The Many Moods of Moab, May 2015

One of the benefits of being a snowbird is getting to experience a place in nature throughout a variety of conditions.  Here are some photos that show some of the moods of Moab during our stay throughout most of May 2015.

Spectacular sunsets were not a regular event in Moab like other places
I've camped at in the desert southwest.  So beautiful.  5/2/15 

Even with cloudy skies and an inferior camera, the full moon rising over
the Manti-La Sal Mountains is an awesome sight.  5/3/15 

According to the locals, the weather this Spring has been much more
stormy than usual.  I was fortunate to capture this rainbow.  5/6/15 

Courthouse Wash, about a half mile walk, with a storm brewing over
the Manti-La Sal Mountains in the distance.   5/15/15  

Amazing rock formations, cloudy skies, vultures circling ...
an instance of nature of Moab, Willow Springs.  5/15/15 

An abandoned windmill that once pumped water for
cattle from Willow Springs.  5/15/15 

Walking back to camp from Willow Spring at Courthouse Wash.  5/15/15 

Our camp on the lower left, under the distant cliffs
which tower over Hwy 191.   5/15/15

We weren't alone.  Sometimes other folks showed up in the most
unexpected ways.  Here, a hot air balloon launched just south of us.  5/24/15  

Then floated directly overhead.  5/24/15 

Memorial weekend, many other campers converged on the area.
But, by Monday evening almost everyone had left.
It was too many people, motorized toys, and generators for a while.  5/25/15

Meet one of our hosts.  Raven surveys his home from the vantage
of grandpa juniper tree.  I thank him for his hospitality.  5/25/15 

My last night:  Alpenglow on the Manti-La Sal Mountains in the east.   5/25/15

And the warm colors of sunset in the west.  5/25/15 

Returning to camp from one last walk to the wash this morning.
Almost fully empty of campers, except us.  5/26/15 

What a treat to have spent May in Moab.  Even with the stormy weather, I'd do it all over again ... except for the Memorial weekend crowds.  :)

Also, check out Bob's informative post and beautiful photos on our Moab, Utah Campsite.  

Arches National Park, May 2015

We've been camping in Moab since the first of May.  To say the least, the red rocks that surround us are spectacular in their color, texture, shapes, and enormity.   Arches National Park in Moab exemplifies these red rock fantasy forms.

In 2010, during my 6 month tour of the National Parks, I visited Arches.  But, when Bob invited me to tag along on one of his photo sessions into the park, I readily agreed.  It's hard to get too much of a good thing.  We went to the Windows District.  Here are some of the scenes I was able to capture.

Petrified Sand Dunes in front of the Manti-LaSal Mountains.
As viewed  on the drive into Arches NP.  5/11/15 

Close up of Petrified Sand Dunes in Arches NP with  the 
North Window and Turret Arch in the far distance. 5/11/15

Walking toward the North Window and Turret Arch.  5/11/15 

Hiking up the steps toward the North Window.
Look closely at the people standing under it for a
sense of scale.  5/11/15 

The view of the other side of Turret Arch
as taken from the North Window.  5/11/15 

On the other side of the parking lot from the hike to the North Window is the rock formations called the Parade of Elephants.  Do you see them?

Parade of Elephants, Windows District, Arches NP.  5/11/15 

  Check out Bob's Photos of Arches NP and a Lesson on Overcoming Fear.

Amazing Monument Valley

In reading back over my posts, I realize I use the word "amazing" a lot.  And not without warrant.  I have seen, and tried to show in my photographs some spectacular sites.  That being said, I can't think of a better word than "amazing" to describe Monument Valley, absolutely amazing.  The gigantic size of each of the monuments -- mesas, buttes, spires -- combined with their placement and number, sets this place apart from anywhere else I've explored.

Because of the vastness of the landscape, many of these photos are very wide.  This makes them smaller and hard to see within the post.  To enlarge in a separate window, please click on the photo.

West Mitten Butte, East Mitten Butte and Merrick Butte from the deck
 of the Visitors Center.  The 2-lane dirt road below takes visitors
17 miles around the valley.  To get a sense of scale, there's a white van on the left,
below the thumb of West Mitten Butte.  4/28/15

We decided to camp in the valley for several days.  Bob's van is on the left
in front of the distant Sentinel Mesa.  My car on the right.  4/28/15  

At my campsite, the view out of my front windshield.
It took my breath away each day we were there.  4/28/15 

At my campsite, horses free range.  4/28/15 

View from my campsite, the Visitors Center below Mitchell Mesa.  4/28/15 

Aglow at sunset.  4/28/15

 

Silhouetted at sunrise  4/30/15

Sentinel Mesa from the Valley Drive Loop.  4/30/15

West Mitten Butte from the Valley Drive Loop.  4/30/15

John Ford's Point, the director's favorite camera location in Monument Valley.
Many of his movies starred John Wayne.  Valley Drive Loop.  4/30/15  

Vista from Artist's Point, Valley Drive Loop.  4/30/15  

Left to Right:  Three Sisters, Mitchell Mesa, Camel Butte
on the Valley Drive Loop.  4/30/15   

View from the North Window Overlook on the Valley Drive Loop.  4/30/15  

I feel honored to have witnessed this absolutely amazing place.

Also, check out Bob's blog and spectacular photos of Monument Valley  -- http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/summer-travel-2015-monument-valley/.