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- Apr 20, 2013
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Though I have a few reports that I could share. The most recent is always the easiest to get motivated to do the work to post.
Since I was up with the Aggies crushing Hawaii, and another trip is on its way next week... Well, I thought I would post this one.
I probably should have pared down the pics, but heck. Next time I will be more judicious.
A couple of weeks ago we took advantage of a weekend without soccer. It was mostly on a whim. Thought about the week before, but not acted on until the week of. Weather was going to be cool or even cold, had some potential for wet, but mostly fell in the days between bands of rain.
I had contemplated taking all four kids, but the younger two were less interested in the cold nights. So it became just the oldest two, who were given some options, and chose a familiar place.
When the petrified sand looks like this. Even if it is a little chilly at night. Little wind. No bugs. No heat. Few people.
It is magic.
The night before I actually took a pic of the food and car goodies, minus things like the salami and pastrami. Lately all I have time to do are short trips, and I have been fond of the heavier, non freeze dried foods. Especially in the shoulder season when a good meal is needed for a long, cool night. On an overnight it is almost always Pho ramen or something similar. If it is a couple or a few nights... something else is needed to go with my bad sweet tooth and snacking habit.
Wherever the wind blows... Unknown first night destination.
The drive in the afternoon went by quickly. Singing a few songs. Talking about school. A little niggling concern about where to spend the first night.
Add in a few scattered snow squalls.
To avoid making dinner, I got the kids a footlong sandwich in Torrey. I had a couple cheesesteaks earlier that we had made for a work lunch, so I was good.
It was snowing on Boulder. So I wanted to see what we could find on the busy weekend on this side.
We drove out to Panorama Point, passing the at large campsites. Now that Fruita is reserved online, that place is always full and the growing crowds spread out to look elsewhere...
One of the little cabin places advertised $45 and vacancy. It was tempting... but no. Cheap was the word for this trip, not glamping.
The at large right before the entrance to CRNP was RV city. It looked like a sunbird trailer park in Lake Havasu or Kingman.
We drove past.
It did not matter.
The departing storm was beautiful.
We went back to a place I had seen that was empty, and passed time going on a hike that was equally empty and usually sees far less use.
It was beautiful.
Still one of my favorites of the year.
Snow squalls clearing off Boulder Mountain.
We were getting muddy feet while the lifting mist started to let in the golden light.
Just before this pic I scraped my forehead really good on a dead juniper branch that I did not see. Had a gash from the middle of my forehead to my ear. Stupidly not watching where I was turning, but good thing it was not my eye. I pulled out this cheap muff thing and tied it off to stop the bleeding. It only would make me more beautiful for all those IG shots I take...
As a kid I loved castles. These are sandstone versions that rise from the Chinle.
As we hiked back the scene was fitting for it being nearly Halloween, or maybe as a scene from The Birds. Ravens were returning from the fields to roost by the literal hundreds. My son ran up to me all excited. "Dad, stop and listen. You can hear the swoosh of their wings."
I smiled. It is one of my favorite sounds. Especially in a canyon.
We stayed the night a bit uncomfortably in the back of the jeep. The mud was frozen by midnight, but the thought of setting up a tent might take away the possibility I had of sunrise from one of the Boulder Mountain overlooks.
By 6am windows were defrosted and we were cruising up Highway 12 alone.
We pulled into the main overlook.
I put up my tripod as red light spread beyond the Henry's and La Sals.
Mice ran around across my feet in the near darkness. My kids stayed in the jeep and played a game.
A group of photogs with camera gear and lenses that would pay for most of my house pulled in and setup noisily.
The light got better.
Younger kids pulled up and took videos and selfies with their phones. I laughed quietly, occasionally reframing or pressing the remote shutter every once in a while.
As soon as the sun started to crest the Henry's, the photog group clambered back into their vehicles and were gone. I wandered off into the boulders smiling. Sure, I wished for a better setup and longer lens, but I was there for the joy of it. They missed some of the best stuff. imho
First night and side trip were out of the way. Now the real trip could begin.
Except for one couple who we passed us a few miles in and leapfrogged the rest of the way. We did not see anyone for hours. My son and daughter did not squabble much, exception being my daughter complaining about my son, who was leading, and his tendency to stop suddenly to look at a rock or for no reason.
We had almost two miles down before a poptart and granola breakfast.
The juniper, pinyon and sage flats were frosty. Mist was rising as the wet sand and frost met the sunlight.
The crypto was blooming green and yellow in places. The sand being frozen in spots made it all a dream.
Still I smiled.
Views got better.
and Better.
My kids oooed and awed at the view. Contemplating it briefly. Which is a long time for teens and preteens.
We lingered in the sun for a couple of hours. Shoes off. Half in sunshine, half in shade.
We ate pastrami and salami.
My son climbed up everything he could.
A gentle breeze blew.
Still high in the top 5 favorite views.
I smiled.
Eventually we made our way down. Our only distraction was a good sized Racer that I almost stepped on very near the bottom. My son chased it for a little while and had it snap at him, but I never could get a picture of its head. It was too fast. I finally convinced him to let it be.
The canyon bottom proved the only sore point of the trip. As we did an out and back, it would be a sore point both ways.
This disappointed me some.
In my childhood, the canyon bottoms were a wonder. I loved the stream crossings, the smell of decaying leaves, wet sand, the bouquet for the senses. The living things all fighting for the precious wet, damp, cool place.
My kids mostly complained.
It did not matter. I still love it.
I still flashed my pearly whites at the views.
We did the nearly dozen crossings and pushed through the poison ivy.
The colors in places were amazing.
Once we hit our exit, they both dutifully washed their legs and ankles while I filtered some water for the evening, and then we pushed onward and upward.
They were tired. My normal pains were there, but no matter. Today's goal was in sight.
I found a place.
We setup the tent. Wandered. Talked. Took naps.
Dinner was eaten just before the bluebird sky started to go violet with the belt of Venus.
Hot Ramen with some torn ham for the kids, and Tom-Yum Ramen with ham for dad. It tasted great and warmed cold hands.
So here is one question.
The spirals in the pic below.
It seems these are likely just "recent" work.
Does anyone know what gives?
I have looked online, but do not see any mention.
I forgot to get a closer picture of them, because I did not have my camera the first time we went down by them to check them out. But look at the spirals in the 4 o-clock below.
They took a fair bit of effort. Those lava boulders are heavy. Especially the ones in the lefthand circle.
As night fell we played a few games, and talked under a cloudless sky that was filling with stars. It was silent but for an occasional breeze and a few songs we played.
The next morning I was out early. I do like the very early, predawn shots.
No tripod, but a couple rocks helped out.
The rising sun, potholes, reflections, tell-tale clouds.
Spectacular!
You know that scene in The Holy Grail? where Lancelot is charging Swamp castle?... These next few are like that.
It's for fun.
Getting closer to these fantastic Ponderosas.
Then in your face. Bam!
"It would not be good for my... my...."
"Your idiom sir?"
The rim views were great. Even as it clouded up and produced a few morning sprinkles.
I waited a long time for this chiarascuro. Leaving my kids as I sat high on the rim watching clouds.
Smiling and then beaming when it finally came.
Later...
Eventually we packed up as the clouds started to clear out. The kids were not interested in going farther. Which was sad, no new ground this trip. I had gone a quarter of a mile in during the morning and tried to talk them into it, but no luck.
Back down into the canyon we went.
More color.
The climb out had my son's largest flare up. He was a little cold, wet and tired.
I tried to be patient.
The bit of anger fueled him up on the climb. He is funny to follow because he does not pay attention and misses the cairns and trail that seem so easy for my daughter and I to see. So I would let him take some wrong turns and wait patiently for him right where he left the trail, until he cliffed out or went the hard way. Sometimes he growled at me, but as we neared the top, the climb beat it out of him and soon he was smiling again.
Just like his dad.
One of the times at the end where he kept his own space.
We lunched on tuna and crackers, then napped in the same spot as the day previous. It was much warmer. We wandered about barefoot on the cool sandstone.
Eventually we wandered off to find a spot for that night. I had a spot in mind, and with only a couple of complaints we were there with just a bit more effort.
The scenery was still beautiful along every turn.
For some reason these little enclaves amaze me. Little micro ecosystems in a sea of harsh, desert stone. Lit by wonderful golden light.
We found some lithic scatter. My son was there for a half hour. One of the places had far less than a previous visit. Sadly.
Back at camp. The Sunset was worth it.
More smiling as I ate my pouch of Fish People Bouillabasse and the kids had Lipton Teriyaki. We laughed about stinky farts caused by canyon water and junk food.
Blue Hour... or Lavender.
My son thought he could still enter Reflections at school. So we talked about what he wanted to do. Turns out they were due the week before we left, but not knowing that, he came up with and took this shot of me. In the dark I hit the ground a bit harder than I would have liked and smashed my fingers on the sandstone. Now the tips of two of my fingers were bleeding and throbbing.
I still had blood in my ear from day one.
We smiled.
We enjoyed another peaceful night. It had cooled so much when the sun went down, I had thought we were in for a cold one, but it turned out fine. As we were talking geese flew over, honking. Then came back again. We laughed that they must be lost and the wife was probably honking at the husband.
It was a wonderful night with just a little sprinkling of rain in the wee early hours.
I woke up early again. Going to bed at 10pm does this to me. So after an hour or so of headphones... at 6am I snuck out and wandered.
"I don't know why, but it looked like a tiger striped sky..."
Crocodile... or Alligator. From here, I cannot tell the difference. Just like chipmunk or squirrel...
The golden light and sandstone.
Sorry, but I just had to indulge in multiple photos here. For those who are still paying attention.
Last one.
The hike out again was peaceful. The mileage was fairly easy. The sky steely gray. The rain started to drizzle the last hundred feet.
Still, I was smiling. But sad to have to leave.
Since I was up with the Aggies crushing Hawaii, and another trip is on its way next week... Well, I thought I would post this one.
I probably should have pared down the pics, but heck. Next time I will be more judicious.
A couple of weeks ago we took advantage of a weekend without soccer. It was mostly on a whim. Thought about the week before, but not acted on until the week of. Weather was going to be cool or even cold, had some potential for wet, but mostly fell in the days between bands of rain.
I had contemplated taking all four kids, but the younger two were less interested in the cold nights. So it became just the oldest two, who were given some options, and chose a familiar place.
When the petrified sand looks like this. Even if it is a little chilly at night. Little wind. No bugs. No heat. Few people.
It is magic.
The night before I actually took a pic of the food and car goodies, minus things like the salami and pastrami. Lately all I have time to do are short trips, and I have been fond of the heavier, non freeze dried foods. Especially in the shoulder season when a good meal is needed for a long, cool night. On an overnight it is almost always Pho ramen or something similar. If it is a couple or a few nights... something else is needed to go with my bad sweet tooth and snacking habit.
Wherever the wind blows... Unknown first night destination.
The drive in the afternoon went by quickly. Singing a few songs. Talking about school. A little niggling concern about where to spend the first night.
Add in a few scattered snow squalls.
To avoid making dinner, I got the kids a footlong sandwich in Torrey. I had a couple cheesesteaks earlier that we had made for a work lunch, so I was good.
It was snowing on Boulder. So I wanted to see what we could find on the busy weekend on this side.
We drove out to Panorama Point, passing the at large campsites. Now that Fruita is reserved online, that place is always full and the growing crowds spread out to look elsewhere...
One of the little cabin places advertised $45 and vacancy. It was tempting... but no. Cheap was the word for this trip, not glamping.
The at large right before the entrance to CRNP was RV city. It looked like a sunbird trailer park in Lake Havasu or Kingman.
We drove past.
It did not matter.
The departing storm was beautiful.
We went back to a place I had seen that was empty, and passed time going on a hike that was equally empty and usually sees far less use.
It was beautiful.
Still one of my favorites of the year.
Snow squalls clearing off Boulder Mountain.
We were getting muddy feet while the lifting mist started to let in the golden light.
Just before this pic I scraped my forehead really good on a dead juniper branch that I did not see. Had a gash from the middle of my forehead to my ear. Stupidly not watching where I was turning, but good thing it was not my eye. I pulled out this cheap muff thing and tied it off to stop the bleeding. It only would make me more beautiful for all those IG shots I take...
As a kid I loved castles. These are sandstone versions that rise from the Chinle.
As we hiked back the scene was fitting for it being nearly Halloween, or maybe as a scene from The Birds. Ravens were returning from the fields to roost by the literal hundreds. My son ran up to me all excited. "Dad, stop and listen. You can hear the swoosh of their wings."
I smiled. It is one of my favorite sounds. Especially in a canyon.
We stayed the night a bit uncomfortably in the back of the jeep. The mud was frozen by midnight, but the thought of setting up a tent might take away the possibility I had of sunrise from one of the Boulder Mountain overlooks.
By 6am windows were defrosted and we were cruising up Highway 12 alone.
We pulled into the main overlook.
I put up my tripod as red light spread beyond the Henry's and La Sals.
Mice ran around across my feet in the near darkness. My kids stayed in the jeep and played a game.
A group of photogs with camera gear and lenses that would pay for most of my house pulled in and setup noisily.
The light got better.
Younger kids pulled up and took videos and selfies with their phones. I laughed quietly, occasionally reframing or pressing the remote shutter every once in a while.
As soon as the sun started to crest the Henry's, the photog group clambered back into their vehicles and were gone. I wandered off into the boulders smiling. Sure, I wished for a better setup and longer lens, but I was there for the joy of it. They missed some of the best stuff. imho
First night and side trip were out of the way. Now the real trip could begin.
Except for one couple who we passed us a few miles in and leapfrogged the rest of the way. We did not see anyone for hours. My son and daughter did not squabble much, exception being my daughter complaining about my son, who was leading, and his tendency to stop suddenly to look at a rock or for no reason.
We had almost two miles down before a poptart and granola breakfast.
The juniper, pinyon and sage flats were frosty. Mist was rising as the wet sand and frost met the sunlight.
The crypto was blooming green and yellow in places. The sand being frozen in spots made it all a dream.
Still I smiled.
Views got better.
and Better.
My kids oooed and awed at the view. Contemplating it briefly. Which is a long time for teens and preteens.
We lingered in the sun for a couple of hours. Shoes off. Half in sunshine, half in shade.
We ate pastrami and salami.
My son climbed up everything he could.
A gentle breeze blew.
Still high in the top 5 favorite views.
I smiled.
Eventually we made our way down. Our only distraction was a good sized Racer that I almost stepped on very near the bottom. My son chased it for a little while and had it snap at him, but I never could get a picture of its head. It was too fast. I finally convinced him to let it be.
The canyon bottom proved the only sore point of the trip. As we did an out and back, it would be a sore point both ways.
This disappointed me some.
In my childhood, the canyon bottoms were a wonder. I loved the stream crossings, the smell of decaying leaves, wet sand, the bouquet for the senses. The living things all fighting for the precious wet, damp, cool place.
My kids mostly complained.
It did not matter. I still love it.
I still flashed my pearly whites at the views.
We did the nearly dozen crossings and pushed through the poison ivy.
The colors in places were amazing.
Once we hit our exit, they both dutifully washed their legs and ankles while I filtered some water for the evening, and then we pushed onward and upward.
They were tired. My normal pains were there, but no matter. Today's goal was in sight.
I found a place.
We setup the tent. Wandered. Talked. Took naps.
Dinner was eaten just before the bluebird sky started to go violet with the belt of Venus.
Hot Ramen with some torn ham for the kids, and Tom-Yum Ramen with ham for dad. It tasted great and warmed cold hands.
So here is one question.
The spirals in the pic below.
It seems these are likely just "recent" work.
Does anyone know what gives?
I have looked online, but do not see any mention.
I forgot to get a closer picture of them, because I did not have my camera the first time we went down by them to check them out. But look at the spirals in the 4 o-clock below.
They took a fair bit of effort. Those lava boulders are heavy. Especially the ones in the lefthand circle.
As night fell we played a few games, and talked under a cloudless sky that was filling with stars. It was silent but for an occasional breeze and a few songs we played.
The next morning I was out early. I do like the very early, predawn shots.
No tripod, but a couple rocks helped out.
The rising sun, potholes, reflections, tell-tale clouds.
Spectacular!
You know that scene in The Holy Grail? where Lancelot is charging Swamp castle?... These next few are like that.
It's for fun.
Getting closer to these fantastic Ponderosas.
Then in your face. Bam!
"It would not be good for my... my...."
"Your idiom sir?"
The rim views were great. Even as it clouded up and produced a few morning sprinkles.
I waited a long time for this chiarascuro. Leaving my kids as I sat high on the rim watching clouds.
Smiling and then beaming when it finally came.
Later...
Eventually we packed up as the clouds started to clear out. The kids were not interested in going farther. Which was sad, no new ground this trip. I had gone a quarter of a mile in during the morning and tried to talk them into it, but no luck.
Back down into the canyon we went.
More color.
The climb out had my son's largest flare up. He was a little cold, wet and tired.
I tried to be patient.
The bit of anger fueled him up on the climb. He is funny to follow because he does not pay attention and misses the cairns and trail that seem so easy for my daughter and I to see. So I would let him take some wrong turns and wait patiently for him right where he left the trail, until he cliffed out or went the hard way. Sometimes he growled at me, but as we neared the top, the climb beat it out of him and soon he was smiling again.
Just like his dad.
One of the times at the end where he kept his own space.
We lunched on tuna and crackers, then napped in the same spot as the day previous. It was much warmer. We wandered about barefoot on the cool sandstone.
Eventually we wandered off to find a spot for that night. I had a spot in mind, and with only a couple of complaints we were there with just a bit more effort.
The scenery was still beautiful along every turn.
For some reason these little enclaves amaze me. Little micro ecosystems in a sea of harsh, desert stone. Lit by wonderful golden light.
We found some lithic scatter. My son was there for a half hour. One of the places had far less than a previous visit. Sadly.
Back at camp. The Sunset was worth it.
More smiling as I ate my pouch of Fish People Bouillabasse and the kids had Lipton Teriyaki. We laughed about stinky farts caused by canyon water and junk food.
Blue Hour... or Lavender.
My son thought he could still enter Reflections at school. So we talked about what he wanted to do. Turns out they were due the week before we left, but not knowing that, he came up with and took this shot of me. In the dark I hit the ground a bit harder than I would have liked and smashed my fingers on the sandstone. Now the tips of two of my fingers were bleeding and throbbing.
I still had blood in my ear from day one.
We smiled.
We enjoyed another peaceful night. It had cooled so much when the sun went down, I had thought we were in for a cold one, but it turned out fine. As we were talking geese flew over, honking. Then came back again. We laughed that they must be lost and the wife was probably honking at the husband.
It was a wonderful night with just a little sprinkling of rain in the wee early hours.
I woke up early again. Going to bed at 10pm does this to me. So after an hour or so of headphones... at 6am I snuck out and wandered.
"I don't know why, but it looked like a tiger striped sky..."
Crocodile... or Alligator. From here, I cannot tell the difference. Just like chipmunk or squirrel...
The golden light and sandstone.
Sorry, but I just had to indulge in multiple photos here. For those who are still paying attention.
Last one.
The hike out again was peaceful. The mileage was fairly easy. The sky steely gray. The rain started to drizzle the last hundred feet.
Still, I was smiling. But sad to have to leave.
Last edited:
