|
Photoshoot: UTAH - end
of September,
early October 2005 *
Click on the thumbnail for a larger version and/or
on the link to the page with many more photos
from that particular area.
Sorry, this page may be slow to load.
* My itinerary: The trip began with a flight from
Seattle to Grand
Junction, Colorado. I picked up a car ( a cute PT Cruiser) and
drove west and south to Blanding, Utah for a two night stay.
The next day was spent going back north to Monticello and then
west and north on Hwy. 211 to the Needles area of Canyonlands.
It was a strenuous day to atempt to see the 'elusive' Needles.
I was unable to hike close enough or get high enough to photograph
them! On day 2 I drove south from Blanding and west on Hwy 95
heading toward Boulder, Utah. I visited the Natural Bridges National
Monument and again stalled out on a decent hike because of the
change in elevation to get to the valley floor to be able to
look up at the arches. (the first ladder looked too scary!) On
to Hite and crossing of the Colorado River in the Glen Canyon
Nat. Rec. Area. Further north at Hanksville I turned west again
on Hwy 24 through Capitol Reef without taking any photos at the
time. I turned south now on Hwy 12 and drove to Boulder (Utah)
where I stayed three nights at the Boulder Mountain Lodge.
One of the important reasons for this return trip to Boulder
was to attempt the hike the Calf Creek Falls Trail. At 6 miles
round trip that's really my limit, but I was determined. So I
took 2 bottles of water, lunch and yummy cookies and didn't care
if it would take me all day. Luckily I only needed help at one
spot coming back out. I am quite proud that I accomplished this
'task'.
The nest day I drove almost to the town of Escalante , turned
south on the Hole-in-the-Rock road to visit the Devil's Garden.
Back to the highway I continued on past Tropic to the Mossy Creek
Trail which is just under Bryce National Park which I had visited
last December. The following day I attempted to follow the Burr
Trail road to the Waterpocket Fold road, but I became a bit lost
and discouraged at being in such a remote area without several
days provisions! (I admit to getting stuck in the mud for a few
minutes!) So I turned around and back north to Torrey for a three
night stay. Capitol Reef National Park was my main interest and
I was thrilled by all the photo opportunities. The second day,
tiring a bit from so much red-rock photography, I went west for
the afternoon in search of fall colors in the Fish Lake area
north of Loa. The next moring I was headed east (I'm generally
going in a big circle), again through Capitol Reef toward Hanksville.
From there I turned north and found the fascinating Goblin Valley
State Park. Photography was very difficult ... the wind was ferocious!
Finally hwy. 24 met up with I-70 at Green River and I was completing
the circle back to Moab for the last four nights of my journey
... with Arches National Park being the absolute highlight! The
last day while sitting at another stopping point along a trail,
(Fisher Tower) when the going gets too tough, I sat reviewing
the memories of all the spots I had photographed and realized
again how much adventures like this mean to me. I know I passed
up a few places (and I don't get up at the crack of dawn) but
I'm not unhappy with the shots I came home with. Your comments
are, of course, welcome.
Eleanor, October 18, 2005
My next major trip will take me back to Australia
in May. The highlight will be a trip along the Gibb River Road
in the far outback of the Kimberley region of Western Australia. |
