the Photos for Life Blog » Southwest US

The Valley of Fire

Mike — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 02:51:15 +0000

We wanted to try to make it to the Valley of Fire before sunset, so we left Zion and high-tailed it towards Vegas. We almost made it…another 10 minutes and it would have been amazing I think, but we arrived just a bit too late. So these ones aren’t as dramatic as they could have been. Another stop for next time I guess

Organic looking rocks, volcanic I imagine.

When we got to a formation called the Four Sisters (I think) we saw a couple silhouetted against the setting sun. How could I resist?

Turns out they were married at that very spot the day before They took one of us too:

And the sign, on the way back to Vegas

This was our last stop. We went back to Vegas to catch our flight home…the redeye. Absolutely fantastic trip.

…Mike

Zion in IR

Mike — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 18:49:05 +0000

…Mike

Zion National Park

Mike — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 02:35:19 +0000

We arrived at Zion in the late afternoon. To get there we had to go through a long tunnel that went right through one of the mountains (I don’t have any photos of that as you are not allowed to stop). It took about 10 minutes to go through the whole thing, and it was followed by a set of switchbacks to take us to the floor of the canyon.

Cars are not allowed into the canyon itself; instead, there are a series of buses that leave every 10 minutes to take you to the various spots within. We arrived with enough time to make it about half way in before the light gave out and went in search of a hotel.

Those crescent-shaped cutouts in the rock are how the canyon was formed: softer rock below erodes until the rock above collapses in that distinctive shape.

The next day we headed back into the canyon. At the far end, the walls close in quite suddenly and the only way to go further is creekwalking. We had no idea though; if he did we would have rented the shoes and pants and stuff and gone for a walk. This is high on our list of things to do the next time we go back.

Lots of climbers were doing their thing too.

This was at the end of a trail called the emerald pools.

…Mike

Mossy Cave

Mike — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:27:00 +0000

After we left Bryce we headed for Zion, stopping along the way at this spot, called Mossy Cave. Obviously still close enough to take advantage of the same geological traits as Bryce.

The trail’s namesake. There’s still ice inside too.

A nice diversion, but after spending the day hiking in Bryce…well, you know.

…Mike

Bryce in IR

Mike — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:23:35 +0000

I can’t get enough of my IR camera!

This one is my current desktop image:

…Mike

Hiking in Bryce Canyon

Mike — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 19:03:47 +0000

After breakfast we spent most of the day hiking down in Bryce Canyon.

No wonder I was a bit short of breath!

The view from the edge, although it does no justice to actually being there.

Another spot I can’t wait to get back to!

…Mike

Sunrise at Bryce Canyon

Mike — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 15:01:21 +0000

Bryce Canyon is another one of those places that I have been dying to get to for years. It’s also one of those places that you have to experience firsthand to get the feel for it. It’s just too cool for words, and most photos too…even though I tried! Highly recommended.

I got up before sunrise to see the show…and what a show it was!

This was in taken in pre-dawn light:

And then, the sun came up:

These are lit by the light reflected off the cliffs to my right:

The colours in the earth really are dramatic here…everything from deep reds through oranges and yellows to pale creams.

I headed back to have some breakfast before Christine and I returned to hike down into the canyon!

…Mike

Bryce Canyon Lodge

Mike — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 04:46:38 +0000

We got to Bryce Canyon late…later than we thought actually because we had forgotton that Arizona is in a time zone 1 hour ahead. We stayed at the Bryce Canyon Lodge, in the Ebeneezer Bryce suite to boot! I had no idea beforehand it was going to be the best room in the place. Better than the Days Inn the night before!

The next morning we got a better view

…Mike

Mile Marker 19 and the Toadstool Hoodoo

Mike — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 22:37:51 +0000

The person at the tourist office also put us on to a spot along the way to Bryce Canyon, our next destination. She said there was no sign, but to stop at mile marker 19 and walk off into the desert for a bit. So we did!

It was a longer walk than we thought, about 25 minutes…

This is the hoodoo…pretty neat looking. Reminds me of Drumheller.

There was other stuff to see as well…

…Mike

Horseshoe Bend

Mike — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 20:18:48 +0000

After we were done with Antelope Canyon, we went to the visitor center in Page to ask about the Wave, a really neat looking rock formation that I had heard of. Turns out it is a very protected area, and they let in only 20 people a day! They distribute the passes by lottery the day before, so we missed the boat on that one.

Instead, we got a great recommendation to visit a spot called Horseshoe Canyon literally 2 miles away, so off we went. It is a giant bend in the Colorado River that you can get up close and personal with. So we finally got to see some water

It was a hike through the desert to get there…see?

…Mike