Travels of a Paradox: East on I-70

As we headed east on I-70 we ran through increasingly interesting formations along the roadway.

This area was a part of an ancient sea that repeatedly flooded and dried, leaving layers upon layers of different types of materials. This area is also rich in fossil beds many dinosaur remains were trapped by one cataclysm or another. How many different strata can you count in this photo?

As we ascended, both sides of the road were framed by fascinating cuts revealing past eons.

Mesas were perched atop slopes littered with fallen of rocks and boulders.

Differences in materials deposited are dramatically illustrated here.

Here, softer lower strata are rapidly deteriorating due to wind and water erosion, freezing and thawing, and the sheer weight of the harder strata above. Veins of salt have also contributed to forming this landsape. Billions of years ago this area was covered by salty seas. They evaporated and reflooded repeatedly leaving layers of salt. Under the pressure, these salt layers behaved like an extremely viscous liquid and was extruded from beneath the heavy overlying rock. In this photo, the rock above is slowly collapsing into the vacated space created as the softer lower layer deteriorates. Obviously, the process is more complex than this.

You can see just about anything you can imagine in the shapes in the rocks and formations here. This one reminds us of a cupcake with a cherry on top.

Roadside view areas revealed beautiful vistas, such as this one. Penny kept gasping, oooing, and aahing. I appreciated her expressing what I was feeling and thinking. Guess that is one reason we are still married after almost 32 years.