gnwatts
05-30-2011, 12:40 PM
Ok, so it it isn't "Sacred". But I have a few places stashed around the Colorado Plateau that I consider pretty important, and my all time favorite is in Dominguez Canyon. And the trail head is only 2 hours drive from my house.
I left my house in Carbondale about 1pm, made it to I-70, trying to hear the stereo (only 1 speaker is working) over the transmission whine. Great drive though, following the Colorado River below the Roan Plateau and Grand Mesa. Then I got that great station @ Mesa State, a gem among the stations in this area, playing SHAFT! Shut your mouth!.........then I'm at Clifton. Great off ramp at Clifton (old hwy 6), 55mph until you hit the strip malls, which is nearly instantaneously. The local officials for some reason want you through their little town as quick as possible. A refreshing change. Actually Clifton has some nice areas if you can break your way through the concrete barriers and asphalt parking lots. Left onto 141 and then to Hwy 50 towards Delta. Bridgeport road Is tough to see at 65mph, so you kind of have to know where it is. About 4 miles down this road I am at the trail head on Gunnison River. WTF! Not a parking space to be had, and I am screwed. I have been here on a Wednesday before and had the place nearly to myself. This does not bode well. I ask some guy in a big van to move up a little and I am able to fit in, barely.
It sounds nice being near the Gunnison, but it actually blows. I hate this part of the hike along the railroad tracks and creosote. But after a mile of this hell you arrive at the bridge:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/5772760783_905ee219cd.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5772760783/)
ZC0D5535 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5772760783/) by greg watts photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/63097433@N07/), on Flickr
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/5772760863_654a0e3548.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5772760863/)
ZC0D5537 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5772760863/) by greg watts photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/63097433@N07/), on Flickr
Now things get a lot better. My convulsing and shaking has stopped, I think because I am not breathing creosote. The hike is now along the river for about 1/2 mile past all of the boater camp sites, tables and coolers of beer. Soon I am headed up the canyon, great day with puffy white clouds. Right before the confluence of the Big and Little Dominguez Canyons is this great place to stop and relax:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2283/5773299240_025db08765.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5773299240/)
ZC0D5533 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5773299240/) by greg watts photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/63097433@N07/), on Flickr
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/5772760633_18cbb376fc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5772760633/)
ZC0D5526 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5772760633/) by greg watts photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/63097433@N07/), on Flickr
Heading up Big Dominguez Canyon I see a couple of people on horses coming towards me, we chat for a few seconds, long enough for them to tell me I am behind a group of about 15 teenagers, some school or church thing. I must have looked pretty shaken up at this point as she said for me not to worry, as there are lot's of places to camp. She was right. They were camped about 1/2 mile from where I thought I would be, in a broad wide place by the river. About 8 tents, frisbees, etc.
The place I had chosen to camp is hard to find. When I originally found the place, it had not been used in a long while, the fire pit had been used just a few times, not much charcoal. I have not been there in over a year, so it was time to pay a visit for a couple of days.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2151/5777127833_2e72f737eb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5777127833/)
ZC0D5352 - Version 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5777127833/) by greg watts photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/63097433@N07/), on Flickr
It is located about 100' above the creek, on a little point. It looks like a mini geological battle happened here, huge slabs of stone thrown up at different angles. And in the nook of one of these stone collisions is the camp site, protected by stone and ancient junipers. Just enough room for my tent, and is protected from the wind that is happening now.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/5773298838_1522128049.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5773298838/)
ZC0D5499 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5773298838/) by greg watts photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/63097433@N07/), on Flickr
So what's the plan man? No plan. The firewood we left a year ago is still there, which I will need later. What I really want to do is sit and relax, listen to the river, read and take photos.
I decided this trip to try some night shots. My day job of photographing architecture is really 50% at night. So my idea of a relaxing evening usually does not include photography. So I thought I would give it a try. So be kind (I know, a familiar phrase).
Getting a little darker, more clouds though.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/5773298580_419b32c55f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5773298580/)
ZC0D5470 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5773298580/) by greg watts photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/63097433@N07/), on Flickr
I left my house in Carbondale about 1pm, made it to I-70, trying to hear the stereo (only 1 speaker is working) over the transmission whine. Great drive though, following the Colorado River below the Roan Plateau and Grand Mesa. Then I got that great station @ Mesa State, a gem among the stations in this area, playing SHAFT! Shut your mouth!.........then I'm at Clifton. Great off ramp at Clifton (old hwy 6), 55mph until you hit the strip malls, which is nearly instantaneously. The local officials for some reason want you through their little town as quick as possible. A refreshing change. Actually Clifton has some nice areas if you can break your way through the concrete barriers and asphalt parking lots. Left onto 141 and then to Hwy 50 towards Delta. Bridgeport road Is tough to see at 65mph, so you kind of have to know where it is. About 4 miles down this road I am at the trail head on Gunnison River. WTF! Not a parking space to be had, and I am screwed. I have been here on a Wednesday before and had the place nearly to myself. This does not bode well. I ask some guy in a big van to move up a little and I am able to fit in, barely.
It sounds nice being near the Gunnison, but it actually blows. I hate this part of the hike along the railroad tracks and creosote. But after a mile of this hell you arrive at the bridge:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/5772760783_905ee219cd.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5772760783/)
ZC0D5535 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5772760783/) by greg watts photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/63097433@N07/), on Flickr
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/5772760863_654a0e3548.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5772760863/)
ZC0D5537 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5772760863/) by greg watts photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/63097433@N07/), on Flickr
Now things get a lot better. My convulsing and shaking has stopped, I think because I am not breathing creosote. The hike is now along the river for about 1/2 mile past all of the boater camp sites, tables and coolers of beer. Soon I am headed up the canyon, great day with puffy white clouds. Right before the confluence of the Big and Little Dominguez Canyons is this great place to stop and relax:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2283/5773299240_025db08765.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5773299240/)
ZC0D5533 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5773299240/) by greg watts photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/63097433@N07/), on Flickr
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/5772760633_18cbb376fc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5772760633/)
ZC0D5526 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5772760633/) by greg watts photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/63097433@N07/), on Flickr
Heading up Big Dominguez Canyon I see a couple of people on horses coming towards me, we chat for a few seconds, long enough for them to tell me I am behind a group of about 15 teenagers, some school or church thing. I must have looked pretty shaken up at this point as she said for me not to worry, as there are lot's of places to camp. She was right. They were camped about 1/2 mile from where I thought I would be, in a broad wide place by the river. About 8 tents, frisbees, etc.
The place I had chosen to camp is hard to find. When I originally found the place, it had not been used in a long while, the fire pit had been used just a few times, not much charcoal. I have not been there in over a year, so it was time to pay a visit for a couple of days.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2151/5777127833_2e72f737eb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5777127833/)
ZC0D5352 - Version 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5777127833/) by greg watts photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/63097433@N07/), on Flickr
It is located about 100' above the creek, on a little point. It looks like a mini geological battle happened here, huge slabs of stone thrown up at different angles. And in the nook of one of these stone collisions is the camp site, protected by stone and ancient junipers. Just enough room for my tent, and is protected from the wind that is happening now.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/5773298838_1522128049.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5773298838/)
ZC0D5499 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5773298838/) by greg watts photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/63097433@N07/), on Flickr
So what's the plan man? No plan. The firewood we left a year ago is still there, which I will need later. What I really want to do is sit and relax, listen to the river, read and take photos.
I decided this trip to try some night shots. My day job of photographing architecture is really 50% at night. So my idea of a relaxing evening usually does not include photography. So I thought I would give it a try. So be kind (I know, a familiar phrase).
Getting a little darker, more clouds though.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/5773298580_419b32c55f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5773298580/)
ZC0D5470 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63097433@N07/5773298580/) by greg watts photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/63097433@N07/), on Flickr