So, leaving Page this morning and heading for the Mogollon Plateau where my brother, Warren, is camping with some friends and hunting deer. He has sent me several photos of the location and how he got there, but he has no idea how to get to this place from Flagstaff as everyone in the camp lives south of there. Having headed south towards Flagstaff a couple of days ago, I know I have a rather dramatic drop off not far south that I am not really looking forward to. I decided to use the phone app directions even though the instructions didn’t take me the way I thought they would. Turns out I didn’t take the route that included the long 6% grade but did have some other hills. It also turned out to be about 30 miles further than I needed to go, thus I was later getting to Flagstaff than anticipated. A few interesting twists and turns in Flagstaff, including a short stint on I-40, but then I was quickly on my way back into the forest. Somehow I got directions mixed up and then I got a call from Warren. Using Find My Friends, he told me I was on the wrong side of Mormon Lake and he talked me into camp.
Met a few of his friends on arrival and the rest as they drifted in from hunting. Very nice group and everyone seems to get along well. I tried to keep a low profile as this is usually an all-male trip. Besides, I had a lot of reading and writing to catch up on and figuring out how dry camping works in Nohana.
Day 18 ~ Page AZ, Points South
JJ
Did some internet research yesterday regarding the possibilities for photo ops in the area. Most of them were shut down due to COVID-19 issues. I already knew that my plan to visit Antelope Canyon wasn’t going to happen due to the high incidence of COVID throughout the Navajo Nation, but I didn’t realize the extent to which other options would be impacted. I pray for recovery for all affected by the virus, but the restrictions have sure changed my plans. That said, I decided many years ago that God would be in control of my life, not me. Can’t wait to see what He has in store!!
The hike to Waterholes Canyon is out for the same reason as above. Even though it is not as easily controlled, it is illegal now to go without a Navajo guide. I don’t blame them for wanting to control access as many are not aware of the spiritual nature of the area and do not treat it as they would a church.
So, maybe Zion NP after all, it’s only about an hour away. However, due to COVID restriction, you now have to have a ticket on the park shuttle in advance, and they are all sold out. No private vehicles are allowed on the scenic tour, it is by shuttle only. This may not be the best time to be around large groups of people from all over the world. Besides, I wouldn’t want to leave Jake in the truck for such a long time. Scratch Zion, for this trip. Most of the other tourist attractions are centered around the Glen Canyon Dam, museums and learning centers, all of which are closed to the public for now. Others require fairly long hikes on trails that do not allow dogs and it is too hot inside the truck to leave Jake in the back for an extended period of time.
Horseshoe Bend is high on the list of photographic opportunities and is only a short hike. The wind is still with us and it is pretty chilly (a high expected of 42) so Jake will be ok in the truck while I walk down, take some photos, and walk back. I arrived later in the morning than planned, but it wouldn’t have made a difference for the Bend. Some part of the canyon walls are in shadow except at midday, the worst possible time for photography. Probably the best shot I got was with my phone. I had better luck shooting the cloud formations above the canyon. More research required on how to get the shots I have seen others get - just exactly how did they manage it?
Since I am headed south, I decided go on to Lee’s Ferry. There is a possibility that I can get some historical shots. Nice to get a preview of the road I’ll travel on Thursday heading to Warren’s Deer Camp. Hmm, some grades, up and down, one place where the view is such that you get the feeling of driving off a cliff (not my favorite kind of road) but it passes quickly and will be fine! There is an awesome spot where the highway goes through essentially a rock tunnel with no roof where the sides soar several hundred feet above the pavement! It was further than I thought getting to Lee’s Ferry and my plan didn’t work out, but I found several options for shots of the canyon walls on the way, including a shot of the Vermillion Cliffs, and along the Colorado River at the bottom. SDG
“O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104:24 NIV
Day 19 ~ Page AZ, Points North
JJ
The plan for today was to drive north and try to find the trailhead for the Wire Pass trail to Buckskin Gulch which was recommended by my AllTrails app as fairly easy, dogs welcome, and only about 3.5 miles. Wasn’t sure we’d make it all the way to the end, but we would give it a try. I wasn’t too keen on driving across the Glen Canyon Dam again (my family knows how much I enjoy bridges!) but I managed pulling N’ohana, piece of cake with just the truck. Didn’t make it that far. Just before the dam I saw the sign for the Hanging Garden trail. As I pulled into the parking area to read the marker two vehicles continued past the parking area on a dirt road heading toward the lake.
Hanging Garden is a 1.2 mile hike, dogs welcome and rated easy. I thought it would be a good test for how well I could handle Jake, my tripod and camera, and the camera backpack. Fairly early, NO WIND! for a change so off we went. It is a very easy hike, right up until the end. The pool and hanging garden are up a very small rock incline, but it is more than an aging dog without benefit of hiking boots can manage. However, since it was just the two of us, he was content to sit and wait for me while I got my shots. He was the best photo-hike partner I’ve ever gone with; he never complained, or got impatient, or even paid any mind. He just knew that if I started setting up the tripod, he might just as well sit or lie down until I was ready to go again. Due respect to my other photo-hike partners; they never complained either, but I always felt guilty when they had to stand around and wait for me to get my shots.
One problem we have
encountered, the ramps I purchased to help load the generator and Jake have not
worked properly. A couple of weeks ago one
of the ramps locked up at the first joint so that what was a tri-fold ramp has
become a bi-fold ramp and given the space constrictions, that doesn’t work well. Thus, I have been
lifting Jake in and out of the back of the truck. I fiddled with it for a while about a week
ago and got it working again but haven’t used them until today. Jake was wriggling around so much when I got
him out that I decided to use the ramps to get him back in. Oops, it locked up again. Darn!
Maybe while I’m in deer camp Warren can help me figure out what is
causing it so I can prevent it. They
worked great for the first several days, and I was using them a lot more then
than lately.
Once back at the truck, I decided to see where the road went. After about 1/4 mile, it ends in a large parking area complete with restrooms and garbage bins. Apparently it is a favorite fishing area for the locals. There is a sort of path going down to a rather abrupt drop-off into Lake Powell. I didn’t go down, but I did watch a couple coming back up with their fishing gear. Took some additional shots of the rock formations and decided to head back for lunch.
Did some additional research, worked with my PhotoPills app, and made a plan for Horseshoe Bend for tomorrow. Got some additional information from Warren about finding his deer camp and set up the Garmin with the coordinates. Hopefully, I won’t get lost in the morning. ^_^ SDG
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV
Day 20 ~ Page AZ, Preparing for dry camping
JJ
Today was spent in working on accounting projects, cleaning “house”, doing laundry, and preparing for dry camping for a week at the deer camp. Make sure the fresh water tank is full, figure out the best way to get to the dump station since this space is water and electric only. Purchase additional groceries that might be needed. With all those accomplished, I have some spare time, so, should I make another try at Horseshoe Bend for sunset photos or try something else. Drove out to Horseshoe, parking lot is full and overflowing, and the sun will be right in my eyes, so pass on that one.
So I decided to give Antelope Point a try, there is a marina and lots of boats and a huge parking lot that was almost completely empty. I did find a couple of nice vantage points just a little way down from the parking lot that gave me some good compositional opportunities. It didn’t take very long so, now what?
Let’s see, yesterday on my way back from Hanging Garden I found an overlook in the middle of a residential area that might have some good opportunities for sunset photos of the rock formations. I managed to get totally lost in the residential neighborhood and spent some time backtracking before I finally found the overlook. Of course, I was still there way before sunset and I really needed the sun to be all the way down to get the photos I wanted, so I waited in the truck…. I was not disappointed!
JJ
When will I learn to “…let the day’s own trouble be sufficient unto the day…”? What a beautiful drive - from the green of the trees, grass, and mountains of southern Utah into the red hills and sand of Page. And, not one single issue with snow. However there was wind, which forced me to reduce my speed to about 10 miles below the posted limit. Not a huge problem as there wasn’t a lot of traffic; however there was a fifth wheel that caught up with me and wanted to pass me but the highway and traffic were such that it was impossible for about 20 minutes. When I finally saw that he would have enough time and highway to get all the way around me and my 26 footer with his much longer fifth wheel, I slowed down to about 40 so he could come around. As he did so, I recognized the couple that had been camped across the way from me at the RV park we had both just left! About 20 minutes later I came up on a stop sign where they had pulled off the road in preparation for making the same turn I did. I just smiled and waved, they waved back, and I hoped that they would be there long enough that they wouldn’t have to pass me again. They must have as that was the last I saw of them. A couple of other items of note for the drive was passing what was billed as the Childhood Home of Butch Cassidy. No opportunity to stop, but there were a few cars out front. The other was a hand-painted sign on the side of the road advertising a “Private Pond You catch them, we cook them.” SDG
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 NIV
