Mike and Roxanne travel east

Fossil Butte National Monument Nov 4, 2007

Nov 4 53547 7:35

First stop fuel at Little America, with all the wind yesterday we are sure our mpg is really low.

Fossil Butte National Monument

50million years ago three lakes existed in the area that is now Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. Fossil Lake was the smallest of these. The area was subtropical at that time and as the lake dried left behind were a wealth of fossils in the lake sediment. This in turn made up the rocks that make up the Green River Formation.

The fossils here are mainly of freshwater fish and plants. They are remarkable for their abundance and the broad spectrum of species found here-plants, insects, reptiles, birds, mammals, and more than 20nkinds of fish.

This vibrant scene is gone now because of profound climate changes and the disappearance of the lake. But now the rocks under the scrutiny of paleontologists the fossils are being released so that park visitors can discover the past.

Just after leaving Fossil Butte we pass by eight deer that have tried to cross the road and failed. This was in a space less than a mile.

We drive into Utah and head down into the Bear Lake Valley before heading across the next mountain range and through Logan Canyon. We reach Brigham City and set up camp at a Good Sam park.