IntrepidXJ
Explorer
Friday - Sunday, May 18-20, 2012
The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO
A few months back I managed to get another pair of permits to the Coyote Buttes North area so that Amanda and I could visit The Wave again and explore a few new areas. It turns out that I had picked a great weekend to go without originally realizing it. Our permits were for Saturday May 19th and it just so happens that the Annular Solar Eclipse was going to be happening on Sunday the 20th and some of the best views of this event would be down in the same area. It couldn't have worked out better! We would visit Coyote Buttes North on Saturday and then stick around for the Solar Eclipse on Sunday with a little extra time to check out Wire Pass.
After work on Friday we finished loading up the Jeep and headed south through Utah to the Paria Plateau in northern Arizona. As we drove past Moab the light played hide and seek with the peaks of the La Sal Mountains in the distance.
In the Spotlight by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We also made a quick stop at Wilson Arch for a photo since the last photo I took here in late afternoon light was with a point & shoot camera.
Wilson Arch by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The sun was just setting as we drove through Bluff, and it lit up the clouds behind the Horse Boulder nicely.
Horse Boulder by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We had planned to stop in Kayenta for a snack, but when we arrived we found that every restaurant was packed full of cars and people, and even the drive-thru's had enough cars that the lines were backed up into the highway. It was a strange sight, considering it was almost 10:00pm at this time! I guess Kayenta is a happening place on a Friday evening? Needless to say, we didn't stick around and just kept on driving.
After a stop in Page for some fuel, we finished our drive down the House Rock Valley Road and found a campsite just over the border in Arizona. We quickly setup camp and were in bed by about 12:30am. It turned out to be a longer drive than I had planned, and we were tired. I guess we made too many stops for photos along the way...
The following morning we slept in late to catch up on some sleep and had breakfast. We took our time getting ready to start hiking since I wanted to stick around Coyote Buttes North in the late afternoon. When we were finally ready to go we drove the few miles back to the Wire Pass Trailhead to start hiking. I was surprised at how many cars were parked here. The lot was packed! I ended up parking all the way at the top by the large campsite. I've only been here in the winter months before when there have only been a few vehicles, at most. It seems that there were a few large groups that were going to be hiking Wire Pass and part of Buckskin Gulch.
These yellow flowers were all over the place in the sandy areas on the hike out.
Paria Wildflowers by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Since I already have plenty of color photos of The Wave with better skies, here's something a little different from me.
Wave B&W by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The reflected light in 'The Passage' was amazing when we arrived. Great lines, too!
Reflected by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Light Passage by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Curves by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Amanda took this photo of me.
In The Passage by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
After spending a little time at The Wave, Amanda found a nice shaded spot to sit and read while I hiked over to Sand Cove. The bright white stripes found in the sandstone here were very cool.
Sand Cove Lines by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Stripes by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
White Stripes by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
There were plenty of these strange rocks around the area.
Strange Rocks by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
After visiting Sand Cove, I hiked back to where Amanda was sitting and rested in the shade for a while. The rest of the afternoon was spent resting in the shade and wandering around photographing the area as the sun sank lower in the sky.
Sand & Stone by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Upper Wave by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Red Stripe by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Wave II by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Leading Lines by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Before staring the hike back to my Jeep, we stopped for a quick photo of our shadows.
Shadows by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We reached the Wire Pass Trailhead again just as it was starting to get dark out. There were a lot less vehicles parked here now! We drove back to camp and had a late dinner. It had been a long day so we quickly fell asleep shortly after.
The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO
A few months back I managed to get another pair of permits to the Coyote Buttes North area so that Amanda and I could visit The Wave again and explore a few new areas. It turns out that I had picked a great weekend to go without originally realizing it. Our permits were for Saturday May 19th and it just so happens that the Annular Solar Eclipse was going to be happening on Sunday the 20th and some of the best views of this event would be down in the same area. It couldn't have worked out better! We would visit Coyote Buttes North on Saturday and then stick around for the Solar Eclipse on Sunday with a little extra time to check out Wire Pass.
After work on Friday we finished loading up the Jeep and headed south through Utah to the Paria Plateau in northern Arizona. As we drove past Moab the light played hide and seek with the peaks of the La Sal Mountains in the distance.
In the Spotlight by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We also made a quick stop at Wilson Arch for a photo since the last photo I took here in late afternoon light was with a point & shoot camera.
Wilson Arch by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The sun was just setting as we drove through Bluff, and it lit up the clouds behind the Horse Boulder nicely.
Horse Boulder by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We had planned to stop in Kayenta for a snack, but when we arrived we found that every restaurant was packed full of cars and people, and even the drive-thru's had enough cars that the lines were backed up into the highway. It was a strange sight, considering it was almost 10:00pm at this time! I guess Kayenta is a happening place on a Friday evening? Needless to say, we didn't stick around and just kept on driving.
After a stop in Page for some fuel, we finished our drive down the House Rock Valley Road and found a campsite just over the border in Arizona. We quickly setup camp and were in bed by about 12:30am. It turned out to be a longer drive than I had planned, and we were tired. I guess we made too many stops for photos along the way...
The following morning we slept in late to catch up on some sleep and had breakfast. We took our time getting ready to start hiking since I wanted to stick around Coyote Buttes North in the late afternoon. When we were finally ready to go we drove the few miles back to the Wire Pass Trailhead to start hiking. I was surprised at how many cars were parked here. The lot was packed! I ended up parking all the way at the top by the large campsite. I've only been here in the winter months before when there have only been a few vehicles, at most. It seems that there were a few large groups that were going to be hiking Wire Pass and part of Buckskin Gulch.
These yellow flowers were all over the place in the sandy areas on the hike out.
Paria Wildflowers by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Since I already have plenty of color photos of The Wave with better skies, here's something a little different from me.
Wave B&W by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The reflected light in 'The Passage' was amazing when we arrived. Great lines, too!
Reflected by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Light Passage by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Curves by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Amanda took this photo of me.
In The Passage by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
After spending a little time at The Wave, Amanda found a nice shaded spot to sit and read while I hiked over to Sand Cove. The bright white stripes found in the sandstone here were very cool.
Sand Cove Lines by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Stripes by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
White Stripes by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
There were plenty of these strange rocks around the area.
Strange Rocks by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
After visiting Sand Cove, I hiked back to where Amanda was sitting and rested in the shade for a while. The rest of the afternoon was spent resting in the shade and wandering around photographing the area as the sun sank lower in the sky.
Sand & Stone by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Upper Wave by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Red Stripe by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Wave II by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Leading Lines by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Before staring the hike back to my Jeep, we stopped for a quick photo of our shadows.
Shadows by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We reached the Wire Pass Trailhead again just as it was starting to get dark out. There were a lot less vehicles parked here now! We drove back to camp and had a late dinner. It had been a long day so we quickly fell asleep shortly after.
