite and stalagmite grow together), but there are LOTS of others. One is a form called "flowstone" where the rock formations grow in shapes that seem to flow. One of those flowing shapes that looks like heavy draperies is called, oddly enough, "drapery." Long, narrow, lenghth-wise brown-and-cream striped "drapery" is called "Cave Bacon."

The big thing the Timpanogos Cave is known for is its abundance of a formation called "helictites." Helictites are like tiny, fine stalactites that form in tiny little spirals (helices).


Helictites, etc.

Text on back of postcard:
TIMPANOGOS CAVE National Monument
Utah
In the Coral Gardens, a collection of delicate helictites and anthocites
covers the ceiling; a former pool line is outlined with shelfstone on the floor.

My message to recipient:
The Timpanogos cave is known for its helictites. They are Totally cool.
The cave itself was different in feel than most of the caves I've been in.
One of the previous caves (Wind Cave?) was better known for its Bacon.
mmmm... ba-a-a-acon...
See Scott's card for the Death March tale-of-woe.

[Scott my cousin, not Scott on the trip] The Death March referred to in this case is the hike up to the cave as described above.


Soda straws, helictites, stalactites, stalagmites, et al


An open pit mine we visited on the way to the Great Salt Lake, etc.


In spring the salt flat is a trifle damp.
Mark reads the sign while Scott inspects the water


The sun sets on the Bonneville Salt Flat

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This page was last updated on 22 February 2004.