Moab--Beyond the Tease
Thread Starter
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 373
From: Midwest City, OK
Moab--Beyond the Tease
A few days ago, while still on the road, I put up a couple teaser shots from my son and mines recent Moab trip. Well, here is the more complete version, including pic's from the entire trip ...
Fins and Things, Moab
What you see during those descents ...
The best roller coaster in the entire world ...
Fins and Things, Moab
What you see during those descents ...
The best roller coaster in the entire world ...
Last edited by Mark Doiron; Aug 14, 2009 at 04:40 AM.
Thread Starter
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 373
From: Midwest City, OK
Waterpocket Fold, Capitol Reef National Park
This is an absolutely awesome drive. There are actual four-wheel drive trails on the north end of the park, with some great scenery, we're told. But, the rangers said that the southern, Waterpocket fold area is the most beautiful in the state. In fact, it's as if Mother Nature dropped her bucket of paint, and decided she liked what she'd created. The colors and geological formations are stunning. To make this available to everyone, the NPS keeps the road graded--during the entire trip until we turned into Grand Staircase-Escalante for our departure back to our camp at the national park, the road grader would be the only other vehicle we'd see. A "must see" even if not a great wheeling challenge ...
You must cross this to exit through the park and to the west (into the Grand Staircase-Escalante).
This is from the road you're exiting on ...
This is an absolutely awesome drive. There are actual four-wheel drive trails on the north end of the park, with some great scenery, we're told. But, the rangers said that the southern, Waterpocket fold area is the most beautiful in the state. In fact, it's as if Mother Nature dropped her bucket of paint, and decided she liked what she'd created. The colors and geological formations are stunning. To make this available to everyone, the NPS keeps the road graded--during the entire trip until we turned into Grand Staircase-Escalante for our departure back to our camp at the national park, the road grader would be the only other vehicle we'd see. A "must see" even if not a great wheeling challenge ...
You must cross this to exit through the park and to the west (into the Grand Staircase-Escalante).
This is from the road you're exiting on ...
Last edited by Mark Doiron; Aug 14, 2009 at 03:55 AM.
Thread Starter
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 373
From: Midwest City, OK
Return to Capitol Reef from the mountains to the west ...
The drive back was on the paved road, Utah 12. But, the scenery is beautiful, especially the views into the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Capitol Reef. And, don't forget to stop at Hells Backbone Grill for the best food in southern Utah. The fair is organic and locally grown--and varies every week. I had elk sausage with my breakfast, to give you an idea.
The drive back was on the paved road, Utah 12. But, the scenery is beautiful, especially the views into the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Capitol Reef. And, don't forget to stop at Hells Backbone Grill for the best food in southern Utah. The fair is organic and locally grown--and varies every week. I had elk sausage with my breakfast, to give you an idea.
Last edited by Mark Doiron; Aug 14, 2009 at 03:54 AM.
Thread Starter
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 373
From: Midwest City, OK
Capitol Reef, Scenic Drive
That evening we drove the scenic drive in Capitol Reef. If you visit, this is the only part of the park that requires a fee. Given only one choice, I'd much rather drive the Waterpocket Fold. But, this short, dirt road does give you the flavor of the park ...
I took this pic knowing that it was something special. Especially the lighting. I looked it up later and it's known as Fern's Nipple. Hey, I'm just reporting the facts!
That evening we drove the scenic drive in Capitol Reef. If you visit, this is the only part of the park that requires a fee. Given only one choice, I'd much rather drive the Waterpocket Fold. But, this short, dirt road does give you the flavor of the park ...
I took this pic knowing that it was something special. Especially the lighting. I looked it up later and it's known as Fern's Nipple. Hey, I'm just reporting the facts!
Thread Starter
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 373
From: Midwest City, OK
Utah 12, Hogsback Road
We drove back down Utah 12, headed for Bryce Canyon. Utah 12 is spectacular--not just the part in the mountains (pictured previously), but especially Hogsback Road ...
You drive a narrow ridge. On both sides of the road are steep drop-offs into deep canyons ...
My son, Curtis ...
We drove back down Utah 12, headed for Bryce Canyon. Utah 12 is spectacular--not just the part in the mountains (pictured previously), but especially Hogsback Road ...
You drive a narrow ridge. On both sides of the road are steep drop-offs into deep canyons ...
My son, Curtis ...
Last edited by Mark Doiron; Aug 14, 2009 at 04:35 AM.
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Thread Starter
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 373
From: Midwest City, OK
Miscellaneous images from the trip ...
Canyonlands, Needles District
Arches National Park
Kodachrome Basin State Park (Highly recommended!)
Mt. Lemmon (near Tucson, with my oldest daughter's family)
We pulled the doors from the Jeep for this drive into the much cooler mountains near Tucson.
My grandaughter, Paige ...
My son-in-law, daughter, granddaughter and son on the way up Mt. Lemmon ...
Saguaro National Park, East
Full disclosure: This is a composite of two images. I didn't have my tripod with me (couldn't find it in my daughter's home that morning--it was in my son's room and he didn't go with me to this side trip), so I couldn't shoot a long exposure, small f/stop aperture to achieve a similar result.
USAF boneyard, where my daughter works (thus taking care of the airplanes I flew 4500 hours on during my own career). She's a Tech with a line number for Master, and has applied for the commandant's position at the base leadership school. She will learn the final decision about that after she returns from her upcoming deployment to Iraq. My son-in-law is also scheduled for an Iraq deployment, so my granddaughter will be staying with my youngest daughter in Macon, GA for a few months while their deployments overlap.
1818
1825
Canyonlands, Needles District
Arches National Park
Kodachrome Basin State Park (Highly recommended!)
Mt. Lemmon (near Tucson, with my oldest daughter's family)
We pulled the doors from the Jeep for this drive into the much cooler mountains near Tucson.
My grandaughter, Paige ...
My son-in-law, daughter, granddaughter and son on the way up Mt. Lemmon ...
Saguaro National Park, East
Full disclosure: This is a composite of two images. I didn't have my tripod with me (couldn't find it in my daughter's home that morning--it was in my son's room and he didn't go with me to this side trip), so I couldn't shoot a long exposure, small f/stop aperture to achieve a similar result.
USAF boneyard, where my daughter works (thus taking care of the airplanes I flew 4500 hours on during my own career). She's a Tech with a line number for Master, and has applied for the commandant's position at the base leadership school. She will learn the final decision about that after she returns from her upcoming deployment to Iraq. My son-in-law is also scheduled for an Iraq deployment, so my granddaughter will be staying with my youngest daughter in Macon, GA for a few months while their deployments overlap.
1818
1825
Last edited by Mark Doiron; Aug 14, 2009 at 04:38 AM.
