Last Red Rock Trip of the Year! (sigh.....)

I had to take one last trip south, in part because my two older daughters begged me to after taking their sister last month. (Don't think they wanted to be outdone by a 7 year old...... ;-) )

I was glad we took the opportunity, the cottonwood trees were changing and the skies were blue. Perfect weather! I decided to go minimalist seeing as I have been to this area so much, so I left most of my lenses in the car and took only my Pentax SMC K 28mm f3.8 and my DFA 100mm f2.8 Macro into the slot. Didn't need the DFA 100 at all..... It was kind of fun to go back to the basics with manual focus and manual aperture control and check you metering etc...

Purists will likely think I have too many photos in this post. Feh, I say, FEH! I like 'em! All shots taken with the 28 unless noted otherwise. And no, no polarizer was used.

The cottonwood trees in the wash at the exit of the canyon always amaze me, how did they survive flash floods and grow and flourish. Amazing what mother nature can do.

These shots are quite different though taken just steps apart. I think the first is better composed.

I wonder how many people over how many years have walked this streambed, did ancient peoples thousands of years ago walk up these canyons and enjoy the beauty? Or were they reserved for more sacred rituals? Would they travel out of their way to see it like so many of us do?

The manifold shades of yellow/red at times almost overwhelm and yet to the observant eye are so varied as to astound the soul of those that get to see them.

The intricate interplay between the sedimentary rock and the weathering and wearing away of the surface by water and wind create fantastical beauty. Sometimes the shape or form is more important than the color of the rock. Monochrome emphasizes the textures of the tortured rock.

Heading into the bowels of the rock you look back to see from whence you came, eager to experience the darkness but hesitant to leave the light.

Millions of years of sediments compressed into a few short steps, walls of rocky swiss cheese allow you to view the time capsule.

Deep in the canyon some areas widen out, allowing you to see the secret fortresses of rock that tower over the deep crevasses. The sheer massiveness of the scene almost more than your mind can comprehend.

Exiting into the wash almost leaves you regretting the experience, yet relishing the secret locked in your memory knowing that you shall renew it again someday.

Always taking the scenic route when time allows, returning to Buckhorn Draw required no decision simply acquiescence to the lure of dirt roads and towering cliffs.

The changing leaves add to the melancholy feeling, knowing that my visits for the season are done, yet glorying in the change of the seasons that make it worth the trip.

The realization that you have indeed traveled such an austere and rugged landscape with such ease fills your mind with awe at the hardiness of those who have traveled the land before you, on foot, horseback, or even simply without air conditioning.....

2 day adventure day 1

Spontaniety is highly underrated. took the opportunity to run away on a semi spontaneous trip with my youngest child, who at 7 years old has been begging to go to see some of the places I go to take pictures and hike. Knowing that the Goblin Valley area is fairly benign and quite beautiful I readily agreed.

We traveled there by way of the Buckhorn Wash and Wedge areas of the San Rafael Swell in central Utah. Well worth the time if you ever get here to visit. The road is in great shape and almost any car can be driven on it, and the scenery is just splendid!

Fromt he Wedge you can see the "Little Grand Canyon" area, which indeed looks kind of like the name suggests....

The Buckhorn Wash proper is a fantastic drive going through towering Navajo sandstone walls and cottonwood tree filled washes. Having the leaves starting to change was an unexpected treat.

There is a pictograph panel that is more than worth your time as well, it is literally right at the side of the road. Barrier style is just fascinating to look at. The littlest photographer of the family had fun looking at them.

 

Looking back up the road after exiting the draw is a splendid vista that I want to repeat, but driving in from the south end. The anticipation of watching this come at you in the windscreen would be delicious indeed!

Arriving in Goblin Valley just before Dark after hiking Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon (Photographed by me many time before) we quickly set up camp and took a stroll. Watching the moon peek around the colors of the sunset behind us was refreshingly peaceful.

Thanks for wanting to come on this trip little one.

Two day adventure day 2

Getting up in the morning was easy with the light that was showing. We drove just a mile down to the main hoodoo area, and stooged around a little. For some reason my littlest was not as fascinated as I would have thought with Goblin Valley, what I get for showing her the Wedge Overlook first.....

We left and headed out for Capitol Reef, did a quick drop in at the visitors center and headed up the Hartnet Road to Cathedral Valley. I always stop to see my old friend here. What a character!

Driving with a 7 year old does make it harder to take off from the road and explore, but as long as a DVD player is available for the more "Boring" parts you can stop and shoot from right next to the car. Love that this area is amenable to that!

After lunching at Cathedral Valley CG, it was time to drive a road I have not fully explored before, the Thousand Lakes Mountain Road to UT 72. Turns out this is a great road in the fall, quakies turning color amid juniper and sagebrush is a neat combination.

It is a pretty great road once you get past the rougher parts in Capitol Reef. They really need to grade that thing!

We also made a point to drive through Huntington Canyon to Fairview to visit my Brother and Sister in Law's store there. Glad I did, the views from up on the top are magnificent!

Some More Rockin Temple Photos!

These were all shot fairly rapidly in a short period of time, bracketing like crazy... Why? Well I had about 10-15 minutes of sunlight poking through the clouds right before sunset. Sometimes you are in the right place and ready and the light doesn't come. Sometimes you are in the wrong place with no or wrong equipment and the light comes unexpectedly. Yeah that drives a photographer CRAZY!!!!! Then there are the times you are in the right place at the right time and are prepared... and you get it right. Or at least as right as your skill level allows. This was that kind of moment. My friend I was shooting with did better I think, but hey... he is a pro!