Each year, I try to make at least one photographic expedition to one of my favourite areas, the red rock country of northern Arizona and southern Utah. This past week, I was accompanied by two good friends, Barry Stewart and Bill McAdam on a four-day trek that included five specific destinations: Lee’s Ferry, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Horseshoe Bend and Coal Mine Canyon. In addition, we made numerous stops along the way. There is no limit to the photographic choices available.
Today’s post features a half dozen of my favourites from the trip, beginning with this scene from Lee’s Ferry, a site on the Colorado River, about 7.5 miles (12.1 km) southwest of Page and 9 miles (14 km) south of the Utah–Arizona border. Historically it served as an important river crossing and a military outpost. Today Lee’s Ferry is a well-known fishing and boat launching point, including departures for whitewater rafting trips through the Grand Canyon.
This next shot was taken as we left Lee’s Ferry en route to Springdale, Utah. The photograph features the Vermilion Cliffs, a prominent geologic feature in this area.
One of the highlights of our trip was Zion National Park, located near Springdale, Utah. My chosen photo from this area for today shows Johnson Mountain, just behind our hotel in Springdale.
We enjoyed consistently good weather for our trip, with a particularly brilliant day at Bryce Canyon National Park. It was quite cool upon our arrival but the morning chill was soon dispelled by the warming sun. Bryce Canyon’s rim is located at an elevation of 8,000 ft (2,438 m), so springtime arrives a little later there, as evidenced by patches of snow we saw in the bottom of the canyon. My photo selection for today’s post shows the brilliant colours of Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos (columns or pinnacles of weathered rock), literally aglow in the morning sunlight.
This photo was taken at Horseshoe Bend, near Page, AZ. Perhaps not as spectacular as shots of the 1,000 ft deep gorge for which Horseshoe Bend is known, but it’s an excellent illustration of the sedimentary deposits of the Colorado plateau and a fascinating photo subject. The very thin, delicate layers bring to mind mille feuilles pastry, otherwise known as “Napoleons”.
Today’s last image is from Coal Mine Canyon, located in the Navajo Nation Reservation, near Tuba City, AZ. This photograph features a narrow branch off the main canyon,
I have too many pictures for a single post, so I will publish some subsequent blogs covering some of the destinations we visited, hiked and photographed. Stay tuned.
Really disappointed I could not join you. Great pics … anxiously await subsequent pics…. Paul