Photo: "In The White Pocket"

I have always loved the landscapes of Utah; around every bend in the road, the rock and sand changes. This area of the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument is no different. 

We arrived here late in the evening, the 4x4 road to get to this spot took longer than we anticipated, just as the sun was setting. We grabbed our gear and ran out to be surrounded by this fascinating landscape. 

We were the only people for miles and it was perfect. 

Photo: "The Time Has Passed"

 
 

When this Alabama State Hospital was constructed in the late 1800's, there was no electricity and air conditioning. These doors, leading into patient rooms, contained slats to ventilate the room. At some point, likely in the early 1920's, the door slats were covered on the inside. 

Sadly, this asylum has since been demolished. 

Photo: "Perseid Meteor Shower"

 
 

Today I'm heading up north towards the Lakes Basin / Sierra City area for 4x4 adventures and camping. It's a beautiful area with lots to see and if we're lucky, we'll nab a campsite right on a lake. 

Last time I was up here, in August, it was during the Perseid Meteor Shower, which was the first time I actually got up for a few hours in the middle of the night to watch the sky. 

Photo: "Isolation 920B"

Bryce State Hospital was one of the most beautiful asylums I have visited. Most of the architecture was fairly plain within the wards, but the decay was beautiful and there were elements in this building I had never seen before. 

Sadly, the wings of this 1850's era building were demolished in 2014, when the nearby University purchased the property. The Administration section of the building remains, and will likely be turned into a museum, but the wards that hold the patient's history are gone forever.