#natural bridges national monument

[thomaswaynewolf]

[seanssaenz]

12/24/22 Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah

-Sean S. 勝雲

[dougrobyngoold]

Goosenecks & Natural Bridges - Bears Ears National Monument, UT

Everyone left this morning, so it is just Doug and I left at the campsite. We decided to do a little exploring and headed out to Goosenecks State Park and then on to Natural Bridges National Monument.

Impressive view from the rim at Goosenecks.

Look at the color of that water! It sure was a long way down to the river - definitely wanted to stay away from the edge.

After taking a short walk along the rim at Goosenecks, we drove over to Natural Bridges National Monument. We went on a nice loop hike - going from the parking area at Sipapu Bridge Viewpoint, down to Sipapu Bridge and over to Kachina Bridge, then up to the Kachina Bridge Viewpoint, and returning to the Sipapu Bridge Viewpoint parking area.

Looking down at Sipapu Bridge from the viewpoint.

Making our way down to Sipapu Bridge - ladders, railings, and steps were involved. It was a pretty steep descent!

Another view of Sipapu Bridge, just before the final descent to its base.

Sipapu Bridge - almost to its base!

Beautiful view of Sipapu Bridge from underneath.

We continued down the wash toward Kachina Bridge. It was a lovely walk, plenty of canyon walls and a bit of sand to trek through.

Gorgeous striated canyon walls as we neared Kachina Bridge.

Kachina Bridge - just before we walked under it.

Looking back at Kachina Bridge - it is impressive!

Just a short walk from Kachina Bridge are some petroglyphs and ruins. It was a bit of a scramble to get up to them, but well worth the effort.

There were pamphlets near the petroglyphs that provided detailed information about the site. The park does not promote this area, but if you stumble upon it, you are more than welcome to check it out.

It was now time to climb up out of the canyon - it was a steep climb back out and the temperatures were a bit warm by the time we got to the top. Luckily, there were a couple of stops during the climb to rest and take photos!

Beautiful view of the fall colors in the wash, as we made our way to the top.

One last view of Kachina Bridge as we climbed out of the wash.

We made it to the Kachina Bridge Viewpoint, crossed the road, and followed the trail back to Sipapu Bridge Viewpoint and to our truck. Great hike and thrilled to actually visit Natural Bridges - a place I had never been to before. Bears Ears National Monument is full of treasures, glad that it has been preserved for all of us to experience.

The two peaks in the distance are the "Bears Ears" of Bears Ears National Monument.

[decarbry]

Backgroundcember day 3

In which I warm up every day of December by recreating an old vacation photo with my background style

[rabbitcruiser]

Clouds (No. 749)

St. Augustine, Florida

[jlb1982]

[emilybeemartin]

Hey! Hey, would you like to be a park ranger?

USA Jobs just posted a bunch of national park ranger positions for summer 2024--everything from small historic sites to the big flagship parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite. These are seasonal positions specifically for interpretive rangers, which means you begin around May-ish and end around September-October-ish. Interpretation is the branch of the NPS that does educational programming and frontline visitor services, like working in the visitor centers, leading guided walks and talks, and just generally interacting with the public in a friendly, helpful way.

If you have a four-year college degree in just about any subject (honestly, I've worked with people with degrees ranging from theater to business to geoscience), or 12 months' relevant work experience (customer service, retail, education, camp counseling, etc), or a combination of the two, you're eligible to apply. All you need is a resume and transcripts if you're using education to qualify.

Just go to USAJobs.gov and search for "park ranger interpretation" in the search bar. The key things you're looking for in the results are listings from the National Park Service, the code GS 5 (which is the entry level for this position), and the phrase Not to Exceed 1039 hours (which indicates it's a seasonal position).

Some tips!

>Each application requires you to answer a questionnaire about your experience with things like customer service, preparing educational programs, researching scientific topics, etc. Be generous with yourself on these, because other folks will be. Even if you don't think you're an "expert" in something, consider your past work creatively. Have you presented research projects in class? Have you worked retail? Can you keep up a professional demeanor when somebody's upset? You have the qualifications. Rate yourself as such.

>Be thorough and specific in your resume. The NPS isn't a one-pager resume organization. They need to see evidence that you have the qualifications you say you do. The best way to ensure this is to copy, word for word, the phrases in the above questionnaire and insert them in the relevant places in your resume. So if the questionnaire says "Can you research, prepare, and present scientific information to a lay public," go to the appropriate place in your resume and write "I researched, prepared, and presented scientific information to my peers" or something similar. I kid you not, my current resume is ten pages long.

>Cover letters are optional but helpful! There are lots of templates online to help you write one; be sure to be professional. Mine is around 250 words and has three short paragraphs:

1- Position I'm applying for

2- Quick summary of most relevant work/education experience

3- Additional skills/rizz that makes me stand out (for me it's writing/illustrating, which helps me create visitor programs)

>Two things the NPS loves that will boost you are foreign language skills and being a US military veteran. Highlight these elements if you have them.

>Are you a schoolteacher? Check out the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program.

>The big flashy parks are posted as standalone listings, but most of the others are bundled into "Multiple Locations" that are based on region. Consider applying for many of these smaller monuments and historic sites---they get far fewer applicants and are easier to secure. And many are absolutely beautiful. Want to work at Arches? Also apply to Natural Bridges. Want to work in Yellowstone? Also try Lassen Volcanic. Prefer history over science? You have dozens of amazing options from every facet of American history.

>Apply today! Apply now! Many of these parks cap their applicants because they get so many, and the rest will close after a week or so. A glance at the ones that were posted today and yesterday show them either closing on October 15 or 22. Some regions haven't posted yet, so keep checking the website in the next few weeks.

I love my work as a park ranger---it's such a rewarding way to spend a summer (or two, or ten), and it can open doors to other things. You won't get rich, but you will make great friends and great memories, add a killer section to your resume, and spend four months immersed with smart, passionate people in some of the coolest places in the US.

Plus you get a SICK HAT

[mutant-distraction]

State Route 95 or Bicentennial Highway is a state highway located in the southeast of the U.S. state of Utah. The highway is an access road for tourism in the Lake Powell and Cedar Mesa areas, notably bisecting Bears Ears National Monument and providing the only access to Natural Bridges National Monument.

[swforester]

Historic Lexington MA. It was here that the first battle of the Revolutionary War took place, early in the morning of April 19th, 1775. Seven citizens of Lexington were killed along with 1 person from Woburn.

"Who fell on this field the first victims of the Sword of British Tyranny and Oppression. " Paul Revere rode through town just after midnight on his famous ride to warn everyone that the British were coming. He would later be captured. The British were marching to Concord to search for and destroy any weapons and ammunition they could found. But because the colonists had been warned the British only found 2 cannons which they destroyed. But when they got to Lexington the colonists were waiting for them. They faced each other on the town green, someone fired the first shot and the American Revolution had begun. Later, another battle would take place in Concord.

Concord Hymn

BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Sung at the Completion of the Battle Monument, July 4, 1837

"By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

   Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood

   And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;

   Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;

And Time the ruined bridge has swept

   Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,

   We set today a votive stone;

That memory may their deed redeem,

   When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare

   To die, and leave their children free,

Bid Time and Nature gently spare

   The shaft we raise to them and thee."

plate 1: the Minuteman, ready for battle

plates 2,3,4: the battle monument on the green

plates 5&6: the Munroe House, built in 1729, "a witness to the battle"

plate 7: The First Parish Church of Lexington

plates 8,9,10,11: Lexington Burial Ground, established in 1690-the colonists who died during the Battle of lexington are buried here

plates 12&13: historic sketches of the Battle of Lexington

plate 14: a national park service map showing the route that Paul Revere and the British took , through the towns of Lexington and Concord MA on April 19th, 1775

Lexington MA 12/09/23

[gemsofgreece]

What greek island would you recommend visiting the most? Thank you!

Oh dear, this is a genuinely difficult question because there is no clear answer. It depends on what type of landscape you prefer, whether you want chill or adventurous vacation, a remote or a cosmopolitan location, the budget and the time you have, the level of service you want and so many more parameters. I would hate to give you a rec that you’d follow and then find that this island was not a good choice for you.

I must also say that yesterday I was preparing a very thorough answer to your ask but my PC memory failed and lost everything and I am in a very fragile mental state right now.

My personal top 5 islands are:

Santorini

Rhodes,

Kerkyra (Corfu)

Tinos

Skyros

However, I have certainly gone to much fewer islands than the ones that I have yet to visit (as in, a 1 to 9 ratio at best, lol) and some are very popular so it’s tricky. 

Greece has two very large islands, 6 island groups and a few more stand-alone ones. I will give you a very brief summary of their traits, so you can make your own research and choose based on your preferences:

Crete

The largest island, needs weeks to explore properly. Extremely mountainous and very rugged, rocky and barren at places. Gorgeous beaches. Pretty and / or big cities. Ongoing historical and cultural monument presence since 3000 BC. Distinct cuisine and very strong traditional character. Many tourists but it’s a large area so it won’t affect you much. Prices all over the place. Far from the mainland. 

Euboea

Second largest island. It has a big mountain and very beautiful nature.  Nice beaches. Forested in the north and center, gets more arid in the south. Good for religious tourism. Ideal for relaxation and exploration at a slow pace. So close to the mainland that it’s connected to it with a bridge. Very close to Athens. Few foreign tourists, low prices. 

Cyclades islands

Many relatively small or tiny islands. Almost all are arid and barren, rugged and hilly or flat. Low vegetation. Beaches vary from mediocre to great. Two volcanoes there. Hot and windy climate. Almost all have the famous Greek white houses, but all have wonderful towns. Many ancient Greek sites, also some medieval and some important religious ones. They sink with tourists, it’s the most popular destination, but some islands are still fairly unknown and remote. Prices vary from high to extremely high. 

Dodecanese islands

Similar to the Cyclades but with more contrasts and a little more reasonable prices. They are either big or very small, pretty flat or quite mountainous, either more or less arid than the Cyclades. Even hotter but less windy. Some towns look Cycladic while others are more colourful and European-like. A few big towns there but also very remote tiny villages. The remote islands have strong traditional character. Good beaches. Very far from the mainland. They have major ancient, byzantine, medieval, ottoman and religious sites.

Heptanese (Ionian) Islands

Very close to the western mainland, this is a group of mostly big islands with a more western European-like culture, evident in their architecture and music. These islands have low mountains or hills (one island has a bigger mountain) and are very green and verdant. They possibly have overall the best beaches in the country, insane waters. They have Ancient Greek and also West European (i.e Venetian, British and more) monuments. Beautiful cities and towns. The bigger islands are expensive and cosmopolitan, the smaller ones are cheap and secluded. One island is connected to the mainland by bridge. 

Islands of the Northeastern Aegean

These islands are quite remote from other regions but also from each other and therefore each has its own, pretty distinct look and character. Half of them are big islands. They have good cuisine, very beautiful architecture, some national wonders, others are verdant and others have deserts, some have lowlands and some are pretty rugged. They have a milder and cooler climate. Beaches vary from mediocre to pretty good. They are rich with cultural monuments that are surviving pretty well, especially Ancient Greek, Byzantine Greek and Ottoman.  They are so remote that tourists don’t know much about them, prices are low. 

Sporades islands

A small group of three islands that are close to the northeast-central mainland. They are most likely the most densely forested islands in the country, they are low and hilly. Very beautiful beaches. Significant marine wildlife. The towns look like a mix of the mainland and the Cycladic ones. There is a certain gradation from cosmopolitan to more “alternative” the farther they get from the mainland. The tourists and the prices follow that pattern. 

(Argo)Saronic islands

A small group of pretty small islands, where you go first and foremost for their towns and their lifestyle vibes. They concentrate artists and celebrities and anyone interested in a bohemian luxe lifestyle. Also good if you want to take a break from vehicles (they are banned in most). Very important monuments from Ancient and Modern Greek history (pre- and post-Independece). Okay beaches. They get tourists, often Greeks, and they are usually expensive. They are the only ones where I think island-hopping or daily trips are a good way to visit them. Very very close to Athens and the mainland in general. 

 Stand-alone ones: Thasos, Samothrace, Skyros

There are more stand-alone ones but the bigger ones that aren’t massive enough to be their own regions (like Crete and Euboea) are these three. They are in different areas, the former two in the far north and Skyros alone in the middle / center of the Aegean Sea. They are all green and verdant (Skyros is half green half arid). Thasos looks a lot like the mainland and has gorgeous beaches and Ancient Greek monuments. Samothrace has a distinct mountainous landscape, attracts alternative tourism and has Ancient Greek monuments. Skyros looks like a mix of the Sporades and the Cyclades and has strong traditional character. All have low prices and relatively few tourists. 

So you see, I can’t take it on me to recommend an island. 

Follow these steps: 

Determine your budget and the level of luxury you want, the days you have available and how close you intend to be in Athens or the mainland. Decide whether you want to withdraw and chill or explore and mingle. Determine also if you want to go by airplane, boat / ferry or even car (for the two islands with the bridges).  

Choose either one massive island for your entire vacation or one large or medium island per week or maximum two small for 9-10 days. NO MORE, it is a mistake and many fall for it. Also don’t mix small islands from different groups, it’s gonna be exhausting.

Then read these descriptions and find which island group or massive / stand-alone island ticks most of your preferences off. 

When you find your island group of choice, do a research and find which island of the group better fits your needs. When you find your massive island of choice, find in which of its regions you want to have your base (hotel, most days spent there etc). 

By following this you will almost certainly make a good choice for yourself.  

[alizaworldtravel123]

places to visit in America

New York City, New York: Experience the hustle and bustle of Times Square, visit iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building, catch a Broadway show, or explore the diverse neighborhoods of Manhattan.

2. Grand Canyon, Arizona: Witness the breathtaking natural wonder of the Grand Canyon, whether by hiking along its rim, rafting down the Colorado River, or taking in panoramic views from various lookout points.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho: Explore the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone, including Old Faithful geyser, colorful hot springs, and abundant wildlife like bison and bears.

San Francisco, California: Take a stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge, visit Alcatraz Island, explore the vibrant neighborhoods of Chinatown and Haight-Ashbury, or enjoy the scenic beauty of nearby Muir Woods.

Las Vegas, Nevada: Experience the excitement of the Las Vegas Strip with its dazzling array of casinos, entertainment shows, and nightlife options.

Washington, D.C.: Discover the nation's capital with its iconic monuments and memorials, including the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the Smithsonian museums.

Walt Disney World Resort, Florida: Enjoy the magic of Disney at this world-renowned theme park, featuring multiple theme parks, water parks, and resort hotels.

Yosemite National Park, California: Immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty of Yosemite Valley, known for its towering granite cliffs, waterfalls, and ancient sequoia trees.

New Orleans, Louisiana: Experience the unique culture of New Orleans with its jazz music, Creole cuisine, and historic French Quarter.

Hawaii: Explore the diverse islands of Hawaii, each offering its own unique landscapes, from the volcanic wonders of Big Island to the lush greenery of Kauai and the vibrant city life of Honolulu on Oahu.

[thomaswaynewolf]

[seanssaenz]

12/24/22 Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah

-Sean S. 勝雲

[czerwonykasztelanic]

Some twenty-four hours after finishing Saint-Just et la Force des Choses, having already exhausted the local library's collection of books on the Revolution, I remain a metalhead nonetheless. Ergo: assorted Mgła songs in the key of Thermidor. Like many a conventionnel, I enjoy listing things.

Age of Excuse II

The stench of Zeitgeist Is the incense of discarded shrines As the corpses put on powder and rouge So that the hoax can proceed, ever sidewards

Age of Excuse III

Out of howling of prophets And curses of the righteous In the ivory halls A new kind of champion is bred [...] And the last of misbelievers Will be trampled in the greatest of marches Toward the radiant future Where sheep are promised fangs And only after the graves are filled With remains of dissidents And the frame of reference is torched Together with forbidden thoughts [...] At the bottom of things it's the same old script: Do you believe in victory or do you hail defeat Ersatz revolt Ersatz rebellion For a new world would come Every once in a while "Purer", "brighter", "clearer", "better" Ersatz purpose Ersatz alliance Ersatz ideals Ersatz communion

Age of Excuse V

It's a begging time for dissolution The commodity of ultimate silence on public display The living dead stare at the gaping void Waiting for the blade to finally come down Not just yet There's still innards to be ripped out And hanged between the sacred trees [...] Let's just try and pretend That our corpses still have some class

Age of Excuse VI

The litanies of overskurkens moral Are the only prayers to be heard these days And all those who dreamt about a True Revolution Got distracted by hurting each other What has to be done, has to be done The human nature is what it is We cover our eyes in a call to arms And turn one edge toward ourselves [...] Empires get wrecked Principles get crushed Saviors get crucified History gets what? History fucking gets over it all And the assassins in rose tinted glasses At the wrong end of the tunnel of light Practitioners of paramount scorn And those who'd rig moral compass rather than bridges Behold the world and spit on it The noble and the scum of the earth Just out of some basic damned dignity In this day and age of excuse

With Hearts Towards None I

I shall rise to the beyond I shall reveal heights not yet imagined I shall rewrite Summa de homine I shall speak with tongues of angels and I shall burn with pure light I will burn allright...

With Hearts Towards None V

Behold the high order abstractors Anthropologists and engineers alike The virtuous, the chaste Weaving new layers of oblivion Behold the kings and leaders of men Warlords of retreat, sovereigns of surrender The righteous, the pure Now gathered upon the new form A monument is risen To be seen from afar Erected by thieves Financed by murderers And secured by lawyers [...] Behold trangression, conform and gorge Bask in the radiance of purified norm There will be no distress, no more trembling The muzzle never felt that good

With Hearts Towards None VII

Have ye courage, o my brethren? The signs are everywhere. Some did not see it coming, others refused to see. [...] There come the agents of change, stiff and inert Pillars of reason and pillars of belief, In the footsteps of their fathers' virtues

Exercises in Futility IV

Some are born without a purpose Other than prolonged demise in ornate ways Most of the time it's pathetic, quick and useless And good neighbours don't bother digging up the graves It's rows upon rows of kings, whores and pawns And the storm is rolling The vengeful and the bitter reach out for their fix Rebels never realized that their angst was a mockery Every empire Every nation Every tribe Thought it would end In a bit more decent way

[natures-moments]

Rainbow Bridge National Monument is administered by Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, southern Utah, United States. Rainbow Bridge is often described as the world's highest natural bridge.

According to definition by the Natural Arch and Bridge Society in 2007 resulted in a value of 71 m. At the top it is 13 m thick and 10 m wide. The bridge, which is of cultural importance to a number of area Native American tribes, has been designated a Traditional Cultural Property by the National Park Service.

[rabbitcruiser]

Hernando de Soto claimed Florida for Spain on June 3, 1539.