Just got back from another trip to North Buttes. My brother put in for a permit, first time, and won. So that's visiting twice within a month, can't complain about that!
Our focus was hitting stuff beyond the normal area with the named formations. The sky was full blast sun all day, so I tried to find compositions that weren't as reliant on a pretty sky. We spent most of the day in the 'unknown' area, then went back to the Wave area for sunset, then hiked out in the dark. Now I feel like I have a good grasp of the area for next time. (If I'm lucky.)
This one reminded me of a triceratops skull.
Large radar dish looking fin.
Another large fin.
This made me think of a spinosaurus.
The elephant's foot from above.
Looking south towards the elephant's foot from the crenelations.
My brother called this area 'the crenelations,' since when viewed from afar it looked like a castle defense.
The Second Wave in the evening light.
The entrance still had water in it. I didn't walk through it and soak my phone this time.
Northern entrance from the side, since West Bench was picking up some glow.
You are a lucky dog. I have pretty much given up on ever photographing the wave. Tried the lottery a few times, never won. And now I can't see how in the few hours that they let you in there I can come up with something worth photographing. If I ever win the lottery I will likely leave the camera in the car.
You are a lucky dog. I have pretty much given up on ever photographing the wave. Tried the lottery a few times, never won. And now I can't see how in the few hours that they let you in there I can come up with something worth photographing. If I ever win the lottery I will likely leave the camera in the car.
No question on the luck, never thought I'd get to go either, let alone twice within the span of a month! The permit is good for a full 24h, midnight to midnight, though for my purposes I was fine with starting off in the dark and getting back to the trailhead in the dark. It does feel short when you're doing it though, no question.
Bill Gass wrote:
Beautiful pixs and what neat and crazy designs.
Gotta ask, rifle, tripod ?
Congrats, you're the first person on this forum to mention finding Waldo
(A more complete explanation: when I got back from Afghanistan and was trying to figure myself out, I started backpacking. Carried a rifle on the side of my pack in a cover in case of angry wildlife, and because that seemed like a natural part of going to the field for a grunt. I kept ending up in scenic places, taking pictures, and hiding it in the shot somewhere. So that's been going for the last 11 years or so. No deeper message or symbolism, not trying to make a statement or offend. Usually it hides a lot better, but in slickrock country there's not nearly as much vegetation and trees.)
Jim Dockery wrote:
Nice work - #2 for me - the twisted tree leading in makes it. What were the temps?
Thanks! That day was lovely in terms of weather. Mid 50s high with a light breeze. Never felt like we were overheating, and didn't feel drained by the heat. Last month is was in the low 70s and the sun had us taking breaks in what shade we could find a few times in the afternoon.
Ross Martin wrote:
Very fortunate indeed to have already gone twice this year! Thanks for sharing the beauty.
It was very fortunate, and I'm very grateful! The nutty thing is that my wife won a permit for late Dec too. That one is more of a dice roll though, since House Rock Road might be wet and impassable. Even if it isn't, it's likely going to be colder and we won't want to do a full day out there.
