The Passage of Time

It is impossible to comprehend the huge amount of time it takes the world to produce landforms such as these. I have been watching one small wash in a similar clay but in Arizona for over 50 years and there has been a significant change in this one small piece of the world. But most of the hills appear timeless and eternal.

Individualism

There are always those who like to be different. Not because they are different than anyone else when you get right down to it, but because they like to do things that surprise those around them. This tree is a good example of individualism. It is growing right at the top of this sandstone rock.

Erosion

I guess I am surprised that these clay hills have not disappeared long ago. It would seem that one or two good rainfalls would wash away this pile of mud and leave nothing but the imbedded rocks behind. What is the case, however, is that the clay is extremely resistant to erosion because of overlaying much harder rocks. So you can see these clay hills even in areas that seem to get a substantial amount of rain.

Turns and Twists

I can't imagine how this juniper log got into such twisted shape. More than many other trees, junipers seem to suffer a lot from the extremes of temperature, wind and lack of moisture. They are survivors and this branch or log illustrates the process. I think if I were a tree, I would probably be a juniper.

Sandstone and Spires

Kodachrome Basin is a place of infinite shapes and colors. There are few things in nature I like more than sandstone in the desert. I guess I would rather spend my life in the desert Southwest than travel the world looking at other's wonders. I know from experience that there are lovely places all over the world, but I guess my heart is really made of sandstone.

Grosvenor Arch

Arches just happen to be in some of the most inaccessible places in the world. Grosvenor Arch is no exception. Although there is a fairly good dirt road out to the arch, it is really obscure and the road is anything but well marked. It is also not a place you want to be caught in a rain storm because that same dirt road has a tendency to turn to slippery mud. It is dramatic however and a lovely place.

Standing Alone

This is one of the many "Chimney Rock" formations throughout the United States. I saw two different ones on a recent trip to Southern Utah. In a Google search, there are "Chimney Rock" formations in many of the states from the East Coast to the desert Southwest. There is even a Chimney Rock National Monument in Colorado. I suppose you could make an interesting vacation trip just going from state to state looking at each version of Chimney Rock.

Sandstone Towers

You would begin to think that these tower formations were common. In fact, they are exceedingly rare, but there are small areas where they appear more frequently. They are very large, even though because of the scope of the photograph, they appear to be small. The cliff in the background, for example, is probably over 1000 feet high. This is part of the Devil's Garden on the Hole-in-the-Rock Road.

Almost Impossible

The huge solitary sandstone and conglomerate pinnacles that are scattered over the Colorado Plateau are so unusual as to appear nearly impossible. The theory on this particular monument is that there were cracks in the original sandstone that filled with a harder mixture of sandstone blocks and other types of material that resisted erosion more than the surrounding rocks. Whatever the explanation, the reality exceeds belief. It is hard to get a perspective of the size of these huge rocks. Either they appear to be small due to the vastness of their surroundings or very large when you finally get close to one.

A Hike in a Slot Canyon

You can't appreciate this type of formation where the sandstone has been sculpted into a narrow slot canyon without actually being there to experience it. On this hike through Little Wild Horse Canyon, the temperature was about 100 degrees so our hike was cut somewhat short.

Kodachrome Basin Pinnacle

One of the spectacular areas of Southern Utah on the Colorado Plateau is Kodachrome Basin State Park. The color and forms change every minute with the light and shade from clouds and the time of day. There are few areas in the Southwest with as many diverse geologic formations in such a small area.

Rock Art: Big Horn and Bear

You can tell how old some of these pictographs are by the the changes to the rock surface. If you look closely, you can see that there is a stain and some erosion on the rock that covers part of the big horn sheep. This kind of change can take hundreds or even thousands of years. I am also fascinated by the shape of the bear. It is identical to Hopi fetish designs currently being made by artists.

Slick Rock Puddle Mirrors

I always wonder who lives in the puddle world? They have clouds and trees and in the cities there are buildings and people, but they certainly are different than those in our own world. These puddle mirrors look like eyes from that world. I wonder what they think of us?

Evening Shadows at the Grand Canyon

Evening shadows in the Grand Canyon can affect substantial changes to the light and color. The entire Canyon goes more pastel and the reds get deeper and the blues get more intense. Photography becomes a challenge because of the lack of light.

Inside the cliffs of the Grand Canyon

 In some approaches to the Grand Canyon, you find yourself inside the Canyon walls without realizing the change. The Canyon is so vast that it feels like the walls of the Canyon are rising and that you are not really entering the Canyon. From above, these huge cliffs would be easily identified as part of the Canyon complex. But the huge flat plain you are traveling over is so vast, you cannot comprehend that the Canyon could include your travels.

Late Afternoon at the Grand Canyon

Pictures of the Grand Canyon sometimes look strange because the tops of all the rocks just end in an almost flat line. The Colorado Plateau is level and the Canyon is cut down from the level surface of the Rim or Plateau which lies at about 8000 feet. The best time to take photos in in the evening or early morning when the colors are most vibrant and the light is at an angle making shadows that show the highlights of the cliffs.

Navajo Sandstone Dome

Looking like a huge circus or special event tent, this Navajo sandstone dome is a prominent feature of Capitol Reef National Park. Navajo sandstone is one of the most prominent layers of sandstone throughout the Colorado Plateau. Its distinctive yellow-white color makes it easy to identify.

Twin Rocks

There are millions of these rocks scattered throughout the Colorado Plateau. What is interesting about these particular rocks is that they are on the main road into the Capitol Reef National Park and there is a turnout and a sign. So, tourists, such as I am, feel compelled to turn out and take a picture of these particular rocks although we blithely ignore millions of their cousins scattered in other, unmarked areas of the desert. I guess we all need some one to tell us to look at stuff.

Looking for Danger

This cute little White Tailed Antelope Squirrel was on the lookout. These small creatures are often called "chipmunks" but that term is not used in there proper names or classification. This mammal is found throughout Utah and Arizona. This one was found in Capitol Reef National Park in central Utah.

Waiting for Dinner

This is another in my series of window photos. Most of the photos are from older houses, but I have recently taken some windows in modern buildings. The symbolism of the window is very pronounced in this photo. The idea is that we look out on the world from the comfort of our own home, but at the same time, those outside can see in. Both views are restricted to the frame or the limits we place on allowing ourselves to see the world or allowing others into our own world.

Swing Gate

You have to look closely, but you will see that this gate is a little unusual. It has a large stone weight on the end of the top rail that acts as a counter weight to the gate. If you remove the small rod holding the gate in position, it will swing freely upward and open. To close the gate, you pull down and if it is balanced correctly, with a small effort you can replace the locking rod. This is not a very common solution to a common problem.

Rock Fall

I am fascinated with how erosion creates a super-slow-motion fall of rocks. If we could see a long interval movie of these rocks, we would see how they fell and move down the slope. But now, we have to be content to see them as semi-permanently lodged on the side of the hills.

Gifford Farm

Capital Reef National Park, located in central Utah, incorporated an entire community, the town of Fruita. All of the homes, orchards and farms have been incorporated into the National Park. In season, visitors to the Park can pick fruit from any of the open orchards. The Gifford Farm is preserved as a museum and store.

Slot Canyon

The Colorado Plateau is famous for slot canyons. These narrow canyons can be interesting to hike into, but dangerous if there is the slightest chance of rain. I will be featuring a lot of photos of this particular canyon, Little Wild Horse Canyon, over the next few weeks and months.

Monarch Malleable Wood Stove

These types of stoves are still available for sale, but my best guess is that this one dates back to the 1920s. Sometimes these newer model stoves are mixed in with very much older antiques simply because they burn wood. They are better in most ways than cooking over an open fire.

An Old Wagon

The West is littered with remnants of the old wagons. This one looks a little larger than usual and was likely used for freight. Since the wagons had such a high clearance, the old wagon roads are not suitable for vehicular traffic except for very high 4-wheel drive vehicles.

Foot Treadle Singer Sewing Machine

Some people think that these old machines did as good as or better job than the new ones. In talking to people who sew, I find a nostalgia for the old machines but a firm acknowledgement that the newer computerized sewing machines are better in many ways. But this old one is better if the power goes out, hands down.

Sunset on the North Rim

I suppose if you lived at the Grand Canyon for years you would see lots of sunsets, but for the casual visitor, this is an experience to be remembered for a lifetime. A good place to see the summer sunset is Cape Royal on the North Rim. There is a clear view to both the east and the west. The Colorado River at the Grand Canyon runs roughly from the east to the west with a decided slant to the south.

Jolly Sink

This is a limestone sink in the Kaibab National Forest near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and just south of Jacob Lake. It is a well-known place to those who frequent the Kaibab. It probably receives visits from just a vanishingly small percentage of the people who drive by on the main highway to the National Park.

Toroweap - 300 Feet to the Colorado River

Toroweap overlook is at the end of a 64 mile very bad dirt road on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It is only worth the trip in retrospect. While driving the dirt road, the goal becomes less and less relevant, especially when it is threatening rain and the road was already muddy in some places. This is one of the few places you can look directly down on the Colorado river without hiking on a trail. This view is looking down the river towards the west.

Out of the Shadows

At least these trees have green leaves. I could have been here in the middle of the Winter, like usual. This is Zion National Park in Utah. I either drive through or hike around here irregularly. We have spent a few extended camps here but usually when the weather is hot and sunny for extended hikes up the slot canyons. These photos always remind me that part of the world is not desert, but the most interesting parts are.

Scenic Byways

I am always amused by the so-called Scenic Byways (or equivalent) signs on roads around the country. It is as if someone feels compelled to tell you that what you are driving through is scenery. I doubt this road got the attention of the tourist bureau of Utah. But I consider this to be a Scenic Byway, at least it is for me.

Out of the Mists of Time

Most of the photos you see of the Southwest are promotional in nature and they (whoever) don't want you to know that the weather is not always sunny and bright. Sometimes it is rather horrible. By and large, I have learned to ignore the weather except in those mostly rare circumstances when it gets really bad and I am in danger of my life. Then I usually pay attention to what is going on around me.

Fence Line

Dealing with barbed wire fences is a fact of life for anyone traveling in the off paved road world of the West. This is a relatively recent and well-maintained fence line. You can tell from the age of the metal posts and the fact that the fence looks repaired. Unless posted with dire warnings, fences are mostly ignored by anyone traveling. The simple rule is leave open all gates you find open and close all gates you find closed.

Stock Tank

Do you think the cows in this area appreciate this chance to get a drink? I don't know if cows can think in terms of appreciation, but it does help them to survive in an area that otherwise looks uninviting. What would this area look like if there had never been any cows?

Not your usual tulip

We create a stylized concept of what a tulip or even a person is supposed to look like. So what do we do when the tulip (or the person) does not conform to our preconceived notion of what they should be or look like? Should we ostracize these tulips because they don't look the way we expected them to look?

Fancy Flowers

None of these flowers ever lived naturally before they were created through hybridization. What is lost and what is gained from creating this kind of flower? These are questions that address most of what we call progress in our world today.

Daffodils

Flowers, like people, appear differently in a group than they do individually. When you see this many flowers together, you do not often focus on the individual flowers, but look at them as a splash of color. Despite the beauty of the individual flower, we ignore that trait in the excess of beauty.

Crossroads

Not your usual busy intersection. No stop signs. No traffic lights. No waiting pedestrians. This is my kind of intersection in a place you need a map to find out where you are and which road to take. But usually, the map is in my head.

Varieties

Tulips are a major industry originating back in the 1500s when they began to be imported from Turkey. The first tulips were long-stemmed, red-flowered cultivars. They were illustrated by the German naturalist Konrad Gesner in 1559, and have since borne his name in the species gesneriana. See Origins of the Dutch Bulb Industry. Quoting from that article:

One other interesting bit of history, which occurred  in the early 1600s, was "tulip mania." This sprang from the tendency of tulips to be infected with a virus, resulting in odd yet often attractive colored streaking in the flowers. These variants, called "broken" tulips, became prized, sought widely, and worth many guilders (money). This led to widespread trading, speculation, and then as most such fads sudden market collapse in 1637. These lovely tulips have remained to this day, however, depicted in the art of the Dutch masters. For this reason, similar ones today with such streaking of various colors yet without any virus are called “Rembrandt” tulips.

Ranunculus

For years we tried to grow ranunculus in our front yard. We never had much luck with the blooms and keeping the plants alive through hot summers was also not easy. We had to dig up the roots and store them in a cool, dry place every year so they would grow the next year when planted. I really appreciate these flowers.

Flowering Trees

We have a few dramatic flowering trees that are common in Arizona, but this one happens to be on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. I like these types of photos when it is well over 100 degrees in the summer to remind me that not everyone lives where the temperature goes up to 119 or higher.

Windows of the World

In this case, this window of the world is not covered by rain. In fact, since it is in Arizona, it has likely seen very little rain. To some extent, you can tell the age of the window by the arrangement and size of the panes of glass. The older the window, the smaller the panes and the muntins, grilles, grid or windowpane dividers. All of the terms are used for the parts of the window dividing up the glass.

Watching the Sunset

The striking sun and shadows of these sandstone hills are common in the Winter months when the sum is low and to the south. The hazy quality is likely because this photo was taken almost in the middle of Sedona, Arizona, a very busy metropolitan area.

Mud on the Ruin

Early wall construction was pretty simple but also complicated. If you have ever tried to build a wall out of stone, you know what I mean. But to plaster the wall, the ancients used the most available material: mud. You can still see hand prints in the mud applied to this rock wall at Tuzigoot.

Bridge over Oak Creek

 This is one of the bridges spanning the canyon over Oak Creek. The flare in the center of the photo is a reflection of the sun on the lens of the camera. If you become aware of these lens flares, you will see them all the time in both professional and amateur photos. They also show up frequently in movies, but like many things around us, they go unnoticed unless you know what to look for and what they are.

The Layers of Time

If you study the sandstone buttes of the Southwest, you will likely begin to notice the layers of rock. Each layer was deposited in the dim past either by water or wind and makes up the rocks we see today. Each layer and even the sub-layers has a name and an estimated time period.

Copper Minerals in Rocks

If you were out prospecting and found this rock, you would know that you were on your way to wealth and perhaps fame. Copper minerals are very showy and obvious in some cases.

Abandoned

The dry desert air acts like an archive of all of the old machinery that is abandoned and laying around on the gravel and dirt. As these metal parts inevitably rust away, even with the scant rain of the desert, they leave rich textures and colors as a legacy.

Jerome with a "J"

This photo shows a portion of the town of Jerome, Arizona with a view of one of the open-pit mines in the background. Notice the "J" on the hill behind the town. This is particularly interesting phenomena in the Southwestern part of the U.S. Towns and high schools and even universities, put a huge letter on the hillside, usually corresponding to the name of the location.