President

[IntrepidXJ]

Saturday - Monday, February 15-17, 2014

The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO

For the long President's Day weekend, Diane and I decided to spend the weekend around Moab. We had booked a hotel room a few weeks earlier and had no idea how nice the temperature would be this weekend. Unfortunately, thanks to the three-day holiday weekend and warm weather, Moab was a bit busier than it normally is this time of the year.

We left home early Saturday morning and headed right for the Hell's Revenge Trail in the Sand Flats Recreation Area. I have driven this trail numerous times in different Jeeps, but this would be Diane's first experience on a real Jeep trail. The sky was overcast all day, so I didn't take too many photos while we were on the trail. After completing Hell's Revenge we also checked out part of the Fins & Things trail before heading back into town for a burger from Milt's for a late lunch.

Black tire tracks mark the trail across the sandstone with the La Sal Mountains in the distance.


Hells Revenge Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

After lunch we followed the Colorado River to Kane Creek Canyon and climbed up a break in the cliff to visit Funnel Arch.


Climbing by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A view of the Colorado River from near Funnel Arch.


Colorado View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Looking down a fin.


Fin & Dome by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Funnel Arch on an overcast afternoon with the sun just barely visible through the gray sky.


Funnel Arch by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

When we climbed back down from Funnel Arch we stopped at Birthing Rock to check out the petroglyphs.


Birthing Scene by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Then we climbed up Petroglyph Canyon to view many other petroglyphs.


On the Line by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Four by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

On Saturday morning we woke again to overcast skies and made our way down the Colorado River to Bootlegger Canyon so we could hike to Corona Arch. I've visited Corona Arch a few times before and it's always a nice hike, but lately I have become a little tired of people asking me if I have swung off of it every time I post a photo of the arch...

Corona Arch in black and white showing off the mammatus clouds above.


Corona Arch by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

After our morning visit to Corona Arch we made our way over to Arches National Park where we would spend the rest of the day. With the busier park I decided to take the 4x4 road to Eye of the Whale Arch and Tower Arch. When we arrived at the Eye of the Whale Arch trailhead, we were surprised to come across a vehicle that was camping right there at the trailhead with a tent setup down in a nearby wash...

The view from inside the Eye of the Whale.


Eye of the Whale View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Driving towards the Marching Men and Klondike Bluffs on our way to Tower Arch.


Marching Men by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

As we drove from Eye of the Whale to Tower Arch the overcast sky finally started to clear up a little.


Tower Arch by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A different view under Tower Arch.


Under Tower Arch by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The tower above.


Tower by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Looking out.


Tower Arch View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

When we reached Salt Valley we joined back up with the main road through the park and stopped at Devil's Garden so we could take the quick hike to Landscape Arch. This trail was pretty busy for February, but certainly not the busiest I have seen it. I didn't like the light on Landscape Arch while we were there, but these fins in the other direction looked nice.


Fins by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Before leaving the park we hiked out to Delicate Arch. As we hiked up to the arch storm clouds started moving in and the wind really picked up. I did mange to get a decent photo of the arch when the sun peeked out through a small hole in the clouds and there was no one standing under it at the time...


Delicate Arch by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A storm in the distance as we hiked back down from the arch.


Storm Over Sandstone by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We stopped to visit the Ute petroglyphs near the Wolfe Ranch.


Wolfe Ranch Petroglyphs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

As we drove out of the park I pulled over for a quick photo of this dusty scene.


Through the Dust by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

On Sunday morning we returned back to Kane Creek Canyon so we could take a nice relaxing hike through Hunter Canyon. We got an early start and took our time on this hike and still didn't run into anyone else in the canyon until we were on our way back out. It was a beautiful hike and the morning light was pretty nice, too.

Near the beginning of the hike we passed under Hunter Arch.


Hunter Arch by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Diane explores under a large boulder that had some nice reflected light going on.


Under the Rock by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

There was water running through the canyon so there were a lot of opportunities for reflection photos.


Reflection by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Nice light and reflection.


Reflecting Pool by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Following the trail through the canyon.


Hunter Canyon Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Intense reflected light on the sandstone above.


Boulders by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We followed the light around this bend by hopping over large boulder to find a small pour-over that had a little waterfall.


Around the Corner by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

More reflections...


Canyon Below by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Hunter Reflection by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Hiking back out in full sunlight.


Hunter Canyon by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

On our way back home we stopped to check out the Intestine Man and TV Sheep.


TV Sheep by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Then we visited Secret Spire.


Secret Spire by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We made one last stop at the Sego Rock Art site in the Book Cliffs.


Sego BCS by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

It turned out to be a great little weekend getaway :)

>> Moab Presidents Day Weekend Photo Gallery

[Wasatch]

Very Nice TR and pics.

[Rob L]

A nice TR.

Some of your colour photos look...enhanced, shall I say. What is the purpose of that? Or is it my imagination?

[IntrepidXJ]

A nice TR.

Some of your colour photos look...enhanced, shall I say. What is the purpose of that? Or is it my imagination?

I processes them to the best of my ability to re-create what I remember seeing in person.

[phillipgallagher]

Amazing photography, I would love to go there one day. I've only been in the Grand Canyon national park, but didn't go on a hike there either and I'm sure it is a place which would be lovely for a hiking trip. You've done a great job getting the photos to look as close to the real nature colors too.