Utah 2016, Part 3: Arches and other shapes

Grosvenor Arch, near Kodachrome State Park

Grosvenor Arch, near Kodachrome State Park

 

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Unnamed arches in Willis Canyon

 

Shakespeare Arch in Kodachrome State Park

Shakespeare Arch in Kodachrome State Park

 

Sandstone in west Zion National Park

Sandstone in west Zion National Park

 

The Vortex

The Vortex

 

Close up of modern petroglyphs in the bottom of The Vortex

Close up of modern petroglyphs in the bottom of The Vortex.  Click for larger.

 

Eastern end of Long Canyon

Eastern end of Long Canyon

 

 

Design in standstone

Design in sandstone

 

Oak Leaf

Oak Leaf in Lick Wash

Go forward to Utah 2016, Part 4.

Go back to Utah 2016, Part 2.

 

Utah 2016, Part 2: Slot Canyons

Un-named slot canyon near Long Canyon.

Un-named slot canyon near Long Canyon.

A slot canyon is deeper than it is wide. They can be fun to photograph due to the light reflections. They are nice to explore in the middle  of a hot day, offering shade and cooler temperatures.  I hiked in several slot canyons on this trip.  Click on each photo for larger versions.

 

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Entrance to another unnamed slot canyon entering Long Canyon.

Entrance to another unnamed slot canyon joining Long Canyon.

 

This slot canyon has cottonwood trees growing near the entrance.

This slot canyon has cottonwood trees growing near the entrance.

 

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Willis Canyon

 

Willis Canyon

Willis Canyon

 

Looking straight up from the bottom of Willis Canyon

Looking straight up from the bottom of Willis Canyon.

It’s like being inside a giant mouth with molars.

Willis Canyon

Willis Canyon

 

Looking across the top of a slot canyon. You can almost jump across.

Looking across the top of a slot canyon. You can almost jump across.

 

Looking down into the slot canyon of Bull Valley Gorge.

Looking down into the slot canyon of Bull Valley Gorge.

 

 

Lick Wash

Lick Wash

Go forward to Utah 2016, Part 3.

Go back to Utah 2016, Part 1.

Utah 2016, Part 1

I recently spent about 10 days in southern Utah, both camping and staying with friends. I experienced all kinds of weather: hot, cold, wet and dry. Rather than present my trip as a travel log, I decided just to group certain photos together along with my thoughts. Click on any photo for a larger version.

 

Red Canyon

Red Canyon

For the most part, I hiked in areas less travelled. I had thought about going to Bryce Canyon National Park, but it happened to be on a weekend (not that a weekday would have made much difference), and the traffic leading into the park was heavy, so I turned around and headed for the dirt roads.

Being spring time and with the recent rains, many plants were blooming.

 

Yellow prickly pear cactus

Yellow prickly pear cactus.

 

Cactus with red flowers.

Claret cup cactus

 

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Evening primrose

 

This was probably blooming a million years ago. Fossilized plant material.

This was probably blooming a million years ago. Fossilized plant material.

 

Not exactly blooming, but pretty none the less.

Not exactly blooming, but pretty none the less. (Click for the larger version to see the detail.)

It always amazes me where plants choose to take root (probably not a conscious choice). There’s plenty of sand and dirt around for a plant to grow in, but perhaps these cracks have more moisture in them.

 

Growing in a crack in the canyon wall.

Utah fleabane growing in a crack in the canyon wall.

 

A shrub and a pine are sharing the same crack.

A single leaf ash and a pine are sharing the same crack.

 

Jack Rabbit

Jack Rabbit sniffing Scotch broom.

 

My friends George and Kristine as we explored Manganese Wash.

My friends George and Kristine as we explored Manganese Wash.

 

Go forward to Utah 2016, Part 2.