What's that? ---a Reef?
Whoa! Isn’t that by, you know, water?

Well, usually, but the seafaring pioneers who entered this area looked at the elongated folds of rock around them and thought: "reef". And waterpockets are the natural catch basins for rain and snowmelt. Hence the Waterpocket Fold. On top of that, the area’s rounded white sandstone features strongly resemble the domes of capitol buildings. So there you have it: Capitol Reef National Park.

An early morning visitor to the park campground. (photo by Don Laine)

We've blocked 30 standard rooms at the Sandstone Inn fromMonday through Saturday nights, June 6 to 11, for those who want to arrive early. Cost for RMOWP members for one or two people is $62 plus tax per night for the standard room, and there are also a limited number of more upscale rooms, with microwave and fridge, for $10 more per night. To make reservations contact the Sandstone at 800-458-0216 or sandstoneinn@yahoo.com, and tell them you're with the Rocky Mountain Outdoor Group. Our block of rooms will be held until May 6.

Good news for campers: There is a very nice commercial campground with full RV hookups nearby - the Wonderland - and the national park also has a delightful campground, with plenty of shade but no RV hookups or showers.

Join us at Capitol Reef National Park for an abundance of beautiful red rock scenery, historic sites, and fun sidelines (reputedly this was once the hangout of Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and the Hole in the Wall gang). Maybe we'll see a ghostly cowboy or two.

Conference organizers are busily completing plans for yet another great conference. Questions? E-mail info@RMOWP.org.