Utah and Colorado Photography

I took these  photographs standing way too far out on a ledge in Rocky Mountain National Park in 1981.  These were taken with the Canon slung over my shoulder in the picture below.  I have always wanted to go back and take more pictures.

In May, 2016 we decided to load up the truck and head west.  We had planned to visit Zion, Bryce, Blanding (now BearEars) and Arches in Utah, Mesa Verde and drive through Colorado.  It was very hot when we got to Utah (well over 100 everyday).  We ended up having a great time in eastern Utah and Colorado, but changed our minds about driving to Zion and Bryce across the desert in Arizona in 100+ degree heat, and that I was a bit over enthusiastic about what we would be able to see in the time we had.  Many of these pictures are available as prints on my FineArt America shop listed under Susan J Schneider or cabinhillgallery.

Arches National Park, eastern Utah

This is Sandstone Arch in Arches National Park.  The sand seemed to glow orange.  It was magic!

Arches National Park

On the Colorado River outside of Moab, UT.  This is where we camped, right on the Colorado River.  The sunsets were amazing.

Road outside of Arches National Park.

Landscape Arch, Arches National Park, UT.  At 290.1 feet long, Landscape Arch is the fifth longest in the world.  This is as close as you can get now, after a huge section on the right almost fell on people in 1991 and again in 1995.

Arches National Park.  I loved the composition and colors of this photograph.

On the trail to Landscape Arch, Arches National Park, UT

Arches National Park, UT

Blanding Utah, Bear Ears Area.

 After researching a great deal on the internet before our trip, we decided to visit Blanding, Utah to investigate and photograph Native American petroglyphs and ruins in the area.  Below are some of the petroglyphs we saw at the campground area.  It was very hot, trails and roads are not marked at all.  I can't even explain how easy it is to get stuck or lost while hiking.  The ground looks flat, but is actually a maze of 10 to 20 foot deep slot canyons, running perpendicular to where you want to go.  Bring plenty of water and clear, detailed instructions before you go.

 Petroglyphs outside of Bluff, UT.  Big horn sheep (mostly to the right, one in center), people (intermingled with the big horn sheep herd), dots (lower right), thunderbird (middle-right almost at the top of the picture, under the sheep), kachinas (upper left, look like they're striped), hand print (lower-middle far left part of the picture), Kokapeli (hard to see but in upper-middle center of the picture).  The scene on the far right was amazing.  Wished we could have found the larger, more intricate hidden ones, but it was hot and I didn't take enough water (bring too much).  Go early in the morning,  We were stuck in a maze of ravines in 100 degree temps, out of water, walked 4 feet off the ground on the tops of bushes in the bottom of the ravines and finally threw everything we were carrying up a great big bluff, and had to just climb out from one ledge to another.  There are also trails and roads going everywhere, a lot of them just dead end nowhere at the end of a slot canyon.  I've never been so lost for not being lost ever.  Could see the truck at one point and took hours trying to get there.

Sunset outside of Bluff, Utah

Mesa Verde, Colorado

Mesa Verde was  amazing.  There are petroglyphs, dwellings and storage areas in the canyon almost everywhere you look.  Be sure to bring a pair of binoculars with you if you go.

Colorado