Comb Ridge part two


		Comb Ridge part two Comb Ridge (part two) on SR-95 11 miles west of Blanding, Utah May 20, 2007. There are two commercial campgrounds in Blanding. We decided to stay in the one with some shade so we picked it but both RV-Parks were OK: $19.80 for FHU, gravel interior roads and sites. It is located on US 191 on the south side of town behind the shell station (hint, it is easy to find since Blanding is very small). Comb Ridge the visual evidence of a 65-million year old fault This is the view of Comb Ridge from the valley floor on the west side of that north south trending fault known as Comb Ridge. This block fell while the other side rose creating a lot of vertical movement. View of Comb Ridge from the valley looking east We are back on SR 95 headed back to Blanding now. This is the valley side of Comb Ridge fault we examined on our way out to Natural Bridges. This time we are climbing out of the rift valley up the face of that fault (Comb Ridge). Note the angle of those darker rocks at the top of that cliff. Keep in mind that when the tectonic plates colided here one side (Comb Ridge) was forced up while the side we are on slid under Comb Ridge. This slippage of tectonic plates occurred some 65-million years ago deep in the earth's crust. Comb Ridge is the surface scar of that event. Climbing the face of Comb Ridge essentially climbing an old fault Here we are going up the face of Comb Ridge. Keep in mind that Comb Ridge is the surface expression of a deep slippage of tectonic plates 65-million years ago. The wall of sandstone we are climbing in this picture is the west face of Comb Ridge and is the part of the earth's crust that was thrust upward when the earth to our right fell and slipped under what is now Comb Ridge. Sandstone cliff exposed at Comb Ridge This is the vertical wall of Comb Ridge as we climb out of the rift valley and negotiate our way along the edge of Comb Ridge's vertical western face on our way to the top of Comb Ridge. We are passing through sandstone that looks very similar to the sandstone layers we saw in Canyon de Chelly a few days ago. Awesome roadcut on the face of Comb Ridge the surface expression of a fault deep in the earth's crust And this is just before we enter that awesome road cut on the face of Comb Ridge. Awesome roadcut through Comb Ridge the surface expression of a major slippage of tectonic plates deep in the earth's crust Spectacular, what else can I say. Keep in mind that Comb Ridge is the visible surface scar created 65-million years ago when the west side of Comb Ridge slid under the east side resulting in the west side falling with the east side being shoved upward. Along the entire 80-mile length of Comb Ridge the vertical wall created ranges from 300' to 1,000'. Click here for the first page dedicated to Comb Ridge If you liked this Travel Adventure you might like one of these: Bluff to Mexican Hat, Utah Goosenecks on the San Juan River southern Utah Moki Dugway Moki Dugway is a series of sharp switchbacks down a steep gravel road over less than three miles: One of the best drives you will ever do. Click here for more Utah Travel Adventures More Utah Adventures Plants Trees and Flowers More 2007 Travel Adventures Mike & Joyce Hendrix Mike & Joyce Hendrix who we are We hope you liked this page. If you do you might be interested in some of our other Travel Adventures: Mike & Joyce Hendrix's home page Travel Adventures by Year Travel Adventures by State Plants Marine-Boats Geology Exciting Drives Cute Signs RV Subjects Miscellaneous Subjects** We would love to hear from you......just put "info" in the place of "FAKE" in this address: FAKE@travellogs.us Until next time remember how good life is.