Monday, November 30, 2009

"Love, Liquor, Ammo, Guns, Beer. Welcome to Zion. Oh, we have Gas too."


Arches was the epitome of Utah's landscape. But it was crowded and was kind of hyped us so much that it was a let down.
arid
entering
The road to Zion was still petty scenic, yet similar to what I've seen so far.
zion brush
white zion
Not even knowing there was such a park, I had no idea what to expect until I got there. Everyone knows that I love trees, and all the pines, and the Cottonwood that have just turned the most beautiful Golden Yellow, were a great change for me.
zion wall
The patriarchs peaks were great shapes and a nice allusion to what was next. The roads must have been paved with local rocks because they were the same red stone color as the canyons. They blended really well into the landscape instead or ruining it.
zion canyon peaks
The rocky and rounded peaks together were great.
zion peaks
Oh the sky was so blue, and what clouds were in the sky were puffy white.
cloud zion
The morning sun was hazey on some mountains but others were in full sunlight and blazed their scenery.
zion pines
These canyon walls were so close to one another. They felt at ease with each other and the people below them.
zion rocks

canyon z
Look at Zion Canyon. Just look.
zion canyon
Wow, the light.
zion light
The light in this park is amazing no matter what time of day. I was there all day and it never lost a beat.
zione trees
Cottonwoods were golden. They felt like home to me. The woodlands on the edge of the river captured and filtered the light so well.
zion up
Every glance was a change in scenery. The amazing and sad part is that I lost daylight and was unable to go on quote "mot amazing trail in any national park" in Zion.
cacti
When the sun was hitting me I was dreadfully overheated, and in the shade I was so cold. The cactus and pines were such a weird pair.
chain
When sandstone weathers it is SAND again. The rocks were covered in sand and hung over thousand foot cliffs. Chains in the walls at some points made it feel a lot safer crossing.
zion canyon
Just look at that light!
utahb
And as soon as Zion Canyon arose from the desert it was gone again. Everything flattened out and got more red.
arizonal
I was on my way to the Grand Canyon's North Rim. I have never been on love with the Grand Canyon's scenery even on film or photo. I was so close so I thought I'd try and take a look to change my mind.
arizona
The Kaibab National Forest was north of the rim and I had to go through it to get to the canyon. First I saw a log pile. NO trees in sight anywhere, just a log pile.
Photobucket
Then I came upon them. Arizona right? Beautiful snow covered Ponderosa Pines. Almost nothing but them too. A layer of grass and thick pines all along the rolling hills and peaks.
snow trees
fire trees
And what a beautiful change, sad, but necessary. I take it that they had birned at least one or two seasons ago. The grass was yellowed from a season of growing but I didnt make out any saplings growing between the snags. Every so often an Aspen showed up burnt, originally whitish, when the burnt bark peeled away, WHITE WHITE WHITE. Such beautiful wood.
kaibab
It was so long getting from Zion to the north rim. The forest never seemed to stop, then all of a sudden there were meadows. They got larger and larger until the entrance to the park.
kaibab fire
The sunset between the trees kept getting more spectacular.
snowyroad
By the time I got into the park it was pitch black. Snow covered roads, and no cars gave me a weird feeling, but I kept on.
grand green
When I got to the Grand Canyon Lodge, I knew something was up damn it. No cars, not even at the cabins, stores or lots. I walked around and saw CLOSED FOR THE WINTER signs. Nov. 30th 7:00 (no specified am or pm) was when everyone had to be out of the park. Wonderful, as it was 11p.m. Nov 29th when I got there. My car was shitting out on me since I had been driving forever in the desert all day long so I had to sleep in the parking lot and was going to wake up, take some pics of the rim and see if I thought it was beautiful or not, then leave before 7pm. Well no. A wonderfully helpful Park Ranger flashed his light through my window while I was sleeping that night. I thought I was dreaming of someone taking a picture of my car in the parking lot. I was instructed to get out of the park before 7am or I was to be ticketed for illegal camping. Groggily I got my car started and headed out for the damn south rim before I got to see the sunrise.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

NOTHING beats an American. Bambie, maybe your mom was from Canada.


Out of Arches was more wonderful desert.
reds
It might not be the right time
I might not be the right one
But there's something about us I want to say
Cause there's something between us anyway

I might not be the right one
It might not be the right time
But there's something about us I've got to do
Some kind of secret I will share with you

I need you more than anything in my life
I want you more than anything in my life
I'll miss you more than anyone in my life
I love you more than anyone in my life

greens reds
The red soil was striking. Cooper green hills were amongst all the red.
copper
Then a bend in the road it got kind of boring with rolling beige hills.
hills
Sandstone hills came out of the blue sky.
beige
Not long after Arches and a few other towns there was a sign that pretty much read: There isn't a damn thing up ahead for over one hundred miles.
nothing
There were nothing but ranches after this stop.
Photobucket
There was a truck that inspired today's title. A mattress company called "American". It had its nothing beats an american slogan and a picture of a fawn completely separate from the logos.
rocks
The up heaved land and weathered looked like something from space.
end of 70
The END of interstate 70.
beaver
The entry to Beaver had the most wonderful billboard for entry.
beaver fences
The mist was coming over the mountains.
billboards
Billboards. There were none up to this point, and none afterward.
upitty
Peaks that looked like volcanoes caught my eye.
mountain mist
As far as they can see were the prettiest mountains surrounded in mist.
mist desert
Mist.
mist
The rain was coming. When I never knew. It was still desert.
mountain
A flat valley with farms, cattle, and towns.
mountain misty
This mountain was alone in the snow. Surrounded by the mist that was coming.
cloud cover
rainy
The rain finally caught up to me. When it rains in the desert, man does it rain. Most of the drivers were from Nevada and Utah, and they were freaking out. It was sleeting at some points and my wipers were on full blast. Everyone got into the slow lane, some with flashers, and I just zoomed by rubbing my Indiana license plate in there faces.
rainy brush
The sun came out and the light was beautiful.
zion cloud
Clouds were pushed up by the peaks and looked ominous.
zion sunny
Zion National Park's edge followed the highway and the sunlight after the rain over the peaks looked amazing.
rainy zion
The sunlit brush reminded me of Jurassic Park.
desert light
The way up to Zion had a few small towns, and a town with desert suburbs. Suburbs of nothing. GREEN grass surrounded by desert and other homes. I don't know where they even got groceries. But there they were.
zion night
Of course it had gotten dark before I entered the park so I headed back to sleep somewhere. I've had a bad day so I apologize for the lackluster post. I hope visiting the park brightens my spirits.