The site where we camped was, in past years, the unofficial city dump for Rockville and the surrounding towns.
Washington County is amazing in the winter. It's amazing any time of the year, especially when you venture into Zion National Park, but winter, well, I'll say that's my favorite time to be there.
A view up the road to Smithsonian Butte, on the first day of our arrival. A light smattering of clouds in the evening sky, but no hint of the fury to come.
Not only do you escape the heat, but you are hit with beauty you wouldn't otherwise see. Being situated where it is, its climate is much warmer than the rest of Utah, and the foliage is as vivid and bright as spring. The only downside is the speed at which the weather changes.
A similar view, but about 20 hours later. The clouds darkened the landscape considerably, providing an ominous aura that hinted to the impending fury.
When we arrived in Rockville, the weather was sunny, cloudless, but cool. It was only going to get colder. Our intent of this trip was to visit the ghost town of Grafton, and when we woke up the next morning, it was cloudy with a slight misty drizzle dropping from the heavens. It was also much colder. The rain quickly turned to snow, and the red and green landscape turned monochromatic.
The road to Rockville. Snow has a magical quality that transforms landscapes. It also tends to cause vehicles to slip, which is what prompted me to jump out and take this picture.
That night the storm dumped several inches of snow, and the temperatures dropped below freezing. We stayed warm in our Kifaru teepee (with help from the wood-burning stove), but upon waking found our vehicle to be encrusted with ice and completely frozen solid. Funnily enough, the only things we had to pry the doors open were our pocketknives and a spatula.
Enjoy, and be thankful for cooking utensils,
Josh
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