Today was, as it turned out, a great day! I got to go out to a region of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument that is noted as something of a "bone yard". But, as I would soon learn, there was more to the place than just bones. Clams, petrified wood, turtle shells, and even a live reptile. The rocks, sandstones and mudstones were from a period over 80 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous. What is now southern Utah was a land of rivers, streams, and swamps, inhabited by creatures like Parasaurolophus, Gryposaurus, and Troodon.
Clicking on the thumbnail will open up a nine image Flash slideshow with photos from the day's trip. (Click on the "i" info button to learn about the photo.)
Sweet! That rattlesnake picture is pretty intense.
Great pictures.
Lisa - That darn snake was spooky - I didn't hear rattling at first, more like a hiss and, not knowing what would make that sound, it was only after I looked around that I saw it, maybe 6 or 7 feet away. Then I just heard last night at dinner they've just found another dinosaur - probably a Gryposaurus - in (apparently) very good condition not far from where we were.