Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/09/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]a few tips before visiting southern utah: zion is lovely, but expect crowds. Bryce and others nearby are less so. The drive through Monument Valley is sublime, but get reservations in Mexican Hat or somewhere else before you go because the motels fill up fast.. Parks in the southwest part of Utah are the most famous and are too busy with tourists as a result. Go east -- Dead Horse Point is to die for, especially at sunset. Canyonlands national Park is breathtaking, the most magnificant sunsets I've ever seen, ever. As good as the Grand Canyon.. Go to the north half, it looks just like the grand canyon without the squalling tourist babies. I've sat on a bluff there at sunset with just me and my wife and a hundred miles of golden glowing rock and clouds. Arches National Park is where God lives. No kidding. Double Arch (opening scenes of the third "raiders" movie) is like nothing anywhere. Easy hikes everywhere. always carry water. always wear a hat. Always wear good sturdy hiking boots/shoes. Never,ever, hike alone. You might end up having to cut your hand off like that other idiot did. Hell of a way to get famous -- for breaking the rules. travel light. Pick one good camera, a couple of lenses, lots of film. My Leica CL is my favorite. Wide angle lenses work very well down there, but some things are impossible to photograph. Accept this. Read Edward Abbey's "Desert Solitair" before you go. never go looking for pictures between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. It is hot, the light sucks, the place is full of tourists. In fact, avoid the parks between these hours, for the same reasons. Find a nice air conditioned book store. always look for pictures at dawn and dusk -- light is best, and the restaurants in town are open late enough so you can shoot the fading light and still get back in time to eat. Also, the parks are nearly empty in these hours because everyone else is back in town feeding their face. No lines, no crowding, no interruptions, just you and beauty. Food you can get anytime. Sunset in Arches, or at Deadhorse, or in Canyonlands, is once in a lifetime. plan to come back again. You can never see it enough. Charles Trentelman Ogden, utah -- 5 hours from Moab.