Three Picture Makers

Yesterday we went out to the reef.  We parked at one entrance, hiked through and up the back side, and then popped out a couple of miles to the north.  It was rugged and beautiful desert hiking.  The weather was very nice:  Forties and sunny.  We rolled up eight or nine miles, arriving at the truck by 3:30p.

Each of us carried a camera and, by the end of the day, each of us had a role of exposed film.  I curated the collection and selected a few of the best.  Can you tell which of us made them?  (Hint:  From top to bottom on this page the images are displayed in descending order of the physical height of the picture maker.)

No Name

Today we were planning to go to Cottonwood Wash, but stopped and got distracted by a little no name canyon north of the Smith Camp.  There was some steep scrambling, a couple of big-horn sheep, and no trash (which means the access is not obvious).  After three or four hours we went down.

We did continue to Cottonwood, but with the trail signs and developed trailhead, I bet there was plenty of trash.  The girls did a 30 minute recon, but then we headed north in a vigorous snow storm.  After an hour of rough road we made it to the Green River Cut-Off, and then to the oil, hitting the pavement before dark.

Range Creek

 

For several years, VSO has been interested in visiting Range Creek.  So, we got permits for the 21st of November and spent yesterday morning hiking down to Nelson Creek.  It was beautiful:  Sunny and cool.  But, except for the nice panel of glyphs south of Nelson Creek, we saw few of the large collection of artifacts for which the canyon is famous.

Until we met Mike, that is.  Mike has worked in the canyon for decades and, while he is officially the head of security, he didn't care to see our permits.  Instead, he spent an hour graciously showing and telling.  VSO jumped in his truck and he took her to see a dozen glyphs and granaries.  Mike was, in fact, so generous with his time that he even stopped on his way home to leave us directions (in the road) to a very nice sheep panel.

Good Ones

Every year at about this time, we start looking for calendar pictures.  We need a few good ones to highlight the local scenery and to use as Christmas gifts.  Last year, we picked through a number of VSO's best paintings.  This year, we found a few photos that we've made from around southern Utah.  We shared some good ones, here.

Bagged and Tagged

Last weekend EDO said, "Dad, we've got to go get wood."  She was correct.  We'd only cut one load, earlier in October, and the pantry was bare.  Plus, we'd had a few nights in the 20s and the house was cold.  So, VSO came with us and we got a good load of dense (not papery) dead aspen.  Today EDO and I went back for another one.  Aspen doesn't have a lot of BTUs, but sometimes you simply grab what is beside the road.  And don't forget to tag it.

Survivor

I was out scrambling around on the ridges above Range Creek the other day.  I noticed a number of interesting things, including a small piece of broken masonry, probably a Fremont granary, and a Douglas fir tree that had recently been struck by lightning.  The strike had shattered the tree, splitting it nearly in half from top to bottom and widely scattering shards of broken wood.  With half of the cambium still intact, though, I won't be surprised if the tree survives.