the Pioneer Register

First off, please let me know what you think of the new template for the blog.

Better? Worse? Don't Care?

It's been suggested that another background might make my pictures stand out a bit more, so I'm trying this new layout. Please let me know what you think.

And now on to the blog.

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As you may have gathered, Capitol Reef was a revelation to both of us.

Everything in this park is huge, and there is so much to do, it seems like you would have to stay for months in order to experience it all. The combination of the light and the rocks will fire your imagination like nowhere else I've experienced.

As we wandered around, we found ourselves imagining all kinds of things, inspired by the rock formations and the play of light across them.

One of our favorite spots at Capitol Reef is simply called the Scenic Drive. It wanders some ten miles right outside the campground, and we visited it more than any other place in the park.

The Scenic Drive follows the original road that the pioneers used to enter the valley. At the Visitors Center you can see some great photos of Model Ts meandering through the narrow valleys.

The scenic drive ends in a hiking path called the Pioneer Register. It's called this because over the years, different folks engraved their names on the valley walls.

It's a lovely walk, and if you can only take one of the drive/hikes in the park, this is the one I recommend.

Once again, with minimal comments, here's my very last photo album from Capitol Reef.

Note:
all photos are clickable
for larger versions.

Here's the entry to the Register.

If you look closely near the top,
you can see a set of signatures.
We had to wonder
how they got so far up there!

Here's a closeup
of these first signatures.

I always enjoy the flowers.

This is the first "narrow"
enlarge it and look in the red square.

These holes permeate Capitol Reef.
We made up stories
about them being a written language
left here by aliens
millions of years ago.

The patterns in these rocks
are unlike any I've seen anywhere else.

More patterns,
this one is my favorite.

More Pioneer signatures.

This signature is the fanciest.
Must have taken quite a while to
scratch this into these rocks.

I love the way these narrows
frame the sky.

Black and white.

More patterns.

The sun was just setting
behind this rock.

A bit too much manipulation,
but I like the results.

There are also petroglyphs
in the Pioneer Register.

We had started
kind of late in the day.

But that meant
there were wonderful shadows.

Perfect for photography.

More Black and White.

Look at these patterns!

More shadows.
They change the look
of the canyon walls
completely.

Even back in these small canyons,
plants thrive.

There are also lots of trees
back in the canyons.
The green against the red walls,
striking.

More holes.
You can stand back
and see hundreds of pictures
in these rocks.

Faces, dinosaurs,
the mind races.

It is truly magical.

One final shadow shot.
Take the trip,
you wont regret it.

the Burr Trail Part 3- A Photo Diary

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There really isn't much to say about these, they're just the last of a series of photos I took on our day on the Burr Trail.

I know I'm posting way too many pictures, but I use this blog as my personal photo album, so bear with me!

I won't comment on each one,
but they're all clickable for larger images
(and they look much better
at a larger size).

Enjoy!

the Burr Trail Part 2-Variations and Photograsphs

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A quick update . . .

We had planned on staying a few days in Great Basin National Park, but when we arrived, Wheeler Peak was covered with snow. We spoke with several Rangers and they told us more snow (at lower elevations) was a real possibility, so we decided to press on.

And here we are in Ely Nevada, an unexpected surprise, but I'll save Ely for another entry.

So here we are back on the Burr Trail, in Capitol Reef.

The colors and the textures of this place really fire my imagination. While we're roaming the outdoors, I'm completely involved in the beauty of the area. Then, when I get home and look at the photos, I just can't seem to resist playing around with them.

As always, I am drawn to
trees and skies.

But maybe the skies
are a bit too blue??

Or the leaves a bit too green?

I'm including this one
because lately
I seem to be fascinated
with back lighting.

This formation reminds me of
the back of a dinosaur.

I also find myself
photographing
a lot of open road.

In this shot,
the different layers of the
mountains caught my eye.

A similar shot,
but can you see the gargoyle?
Reminds me of Notre Dame.

We also saw a lot of square rocks
they seem to tumble down,
then just stop . . .

The skies of Capitol Reef.

Just because I like it.

Another shot
of the cliff walls.

Transformed into black and white.

Changed again into sepia.

That's it till tomorrow, when I'll finish up the Burr Trail and move on to Ely, Nevada.

I think I'll call the Ely posts Urban Explorations . . .