fbeaston Loc: Vermont

This is a series of posts using photos from a recent 6+ week trip I took around the Western US & Canada, with a college buddy Chuck & my Australian Shepherd Gem, aka "the Mutt." I'd like to thank all who have looked at the prior posts & commented.

As noted in the last post, I am sharing the photos a bit out of sequence. After driving by Capital Reef on our way to Canyonlands, we elected to go back to CR to shoot more shots. So these shots of the Canyonlands were taken "in the middle", but to avoid jumping back & forth, I decided to group the shots. We had visited Canyonlands previously in 2016, but got "chased away" by blowing sand. So we drove back specifically to shoot some photos from the Green River Overlook ... a breath taking vantage point. And shooting on the edge of the canyon, means no one ever walks in front of you ... or if they do, they don't "hang around" long.

While we were there, we went looking for some Petroglyphs that Cany143 posted here on UHH. I'd guess you might judge me as a bit directionally challenged, as I wasn't able to locate the ones he suggested, however we did locate some at another site. Unfortunately, it was a bit disappointing to see those beautiful treasures had been defaced in more recent times. But I was able to capture a few photos.

While we were at the Green River Overlook, we also encountered the 2nd bride of our trip ... as she was returning to her car. They certainly picked a beautiful spot to perform their wedding ceremony.

After we left Canyonlands & finished our 2nd visit to Capital Reef, we had a quick visit to the Glen Canyon Nat'l Recreational Area before driving to Cortez, CO, for our next scheduled visit to Mesa Verde ... one of my favorite of places. Each time I go, I'm amazed at the craftsmanship, engineering skills & beauty of what the "anchients" created there.

I hope you enjoy these.

Frank

Near Moab, UT, we stopped to let the Mutt out for a break & I spotted this can. When was the last time you saw a can opened with a can opener? Normally I pick up trash, but this had been there so long, I left it. Fresh footprints were the Mutt's.

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Green River Overlook, Canyonlands Nat'l Park, 3 shot panoramic that I edited slightly with NIK Detail.

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Green River Overlook, Canyonlands Nat'l Park

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Green River Overlook, Canyonlands Nat'l Park near Willow Flat Campground

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Green River Overlook, Canyonlands Nat'l Park, Bride we encountered heading to her car.

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Moab, UT, near CO River ... Petroglyphs left by ancient people's of the area. They provide a moving & beautiful link to the past.


Canyonlands Nat'l Park with mountains in the distance. 2 shot panoramic taken from Grand View Road near the Island in the Sky Visitors Center

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Green River Overlook, Canyonlands Nat'l Park ... our final night & last hope of getting a great sunset shot. Unfortunately, it turned out to be rather muted, but a lovely evening & views nonetheless. Edited slightly with NIK details.

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Mesa Verde Nat'l Park, Spruce Tree House from across the canyon. Amazing that they are still standing strong & proud after all these years.

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Mesa Verde Nat'l Park, Cliff Palace. 6 shot panoramic. Very moving to stand where the "anchients" lived so many years ago.

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NikonF5guy

Beautiful and historic photos. Well done!

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Thank you NikonF5guy ... much appreciated.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Nice stuff, Frank. I'm heavily biased with regard to almost anything Canyonlands, though, and Green River Overlook in particular, so I'll just say.... what? you're complaining about that sunset??? Jeez, whatta we gotta do to keep you people happy?!? Otherwise, see you found your way to the Moonflower Canyon panel, eh? (Had a peer-reviewed paper I'd written about that panel published twenty-some years ago....) I won't bother you with how near you were to the other two dozen other r.a. panels in that immediate area.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Damn!!!! Damn!!!! Damn!!!! Now I really am disappointed. We drove all over the place looking for the sites you had PM'd me about & I could not figure out the directions. We looked online & read several guide books, but to no avail. I even thought about trying to reach out to you, but it was a crazy weekend in Moab, so I elected not to bother you (never saw so many of those #$%^$#@% ATVs in 1 place as I saw that weekend in Moab)!!!!! Now I'm sorry I didn't push for more specific directions ... but I will be back & when I do, I'll reach out & get those directions. I think those old drawings are really special. But at least I saw some in Moab, a bunch at the Petrified Forest & some in Capital Reef. So that itch was scratched.

And I agree with you on Canyonlands being something special. I enjoyed Arches a lot when I was there, but the Greenriver Overlook stands out as one of the most beautiful spots of the tour.

Finally, to your question ... what did I want for a sunset? I wanted the sky to light up like I've heard it can do out there ... so I could capture it. I was a tourist ... I wanted it all!!!! Your state wants us to spend our tourist $ there ... I wanted the most for my $!!!!! :)

PS: Thanks for the kind words re: the photos. They're much appreciated.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Outstanding set, Frank! (My crew accepts that Gem's prints were the only dog thing included, but hopes for more - LOL).

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Great set, and brings back some good memories of a vacation long ago.
Thanks.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Mike ... you crack me up!!!!! I was looking at a shot of the Mutt ... just for "your crew" ... in the post when I get to the Grand Tetons. My buddy Chuck was throwing a stick for her & I have no idea where she found it, but she came back with a piece of wood that was 4" - 5" thick (maybe an old piece of fencing) ... & acting like she was something special. They do make good company ... don't they? Thanks again for the positive comment ... & tell your crew that I'll try to do better.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Thank you RichardTaylor for the continued positive comments. Have to admit, that I've been to many of these places on past trips, but things were different this time ... maybe it's because I'm older ... maybe because I'm more apt to see things through a camera lens ... can't say ... but this trip was special. Hope you get back over here for another go at it. Course, as I've said, my Bucket List includes a trip to your part of the world ... you have some unbelievable scenery in Australia ... along with some very tough critters too!!! Best to you & thanks again.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Very nice, Frank. That formation down in the river bottom between the bends of the river is called The Turk's Head. On one of my canoe trips down the Green River with a brother, we stopped there for an over night camp. There are a bunch of Pueblo ruins around the base and a few higher up on the formation. Not very big but in pretty good shape. I saw a few petroglyphs but not as many as you would expect from all the evidence of past inhabitants. That's in photo #3.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

Excellent set of images Frank.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Really enjoyed seeing these!

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Keith ... you just added to my Bucket List ... that sounds like an awesome adventure ... although I'm not sure how well the Mutt would travel in a canoe ... she's game for almost anything, but would want to give her some time in a canoe before I set off on something like that. I appreciate the comments about the ruins & petroglyphs there ... I can't explain it, but I find those drawings to be very powerful ... that they've survived all this time & are a link to another time & people. And thanks for the positive comment. Hope you are healing.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

J-SPEIGHT, nimbushopper & jaymatt: Thank you all for your repeat visits, comments & thumbs up ... I really appreciate you taking the time not only to look but respond. Best to you all.