Before getting to this weeks desktop, there's a couple of things I wanted to remind you about.  First, expect the next update to be a little late as missed this one so bad (probably around the 9th).   Jan 14th update should be on time as I expect the rest of the month to be.  (:   Second, the previous weeks wallpaper is always still available by clicking the preview to the left found on this page.  Enjoy!

Above is this weeks free desktop.  This week we travel to southern Utah, back to a park which has been featured here several times, Bryce Canyon National Park.  For those unfamiliar with Bryce Canyon NP, the main feature of the park is erosion shaped pillars of colorful limestone, sandstones, and mudstones called hoodoos.  These marvels are scattered throughout the park, most of the time in huge groups.  There is a centrally located road running through the park and it offers many varying views from many easily accessible overlooks.  For further enjoyment, the Bryce Amphitheater section has several side roads with overlooks on some of the most magnificent formations found here.  The picture featured this week was taken June 2007 while walking the Rim Trail between Sunrise Point and Fairyland Point.  Here we are looking back toward Sunrise Point and Sunset Point highlighting the saturation of hoodoos in the area.  There are a few things I'd like to point out here, with the first being the trail clearly visible in the shot.  This is the Fairyland Loop Trail which descends into the Campbell and then Fairyland Canyon.  This is a wonderful 7-8 mile hike winding through some beautiful scenery, but it does have over 1000 foot elevation drop coming from the rim down into the canyons.  If you focus on the trail to the left side here, where it's completely exposed, there are a least three hiker clearly visible walking on the trail (two together, one solo).  They're being pointed out to once again try to give you a perspective on the scope of these formation.  Lastly, staying on the left side and looking just above the trail, there is a flat topped, light colored formation, this is the Chinese Wall.  With the staggering, expansive views of the surrounding mountains and plateaus (it is possible on clear days to see over 100 miles from some points) from some of the overlooks and close to 50 miles of excellent hiking trails which take you into the heart of the park, thus enabling a close up experience well worth the effort required tackling the terrain, this park offers both excellent hiking and sightseeing opportunities.  But a word of warning before you head out, the elevation here is 7000 to 9000ft with most trails ending with you coming back up out of a canyon, not the easiest thing if you're one not use to the elevation (I speak from own personal experience here (; ).  Bryce Canyon is a park which can offer extended opportunities for many days of exploring, or if you wish, you can still have rewarding experience in just a single, wonderful day. 

To set this photo as your desktop, click on the box with the correct size.  Right-click on the image and select the option to "save/set as desktop or wallpaper."  You're done!  If you wish to change the desktop image, simply right-click on your desktop, select Properties, and then select the tab labeled Backgrounds in your display control panel