Our four days exploring in Utah, continued early Saturday morning, 11/7/15, at the ‘outpost’ of Bullfrog, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area where we rented a small boat to explore nearby parts of Lake Powell, specifically Moqui Canyon. Later we would view the remarkable terrain in Natural Bridges National Monument, spend the night in Salt Lake City, and fly home Sunday, 11/8/15.
This post contains 18 images most with comments. Browse through quickly, or click on for higher visual resolution.
From our lodge, early morning…houseboats moored at Bullfrog MarinaOne of the last days of the season, there were virtually no other renters despite what I considered perfect weather.Easily enduring chilly morning temperatures, the stunning sceanery kept the cameras busy, as Holly focuses here. Seven year old Tyler was no exception.Moqui Canyon is one of hundreds of flooded canyons of the Glen Canyon portion of the Colorado River.The winding waterway, in just this one “side” canyon, goes on for a number of miles, twisting and turning with one incomparable view after another.
We beached here where Holly, Steve and Tyler climbed and explored, as I relished in the awesome surroundings.All three are in this image, as photographed from the boat.Steve , camera in hand, explores around the bend.The weather today was cool, crisp and perfect; while summertime brings temperatures near 100 deg. F. (38 deg. C.) …with an abundance of houseboats and pleasure craft, many rented for a week at a time or privately owned.Steve, Holly and grandson Tyler
I believe Lake Powell has only three access areas in its 186 mile (299 km) length and 1,960 miles (3,161 km) of shoreline, leaving plenty of exploration room.
After returning the boat, driving for a few more hours, and seeing virtualy no one on the road, (except a mounted cowhand coaxing his small herd of cattle,) we explored Natural Bridges National Monument in the later afternoon.A spectacular scenic roadway provides viewpoints for several bridges, this being Kachina, 210 ft. (64 m) high.We continued late into the night to Salt Lake City and our room. Sunday morning, day four, 11/8/15, the Wasatch Mountains caught the early sunlight as seen from our hotel (see feature image at top of this post,) and the view above was of the Utah State Capitol building as we headed back to the airport.The Colorado Rockies are below our regional jet to Denver, then the long flight home – ending our otherwise short and memorable adventure.
As usual, thanks for viewing and comments are always welcome. M 🙂
With my son Steve, daughter Holly, and seven year old grandson Tyler we spent the night in Moab, and were beginning our first full day. Now we were in the heart of the Colorado Plateau (Utah,) one of the most impressive scupltured and gorged terrains in the world.
This post contains 21 images.
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK – MORNING:
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NEXT: COLORADO RIVER SCENIC BYWAY, RT. 297 – MID DAY
The series below
These 500 foot (150m.) cliffs, right along the river, offer climbers world class rock faces.
A little further, my grandson leads the way to a fallen strata slab exposing nearly 200 million year old dinosaur tracks…AWESOME! Talk about being in his climbing glory!
Further above the tracks, Tyler “discovers” petroglyphs on the cliff faces, and uncle Steve confirms the sighting.
NOTE: PLEASE SCROLL DOWN AFTER THE BLANK AREAS ABOVE AND BELOW THE SECOND IMAGE BELOW> THE WORDPRESS EDITOR IS BEING PERSNICKETY, AND I WANT TO PUBLISH THIS BEFORE I DIE!
Along the Colorado River, Potash Road, Rt. 297
Rock Climbing
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NEXT: CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK – LATE AFTERNOON to SUNSET:
The Series Below
Incomparable switchbacks of the Shafer Trail dropping 1400 feet (426 m.) from the Caynyonlands “Island in the Sky” Mesa
The mesas to the south-east, and snow topped La Sal Mountains beyond
Holly and Tyler
the forth image below, there is a car visible just below and right of center, way down on the 100 mile long White Rim Trail, ringing the “Island” Mesa.
NEXT: BULLFROG MARINA, GLEN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA:
Under a million stars, it took five hours on virtually isolated roads to to reach our stay for the night. It was around 11:00 PM in Bullfrog, an outpost at this time of the year where the sky is virtully void of “light pollution.” This slightly wide angle picture was taken at an exposure to approximate the actual experience. It shows the winter Milky Way. Also the Andromeda Galaxy (M 31,) is visible just right and below center, some two million LY distant. Here, in this dark, moonless sky, naked eye oservers might be able to see another galaxy, elusive M33, which is also in this image, although very faint, just right of center, 1/10 up from bottom. A star cluster known as the “Double Cluster,” is to the left.
The last two days of our four day adventuere will be posted around 12/6/15
As ususal, thanks for viewing, and comments are always welcomed. M:-)
My previous post was a prelude to this short series highlighting our recent four day adventure to Utah. Along with my son, daughter and seven year old grandson, we would experience a memorable, whirlwind adventure.
Please click on any of the images for a closer look.…
My daughter, and grandson on the edge of the Great Salt Lake. She tasted and confirmed the water was indeed… SALTY. The 1700 sq. mile (4400 sq. km) lake is relatively shallow and fish-less. This lookout is from the marina just west of the city. (1:50 PM)Passing through Salt Lake City, the pretty Wasatch Mountains dominate the cloud laden South East. We were heading to Park City. (2:15 PM)Park City is a major winter skiing resort and summertime hiking hub. (3:10 PM)
The entire network of ski trails are now accessible right from downtown. This being the “shoulder” season between summer and winter, it’s open for hikers. The first snow of the season is visible on the grass. (3:17 PM)The Wastach Mountains, near Sundance, Utah (4:37 PM)A short distance up a winding alpine road, (Rt. 92,) is the trail head for 11,752 ft. (3580 m.) Mt Timpanogos, a spectacular but difficult 14 mile (22 km) RT climb which I had partially explored and nearly froze on, some years earlier. (5:09 PM)The Little Provo River winds through Robert Redford’s charming and impressive lodge in Sundance. It was a little after local sunset. (5:28 PM)Warming by the open fire-pit, we would shortly relax with dinner in the lodge and continue another 2 1/2 hours to Moab for the night.
Day two will follow shortly.
Thanks for viewing, and comments are always welcome. M 🙂
Two weeks ago as part of a memorable family cruise, Jeanne and I visited this little beach on Bermuda’s south coast.
Click on images for higher resolution.
Our first view, from the highlands above.Secluded Beach, Pristine Water, Snorkling…Places to explore…Daytrippers, like us, coming in for a taste of paradise…Fine, soft sand… nearly transparent water… It really… doesn’t get much better than this!
Thanks for viewing, and as usual… comments are always welcome. M:-)
Exploring by boat off the south-west coast of Capri, Italy 2011, we sighted this territorial confrontation.
“Sciò via” (“Shoo, Away”)
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Continuing around the island brought views of rocky shorelines and local boating heritage.
When the sun shines, the island’s coast offers stunning water clarity and colors…
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Below:Returning from our short excursion to Capri, broken clouds enhanced this nice view of Sorrento and its stunning seaside cliffs.
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Below: Not far, on the next day’s bus tour along the Amalfi Coast, was Positano, typical for this region, it being built over centuries on the steep slopes above the sea.
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Below: As seen from off-shore – a view of a few Italians relaxing on a beach along the Almafi Coast.
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Below: As seen from on-shore, a view of a few (thousand) Jersey Girls (and guys) relaxing on the beach along the New Jersey Coast (?!?)
Seaside Heights, New Jersey, August 1968! ‘Music Radio W-A-B-C…Ding’Capri is located just left of the Sorrentine Peninsula but not indicated on this map.
It was January 23rd, 1965, and I had driven through the night in a winter snowstorm from New Jersey to Niagara Falls in my parents 1960 Buick.
After seeing and photographing the falls, I continued north, first on the Canadian side, and then back in the U.S., to the mouth of the Niagara River where it flows into Lake Ontario. Heading home now, the first 30 miles or so on Rt. 18, along the lake’s southern edge, was magical …the road virtually deserted as the high winds whipped falling and drifting snow across its breath. I loved the adventure. (See end of first part for more “frigid”comments on this stretch)
The Niagara River (left) flows north into Lake Ontario (top.) I would take Rt. 18, thirty miles (48 km) along the edge of the lake to Rt. 63, then down to Batavia, and Rt. 5 east to Avon (right bottom on this 2015 Google map,) turning south on Rt. 15 towards Bath, NY.
The image below was taken around 4:00 PM before running out of film and daylight near Avon, The snow continued to fall, although more lightly, into this second night.
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I stayed overnight in a decent $8 motel in Bath, leaving at about 10:30 AM the next morning with frozen hands after cleaning off the snow covered car.
Continuing southeast on Rt. 15 brought me to to nearby Savona, where I turned left onto Rt. 226 with the anticipation of passing through Watkins Glen, noted for its automotive race track, and for me particularly, its famous 400 foot deep natural gorge and waterfalls. See this link. Seeing the gorge was not to happen. In fact I was lucky to get anywhere near it. Being a bit self assured, (think: cocky,) I didn’t mind the snow covered conditions of the back roads. But at Tyrone, (upper right in the first map below, left of center in the second) I was determined to take a more direct route, turning right off State Rt. 226, onto Schuylar County Rt. 23 (not labeled.)
This topographic map, dated 1968, does not include Interstate Highway 380 which didn’t exist at the time of this road-trip. Eventually It would vastly improve travel in New York State, as Rt 15 was out-dated, and one of the original 1926 US Highways.My adventure on County Road Rt. 24 started at it’s junction with State Road 226, (just above the label “Tyrone” above, left of center.) I was trying to go east (right) from this point, but could not make it up Huey Hill. Watkins Glen is in the bottom right corner.
It should be mentioned that the ‘few miles wide’ ridges between New York’s Finger Lakes rise from a few hundred feet to about 1000 feet (3050 m) above the lakes. Watkins Glen was on Seneca Lake over one of these ridges, and Huey Hill was in my way. Starting from the intersection at the bottom, I was able to reach about 40 mph (64 kmh) before losing traction on the hill. But I just couldn’t make it to the top. I backed the Buick down and tried again, gaining only a few more feet. The third time, with more initial speed, ended in similiar defeat as the tires just could not maintain their grip on the snowy surface. I felt I was in control, but the “slide-o-matic” Buick just couldn’t maintain any further, upward-forward traction! (Of course, 4 wheel drive, good tires and posi-traction would have helped.) Today (2015) I know it was 1.8 miles (2.9 km) from the intersection to the top with a vertical gain of about 600 feet (1830 m.)
Sulking a bit, it took me a while more to get to Watkins Glen by a much longer, gradually climbing (and descending) state road. And then, upon arrival, the Watkins Glen State Park was closed! I think I was a little relieved.
After 7 more hours, at 7:30 PM, I was back in New Jersey after nearly 1000 miles over about 47 hours, and expenses of about $46.
Immediatly after, my Dad and I had a “conversation!”
Just another interesting week-end.
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The camera: a 1960 Exacta (EXA) 35 mm manual SLR, f2.8 50 mm lens. Body composition: finger-freezing metal!
As usual, thanks for viewing, and comments are always welcome.M 🙂
Posting this in N.J. on a windy, cold day (wind chill: zero F (-18 C)) brings these warmer images to mind, part of a southwest (U.S.) vacation some time ago when we rented a small boat and explored a number of the 190 spectacular winding sandstone canyons of (man-made) Lake Powell, and swam in it’s deep blue waters.
The “noodle” was a good idea as the waters are over 500′ (152m) deep in places.
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The entrance to Forbiding Canyon is some 60 statute miles (96 km) east of Wahweap Marina. About five incredibly beautiful miles further, are the Rainbow Bridge boat docks.
Small boats and houseboats provide the only reasonable access to Rainbow Bridge.
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Just after approaching between towering cliffs, the natural sandstone arch, which IS Rainbow Bridge, can be seen here to the left.
Rainbow Bridge, 580′ (177m high, is one of the worlds largest natural arches, basically inaccessible by car.
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Once docked, there is a short but warm hike to the arch.
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Below: It’s awesome. Only after the Glen Canyon Dam was completed in 1963, and the Colorado River flooded, was Rainbow Bridge accessible for most.
Rainbow Bridgeour rental boat in the Rainbow Bridge dockage-area marina around 12 noon
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Back in the boat, we headed out and had lunch in narrow seclusion among towering formations, affording shade from the hot sun.
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Although we would boat about 140 miles round trip today (225 km,) we never tired of the remarkable scenery, allowing stops for exploring and swimming.
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House boats and other watercraft rentals are available throughout most of the year on Lake Powell, the “reservoir” located mostly just above the Arizona State line, as seen in the satelite photo and maps below.
Forbidding Canyon. The main lake is above this section, out of the picture above; and Rainbow Bridge would be just out of the picture, below the dockage area at the lower right. This image is about 2.5 miles (4 km) wide.
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Below, Lake Powell, from Google Maps. Wahweap to the left, Rainbow Bridge to the right.
Thanks for viewing, and as usual comments are always welcome. M 🙂
