Our travels this time explore the wintertime landscapes of the expansive Escalante Desert and the nearby hills west of the town of Enterprise, in Utah.
Regarding the odd ice patterns on the pond, from a comment on Facebook: The ice patterns with the hole and branching spidery limbs have puzzled people for ages. There are several theories on the ice patterns, one water fowl landing punching a hole in the ice and the ice reforming, another beavers or muskrats poking holes through the ice from below and the ice reforming. Also possible warmer gas bubbles from the bottom of the lake or pond floating up creating a warmer spot melting the ice, or even a warmer current of water rising up and melting the ice then when cooling refreezing. Thank you April!
Excellent video! I think the bubbles in the ice are gasses from normal decomposition of organic matter at the bottom of the pond, or it could be methane. Hard to say for sure. At ~12:00, there is what looks like an island forming in that stock tank! I suppose it formed over time from silt being pumped in from the windmill. The weird thing is it seems the rancher is maintaining the windmill but not the stock tank. I would think the windmill would have gone into disrepair long before an island could form in the stock tank like that.
If you like camping follow 18 from St George, there is an old cinder cone volcano to see, continue up to Veyo, approx 1 1/2 mi after, there is a pole with a lightbulb hanging on it (fire dept nearby). Turn right and follow the road into Pine Valley. Take a left at the post office and church, head into the NF campground. Great fishing and wildlife while relaxing in fresh air. (The lightbulb is not a joke)
I asked a local at Escalante (The other one you mentioned) how to pronounce the city name and he told me everyone says it wrong, its a long A in EscalAnte not short.
In my experience there, locals call it both ways. In reality, Escalante is named after the Spanish explorer Silvestre Vélez de Escalante, which is pronounced the way I say it (as well as most everyone else here in Utah). FYI, many names in Utah are butchered and don't follow standard American English, such as Sevier River, Cache Valley, etc.
Regarding the odd ice patterns on the pond, from a comment on Facebook: The ice patterns with the hole and branching spidery limbs have puzzled people for ages. There are several theories on the ice patterns, one water fowl landing punching a hole in the ice and the ice reforming, another beavers or muskrats poking holes through the ice from below and the ice reforming. Also possible warmer gas bubbles from the bottom of the lake or pond floating up creating a warmer spot melting the ice, or even a warmer current of water rising up and melting the ice then when cooling refreezing. Thank you April!
Wow... this made me SO want to be there, right now! Thank you very much.
Now is a good time as we did get a lot of snow. You're welcome and thanks for commenting.
As usual, a great presentation! Great work.
Thank you!
Thank you for the trip and beautiful photography.
You're welcome and thanks for commenting!
Beautifully done. Thank you
You're welcome and thank you for commenting.
Excellent video! I think the bubbles in the ice are gasses from normal decomposition of organic matter at the bottom of the pond, or it could be methane. Hard to say for sure.
At ~12:00, there is what looks like an island forming in that stock tank! I suppose it formed over time from silt being pumped in from the windmill. The weird thing is it seems the rancher is maintaining the windmill but not the stock tank. I would think the windmill would have gone into disrepair long before an island could form in the stock tank like that.
Thanks for commenting and providing a possible explanation. Yea, unlike so many in the Southwest, that windmill was in great shape.
Very photogenic! A nice trip.
Thank you and thanks for commenting
Nice change of pace😉
LOL - yes, just when we all need something cool to think about. This might even make you more cool: czcams.com/video/ZIgnmNIVHVw/video.html
Lovely
If you like camping follow 18 from St George, there is an old cinder cone volcano to see, continue up to Veyo, approx 1 1/2 mi after, there is a pole with a lightbulb hanging on it (fire dept nearby). Turn right and follow the road into Pine Valley. Take a left at the post office and church, head into the NF campground. Great fishing and wildlife while relaxing in fresh air. (The lightbulb is not a joke)
I love Beaver... Utah
Fantastic footage! That dam made me a bit nervous with all the leaks-assuming it's long been out of service obviously. Still that was amazing to see!
Thank you and thanks for commenting!
I asked a local at Escalante (The other one you mentioned) how to pronounce the city name and he told me everyone says it wrong, its a long A in EscalAnte not short.
In my experience there, locals call it both ways. In reality, Escalante is named after the Spanish explorer Silvestre Vélez de Escalante, which is pronounced the way I say it (as well as most everyone else here in Utah). FYI, many names in Utah are butchered and don't follow standard American English, such as Sevier River, Cache Valley, etc.
Ok thanks snd love your channel!
Too much drone footage and not a lot of history.
This place is about the scenery. If you know some history, let me know.