A Tour and A Hike, Monument Valley, UT

The West Mitten

Petroglyphs!

The Eagle

Sleeping Frankenstein

Other side of Frankenstein

Near John Ford Point

West Mitten - Wildcat Trail

Desert Scrub, up close

This venue is actually one of the main sights we wanted to see in Arizona.  Ironically, it is in Utah.  And while it too was lovely, it probably wasn't our favourite day. We spent just one night and one day. After the sunrise we went on a Navajo guided tour on the valley floor.  The only way to get onto the floor of the valley was to take a Jeep tour....I don't think our little Focus had enough clearance!  The tour was soooo expensive, but we did enjoy the back country section which is only accessible with a native Navajo guide! The dunes are crazy red!!

In the afternoon we hiked the Wildcat trail around the West Mitten monument.  This...we loved.  The shale trail was easy to follow, with white-painted rocks for markers, and easy footing. I love these opportunities to get away from the main attraction and so few people seem to be "out there". 

Near the end of our day, this lovely white haze drifted in and that light is great for photos. It is amazing how much the landscape changes under different skies.  It ended up raining after we left, and we saw snow along the way to Sedona as well.

One of our favourite little unexpected gems was the very informal (FREE!) film museum at Golding's Trading Post.  That was so fascinating! Wish we had stayed here or at least gone here first.  Although it's hard to pass up the sunrise on the balcony in pajamas drinking really bad hotel room coffee.  

Next stop: Sedona, AZ

Sunset and Sunrise in Monument Valley, UT

I'm so excited that you're still following along!!! 

By the time we made it to Monument Valley, the sun was already setting.  We walked straight to the large balcony after checking into the hotel, and watched the sun go down. It was strange not to feel more awe at the sight of the towering rock monuments. To find the sunset just ho-hum that day.  I thought about that later.   How do you sustain  a high level of awe when you are seeing so many places that equal in beauty and sheer size?

Don`t get me wrong...the sunset was lovely. The towering shadows crept across the dessert floor like long fingers getting longer. Fun to try different settings and try some Ansel Adams monochrome type effects.  And then it was done.  This valley, the scene of many John Wayne Westerns, had gone to sleep for the night.

I thought the sunrise would be more of the same.  But it wasn't.  And I love that.  I love the unexpected.  These are some of my favourite photos of the trip!  The scene before me that morning  revealed the amazing pastel dessert sky that is so prevalent in South Western American art.  It is so neat to experience the moments that inspire pottery and weaving patterns.  And the next time you see the art or the pottery, you realize the patterns are from nature itself...because you saw it with your own eyes.   And buying a souvenir for someone else...just wouldn't evoke the same emotion in them as it did in you.  (So just keep it for yourself! tee hee hee)

Next stop: Monument Valley Floor

Water Holes Canyon, Page AZ

This. Was. So. Cool.

Water Holes Canyon.
It was part of the same canyon system as Antelope Canyon.  But to some it is not quite as spectacular. There is a nice section of narrows, where the walls almost close to a ceiling, so there is a lot more light. But not the dark closed in spaces of Antelope Canyon.

It was not remote.  It was just down the road from Antelope Canyon.
It was closed to the public. But not if you had a hiking permit.
It was deserted.   There were two other cars, and one was just leaving.
It was just us.   We had the whole canyon to ourselves for as long as we wanted.
Well....just us and the coyotes. Their foot prints were all over the sand. Probably for the water holes :)

There is a delicious thrill when immersing yourself completely in creation. I love the texture. I love it on sunny days and over cast days and rainy and snowy days. I love being alone there, just walking with my thoughts and my Creator.  I love it that after busy seasons these thoughts find a place to land. I love the sense of peace and rest in the physicality of hiking. The quiet.....and the whisper of the wind.

I guess my expectations were set right.

Next stop? Monument Valley, UT