Archive for the ‘Utah’ Tag

Seeing Utah   2 comments

Star Trails   Leave a comment

Star trails above the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah almost look like a tunnel into hyperspace. These salt flats are made of approximately 90 percent common table salt, weighing millions of tons. The crust is up to 5 feet thick near the center of this unbelievable landscape that stretches over 46 square miles – just slightly smaller than the size of San Francisco. Photo by Joseph Gruber. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 5/4/16.

Star trails above the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah almost look like a tunnel into hyperspace. These salt flats are made of approximately 90 percent common table salt, weighing millions of tons. The crust is up to 5 feet thick near the center of this unbelievable landscape that stretches over 46 square miles – just slightly smaller than the size of San Francisco. Photo by Joseph Gruber. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 5/4/16.

Posted May 5, 2016 by henrymowry in Photography

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Reflection Canyon   Leave a comment

Here’s a spectacular sunrise over Reflection Canyon – a surreal landscape of the twisting and winding Colorado River through colorful sandstone cliffs. This amazing photo, captured by Yang Lu, is the grand prize winner of the Share the Experience photo contest, an honor that means his photo will appear on the 2017 America the Beautiful public lands pass. For Yang, photography isn’t just about recreation, it’s also to inspire people to explore these special areas. Yang took this photo during a two-day backpacking trip to Reflection Canyon, which is located in a remote area at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah. “We did not see anybody for two days. There is no trail; we depended on my research,” Yang says of the experience. Yang visited during the winter when the temperature and water levels were low – thanks to meticulous planning, Yang’s efforts paid off. The curves and those formations – I have never seen anywhere.” Photo by Yang Lu . Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 4/28/16.

Here’s a spectacular sunrise over Reflection Canyon – a surreal landscape of the twisting and winding Colorado River through colorful sandstone cliffs. This amazing photo, captured by Yang Lu, is the grand prize winner of the Share the Experience photo contest, an honor that means his photo will appear on the 2017 America the Beautiful public lands pass.

For Yang, photography isn’t just about recreation, it’s also to inspire people to explore these special areas. Yang took this photo during a two-day backpacking trip to Reflection Canyon, which is located in a remote area at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah. “We did not see anybody for two days. There is no trail; we depended on my research,” Yang says of the experience. Yang visited during the winter when the temperature and water levels were low – thanks to meticulous planning, Yang’s efforts paid off. The curves and those formations – I have never seen anywhere.”

Photo by Yang Lu. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 4/28/16.

Posted April 30, 2016 by henrymowry in Photography

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Owachomo Bridge   1 comment

Wispy clouds and a star-filled night sky make for a dreamy backdrop to Owachomo Bridge at Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah. Home to some of the darkest skies in the country, Natural Bridges is a stargazer’s paradise and was designated the world’s first International Dark Sky Park. On a given night, it’s possible to see up to 15,000 stars! Photo by Ryan McGinley. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 3/9/16.

Wispy clouds and a star-filled night sky make for a dreamy backdrop to Owachomo Bridge at Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah. Home to some of the darkest skies in the country, Natural Bridges is a stargazer’s paradise and was designated the world’s first International Dark Sky Park. On a given night, it’s possible to see up to 15,000 stars! Photo by Ryan McGinley. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 3/9/16.

Utah’s Beauty   4 comments

Canyonlands National Park preserves 337,598 acres of colorful canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches and spires in the heart of southeast Utah’s high desert. William Rainey captured this amazing photo of early morning light illuminating part of the park’s iconic Mesa Arch and the surrounding rock formations. Of the experience, William says, “Sometimes the best photo is not the one you came for.” Photo courtesy of William Rainey. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/11/14.

Canyonlands National Park preserves 337,598 acres of colorful canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches and spires in the heart of southeast Utah’s high desert. William Rainey captured this amazing photo of early morning light illuminating part of the park’s iconic Mesa Arch and the surrounding rock formations. Of the experience, William says, “Sometimes the best photo is not the one you came for.”
Photo courtesy of William Rainey. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/11/14.

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Canyonlands National Park

The Color Of Summer

Skyline Rim … And The Henry Mountains   1 comment

How could I resist showing the Henry Mountains?

Skyline Rim near Factory Butte provides incredible, expansive views of the deserts of eastern Utah. The Henry Mountains offer a stout backdrop. Photo: Brandon Jolley. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 9/15/14.

Skyline Rim near Factory Butte provides incredible, expansive views of the deserts of eastern Utah. The Henry Mountains offer a stout backdrop. Photo: Brandon Jolley. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 9/15/14.

When Nature’s Incredible Beauty Needs Help, Stand On Your Horse!   Leave a comment

Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah. Dan Perkins (USGS employee) standing on his horse “Cap” on top of Owachomo Bridge. Circa 1925. Photo: WT Lee, USGS. Posted by the US Department of the Interior on Tumblr, 4/24/14.

Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah. Dan Perkins (USGS employee) standing on his horse “Cap” on top of Owachomo Bridge. Circa 1925. Photo: WT Lee, USGS. Posted by the US Department of the Interior on Tumblr, 4/24/14.

Capitol Reef National Park   2 comments

Capitol Reef NP 00Where Is It: 220 miles south of Salt Lake City or 350 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

The Birth: After years as an under-developed National Monument, President Nixon finally singed legislation in 1971 to declare Capitol Reef a National Park.

It Happened Here: The early Mormon pioneers who settled in a colony they called Junction (later known as Fruita) planted fruit trees that still stand today in the shadow of Capitol Reef National Park’s towering cliffs.

Size: 241,904 acres

# Visitors: 663,670 in 2013. Peak attendance in May; low attendance was in December.

Fees: $5 per vehicle, good for 7 days.

Staying There: There are 3 campgrounds, 80 spaces, available on a first come, first served basis.

Contact Info:

HC 70 Box 15
Torrey, UT 84775
 
(435) 425-3791 ext. 4111

 

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National Park Service: Capitol Reef National Park

TerraGalleria.com: Capitol Reef National Park

 YouTube: Capitol Reef National Park

The Rocks Of Utah   Leave a comment

Road Canyon Wilderness Area, Utah. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/15/14.

Road Canyon Wilderness Area, Utah. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/15/14.

Idiots Masquerading As Boy Scout Leaders   Leave a comment

Goblin Valley State Park, Utah. Photo by  Don Paulson.

Goblin Valley State Park, Utah. Photo by Don Paulson.

Did you see the news coverage this week of the “Boy Scout Leaders” that destroyed a rock formation in Utah’s Goblin Valley State Park?

The images were disgusting. The idea was disgusting. My quibble, here, is the headline of “Boy Scout Leaders” getting the blame for destroying a rock formation in a state park.

Two guys, named Dave Hall and Glenn Taylor, were indeed part of a Varsity Scout outing into the Goblin Valley State Park in Utah this past weekend. There were 2 other adults on the outing (I don’t know which were Boy Scout leaders, and which were just adults on the outing) and the Team of 8 Scouts, ages 14 and 15. The Scouts were “playing” among the hoodoos in this park, which are typified by the picture, right. Varsity Scouting is a program of the Boy Scouts of America, intended for older boys.

The “leaders” noticed that one hoodoo was barely balanced, and about to break apart. They saw this as a safety issue, and decided to unbalance the hoodoo to end the hazard. They didn’t consult any park rangers, geologists, or any other responsible adult. Unfortunately.

Their gleeful video went viral, showing them destroying this rock formation that was originally formed millions of years ago.

Today, Mr. Hall and Mr. Taylor are receiving death threats because they destroyed this rock formation.

Their behavior, obviously, is reprehensible. My point is that in NO WAY do they represent the Boys Scouts of America. Here’s what I see:

  • Adults not in uniform, which indicates they are not following Scouting principles.
  • Adults not following required Boy Scout training to “leave no trace” in the wild.
  • Boys not present at all.
  • A video posting that was originally intended to aggrandize the adults … which were not supervising their boys when they made the video.

At this point, I don’t know if these 2 adults had followed any rules of the Boy Scouts of America on this outing. They may have been registered, trained leaders … or not. The evidence I do have says they were not following training that is required for registered leaders of every outing sanctioned by the BSA.

Were they really “leaders” or were they just adults tagging along on the outing? I don’t know. But I do regret their actions, and regret that their actions have reflected badly on the Boy Scouts of America that they truly do not represent.

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4:14pm PDT, 10/21/13

UPDATE: BSA ejected both adults from membership in the organization. Apparently, one of the men was a unit leader and the other was simply a registered adult. From NPR.com: Boy Scouts Eject Leaders Who Toppled Ancient Rock

More

Huffington Post: Boy Scout Leaders Topple Ancient Rock Formation In Utah’s Goblin Valley State Park

Salt Lake Tribune: ‘Goblin’ topplers say they are receiving death threats

BoingBoing.net: Boy Scout Leaders Destroy Ancient Formation In Utah’s Goblin Valley

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