IntrepidXJ
Explorer
Friday - Sunday, October 11-13, 2013
The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO
After an amazing day of weather and photography I woke up early again and decided to drive out to Dead Horse Point State Park so I could catch the sunrise this morning. It had been a few years since I'd been up there and they were offering free admission to anyone with a National Parks Pass while the National Parks were still closed. I was also hoping there might be some leftover clouds from the storms the previous day. When I arrived I was surprised to find that there were only a couple of other people up there. I figured with all the other parks closed, this would be a popular place. I'm glad it wasn't.
As you can see, there were some clouds still in the sky. They started to turn pink shortly before sunrise.
Dead Horse Dawn by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I love it when the magenta light bounces off the bottom of the clouds and onto the sandstone below. Look closely and you can see the main overlook with a few photographers standing on the platform.
Viewpoint by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The Gooseneck reflected on the Colorado River below.
Colorado Reflection by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Nice spotlighting looking towards Shafer Canyon and the Island in the Sky.
Spotlight by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I liked the clouds and the light in the one.
Canyonlands View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The Gooseneck by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
You can get a pretty good view of the Shafer Trail climbing up the canyon beyond the water-filled potholes in the foreground.
Potholes & Canyons by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Colorado Reflection by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
This raven kept circling above me, so I pointed my camera up for a shot.
The Raven by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Just a quick snapshot of this well-known tree.
Famous Tree by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
My shadow and an unnamed rock spire in Shafer Canyon.
Shadow & Butte by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Just a different view of the spire.
Little Butte by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
As I was getting back to my Jeep I ran into my friend and fellow photographer Bret Edge who was guiding a client that morning. We chatted for a few minutes, since I hadn't been able to catch him in his gallery for a while, before going our separate ways.
On my way back to town I noticed that the light on the Monitor & Merrimac was not too bad, and since I didn't have a decent photo of these two prominent buttes, I stopped for a few photos.
Monitor & Merrimac by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Monitor Butte by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Since I took a photo of the blocked entrance to Arches National Park, I had to stop by this sign for a quick photo, too.
Canyonlands Closed by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
When I got back to town, I stopped for some breakfast so I could figure out what to do for the rest of the day. Kelly would be joining my later that evening after she was done at work, but I wanted to get another hike in before she got there. I remembered that there was a section of Mill Creek Canyon that I have wanted to check out for a while, so I made my way over there when I was done eating.
I've visited these petroglyphs in Mill Creek Canyon a number of times before, but this time the reflected light in the alcove was amazing.
Sideways by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Eagle Men by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Soon I reached the petroglyph panels I was looking for.
Christmas Lights by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
This was probably my favorite one of the day.
Warriors by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Mill Creek Warriors by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I climbed up to a large alcove that had a bunch of petroglyphs on many of the boulders inside. Unfortunately many of them were hard to see and even harder to photograph. This particular boulder had a bunch of sandal petroglyphs on it.
Sandals by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Watching over the large alcove.
Watchman by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
There were even some pictographs up here, too. I spent a while exploring the area around this alcove and relaxing in the shade.
Lone Pictograph by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO
After an amazing day of weather and photography I woke up early again and decided to drive out to Dead Horse Point State Park so I could catch the sunrise this morning. It had been a few years since I'd been up there and they were offering free admission to anyone with a National Parks Pass while the National Parks were still closed. I was also hoping there might be some leftover clouds from the storms the previous day. When I arrived I was surprised to find that there were only a couple of other people up there. I figured with all the other parks closed, this would be a popular place. I'm glad it wasn't.
As you can see, there were some clouds still in the sky. They started to turn pink shortly before sunrise.
Dead Horse Dawn by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I love it when the magenta light bounces off the bottom of the clouds and onto the sandstone below. Look closely and you can see the main overlook with a few photographers standing on the platform.
Viewpoint by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The Gooseneck reflected on the Colorado River below.
Colorado Reflection by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Nice spotlighting looking towards Shafer Canyon and the Island in the Sky.
Spotlight by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I liked the clouds and the light in the one.
Canyonlands View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The Gooseneck by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
You can get a pretty good view of the Shafer Trail climbing up the canyon beyond the water-filled potholes in the foreground.
Potholes & Canyons by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Colorado Reflection by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
This raven kept circling above me, so I pointed my camera up for a shot.
The Raven by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Just a quick snapshot of this well-known tree.
Famous Tree by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
My shadow and an unnamed rock spire in Shafer Canyon.
Shadow & Butte by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Just a different view of the spire.
Little Butte by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
As I was getting back to my Jeep I ran into my friend and fellow photographer Bret Edge who was guiding a client that morning. We chatted for a few minutes, since I hadn't been able to catch him in his gallery for a while, before going our separate ways.
On my way back to town I noticed that the light on the Monitor & Merrimac was not too bad, and since I didn't have a decent photo of these two prominent buttes, I stopped for a few photos.
Monitor & Merrimac by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Monitor Butte by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Since I took a photo of the blocked entrance to Arches National Park, I had to stop by this sign for a quick photo, too.
Canyonlands Closed by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
When I got back to town, I stopped for some breakfast so I could figure out what to do for the rest of the day. Kelly would be joining my later that evening after she was done at work, but I wanted to get another hike in before she got there. I remembered that there was a section of Mill Creek Canyon that I have wanted to check out for a while, so I made my way over there when I was done eating.
I've visited these petroglyphs in Mill Creek Canyon a number of times before, but this time the reflected light in the alcove was amazing.
Sideways by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Eagle Men by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Soon I reached the petroglyph panels I was looking for.
Christmas Lights by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
This was probably my favorite one of the day.
Warriors by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Mill Creek Warriors by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I climbed up to a large alcove that had a bunch of petroglyphs on many of the boulders inside. Unfortunately many of them were hard to see and even harder to photograph. This particular boulder had a bunch of sandal petroglyphs on it.
Sandals by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Watching over the large alcove.
Watchman by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
There were even some pictographs up here, too. I spent a while exploring the area around this alcove and relaxing in the shade.
Lone Pictograph by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr