Rented mule
02-05-2010, 08:45 PM
http://usera.imagecave.com/mochajo/hikingaround/
The Virgin River Gorge, is sometimes a very overlooked gem of a hiking destination. This may be due to the roaring traffic of I-15; always present.
And, don't most of us want a quiet, pristine, commune with the elements, devoid of human technology?
a connection with nature beyond the concrete?
Once, during the huge blossom explosion the other year, I met a lady whilst taking pictures of some wildflowers in Valley Of Fire State Park. I commented on how pretty the flowers were. But, was having a difficult time of capturing them in their desert environment with the durn road in the shots.
She laughed and explained that it was all an attitude thing.....
She was filming the ROAD and didn't want the flowers without it.
she was working for Arizona Highway Mag. hehehe What an eye opener for me. So now, I look at the destinations and pictures much differently.
the same old gorge with its traffic humming below couldn't possibly of any interest, right? wrong!!
I hike in the gorge a ton, now!!
to get to this particular area, drive out of St. George on the dirt road out of Bloomington, heading west. At the split, where the signage takes you to the Bloomington caves? Turn to the southwest. Always point your vehicle ever upward and ever toward the gorge. You will after 11 miles,
come to an overlook where the cliffs drop away 1500 ft. And the
ugly interstate? WoW!!! Next time you drive throught he gorge?
Stop at the lonely bnridge in the middle of the rec area and park awhile,
watching the stars above, as the cliffs start to illuminate. And always,
below, standing in the very center of opposing traffic, north and south,
people are moving in and out; up and down. Cars, motorcycles, people moving, north and south.
So, give the gorge a try. there are 13 arches visible from the interstate.
but, watch the road, hehe there are more dangerous curves then Marilyn Monroe....32 curves.
cheers!
jerry
The Virgin River Gorge, is sometimes a very overlooked gem of a hiking destination. This may be due to the roaring traffic of I-15; always present.
And, don't most of us want a quiet, pristine, commune with the elements, devoid of human technology?
a connection with nature beyond the concrete?
Once, during the huge blossom explosion the other year, I met a lady whilst taking pictures of some wildflowers in Valley Of Fire State Park. I commented on how pretty the flowers were. But, was having a difficult time of capturing them in their desert environment with the durn road in the shots.
She laughed and explained that it was all an attitude thing.....
She was filming the ROAD and didn't want the flowers without it.
she was working for Arizona Highway Mag. hehehe What an eye opener for me. So now, I look at the destinations and pictures much differently.
the same old gorge with its traffic humming below couldn't possibly of any interest, right? wrong!!
I hike in the gorge a ton, now!!
to get to this particular area, drive out of St. George on the dirt road out of Bloomington, heading west. At the split, where the signage takes you to the Bloomington caves? Turn to the southwest. Always point your vehicle ever upward and ever toward the gorge. You will after 11 miles,
come to an overlook where the cliffs drop away 1500 ft. And the
ugly interstate? WoW!!! Next time you drive throught he gorge?
Stop at the lonely bnridge in the middle of the rec area and park awhile,
watching the stars above, as the cliffs start to illuminate. And always,
below, standing in the very center of opposing traffic, north and south,
people are moving in and out; up and down. Cars, motorcycles, people moving, north and south.
So, give the gorge a try. there are 13 arches visible from the interstate.
but, watch the road, hehe there are more dangerous curves then Marilyn Monroe....32 curves.
cheers!
jerry