There are many interesting things one can learn by watching some YouTube videos. Many people have posted their hikes on YouTube, so Dave learned from someone’s hiking video about an interesting geological formation which is popularly known as the Vortex near the small southwest Utah town of Gunlock. Because Gunlock is nearly three thousand feet lower in elevation than Cedar City, the Vortex seemed like a reasonable destination for a hike on a cool winter day in Cedar City.

From the trailhead, the hike descends down on a trail full of black lava rock to a dry stream bed of white slick rock.

Climbing up the other side of the wash leads to red sand which is often seen in Utah’s “color country.”

The path ahead leads up a valley where red sand turns to the Navajo Sandstone common to the area.

The geological features on either side of the climb up the valley are fascinating for their variety.

Though the soil is very rocky, a variety of plants make the rocky soil their home.

Nearing the top of the rocky ridge the view of surrounding countryside opens up very nicely.

A couple Dave and Jan met on the climb offered to take a photo.

The vortex consists of two depressions in the rocky ridge which could hold water in rainy weather.

Hiking back down the rocky valley provided a nice view of the “lay of the land” Dave and Jan had climbed.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the day we know as Palm Sunday His followers were acknowledging Him as the Messiah He IS! When Pharisees called on Jesus to rebuke His followers He replied: “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out.” The stones and rocky terrain of Southwestern Utah ARE crying out in recognition of Messiah Jesus as the one who so creatively formed them!