[Christina] Day 3: Dinosaur National Monument

(Day of June 21st)

We decided to ditch our plan of visiting southwestern Utah because it was too darn hot.  Instead, we set out north for Dinosaur National Monument.  In the end, the joke was on us because Dinosaur National Monument was at least twenty degrees warmer than Capitol Reef.  Still.  DINOSAURS!

Before heading north, however, we took some time to explore Capitol Reef. Capitol Reef consists of a monocline formed in late Cretaceous time.  Sedimentary rocks from the Permian through the Cretaceous are exposed, but the bulk of the most visible rocks are Jurassic-- the dunes of the Wingate and Navajo sandstone, and the floodplain deposits of the Kayenta formation. It would be great to explore the area in more detail some day. [Elizabeth sidebar] The term "reef" generally means that it is a biologically-made structure substantial enough to divert the flow of water (think coral reef). Capitol Reef is not a reef in the strict sense, but rather, is named for a large white dome, which reminded the explorers who found it of the Capital Building in Washington DC - Hence, "Capital Reef" was named. But I can't help but think "you keep using that word... I do not think it means what you think it means". Either way, it was quite spectacular. [end sidebar].

We then set off for Dinosaur National Park via US-191.  The scenery was beautiful.  At one overlook, there was an impressive hand-carved road sign. 

 

 

We also saw some spectacular lacustrine deposits.

Dinosaur National Monument is magnificent.  The surrounding scenery is beautiful, a river edged with green fields with golden mountains in the background.

And, of course, the dinosaur quarry itself  is spectacular. Rather than show us a bunch of articulated skeletons, as you would find in a museum, Dinosaur National Monument has a partially cleaned exposure of the Morrison formation, relatively coarse sandstone deposited quickly by fast-flowing water, which is filled with dinosaur parts. [Elizabeth sidebar] They have housed this whole thing in a small (2-story) exhibit hall, which has been rebuilt several times, as the sandstone below it kept eroding - they have now built it on stilts drilled into basement bedrock far below... [end sidebar]

One of the early paleontologists to work on the site, Earl Douglas, had the foresight to request that this exposure be preserved as a museum with the dinosaur bones in situ so that the public could experience this wonder for themselves.

 

[Elizabeth sidebar] The quarry is so cool, and the concentration of dinosaur bones really can't be beat. It definitely shows how awesome vertebrate paleontology can be. But I can't help think, looking at this exposure with hundreds of bones, often articulated, that this is nothing like what vertebrate paleontologists usually find - most of the time, you have to spend days, weeks, or even multiple field seasons just wandering around, hoping to find a shard of bone, before maybe uncovering a few fossils. Alas, a phenomenal outcrop is certainly enough to inspire generations of young (and old) paleontologists. [end sidebar]

Outside the quarry visitor center, there is a short hike which winds through other fossil-bearing formations in the nearby area, including some fossil fish scales, ammonites, and even a few dinosaur vertebrae, if you know where to look.

 

We camped at Dinosaur National Monument.  The campground had cottonwoods which filled the air with their fuzzy magic, and we were beset by small woodland creatures [including the human variety] wanting to be fed.  It could have been a Disney movie.