The Distance in Perspective

This almost surreal landscape is part of 69 mile loop. You can barely see part of the road at the bottom of the photo and yes, it really is that steep. We were fascinated by the rock on the top of the prominently striped hill in the mid-distance. The little black speck is really a huge boulder that has resisted erosion and caused the conical shape of the top of the hill. It is very difficult to get a sense of how large these hills and mountains really are. The mountains way in the distance are easily over 10,000 feet high. The view probably shows the mountains that are at least, twenty or thirty miles away, but probably more like fifty or sixty. This photo was taken on the way to Cathedral Valley in the Capital Reef National Park. The road is recommended for high clearance and preferably 4-wheel drive vehicles. In Utah, when they say 4-wheel drive recommended, they mean it. I learned that a long time ago.