Grand Gulch Area of Utah

I forced myself to leave the Moab area as I really enjoy it and the surrounding area.  Decided to head about a 100 miles to the south and check out a little town called Bluff.  I had read about an area outside Bluff called Comb Ridge and I wanted to spend some time camping and hiking in the area. The area has a lot of Ancient Pueblo Indian ruins and petroglyphs to check out. Tilted at an angle of almost 20 degrees, the ridge is an ancient rock formation tapered along the desert landscape of southeastern Utah.  A linear north to south monocline, this immense sandstone formation is nearly one hundred and twenty miles long.  In the Navajo tongue, this cataclysmic upheaval is translated "Rock Extends in the Form of Narrow Edge."  This blunt rock extension occurred nearly 65 million years ago when tectonic plateds deep in the earth slipped, leaving a rugged scar across the face of the once smooth stone. I really liked the area because it is remote and nothing is really marked.  You simply go out and explore on your own to find the ruins and art work.  Very unlike a national park where every trail has signage, maps, warnings, etc., etc.  Here, you're on your own to go wherever you want. Additionally, Valley of the Gods is nearby and I personally like it much better than Monument Valley.  After spending a couple of nights in Bluff catching up on laundry and other matters I headed out to the Grand Gulch and Valley of the Gods for a few nights.

Road leading into Valley of the Gods

Some photo work from camp 

Hiking in the Comb Ridge area is really good.  You simply pick out a wash or canyon area and take off.  Nothing is really marked and you kind of just go out and explore.  Hiked into this big cave high above the canyon below and hung out for the afternoon.

Some rock art found in the back end of the cave.

Camp in the Valley of the Gods

Night shot

Some ancient Indian dwellings in the area

Some riding from camp one afternoon

Moki Dugway near Bluff

San Juan River near Bluff

Hanging out w/Petey waiting for the light conditions to improve

Moab

Had planned on spending some more time in the New Mexico area but had a good friend of mine, Kurt, who was going to be in Moab with his wife for a week so I cut New Mexico short and headed back to the north.  We both love to take pictures so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to hang out with him for a few days. Kurt is an outstanding photographer and I always seem to learn something from him when we're out shooting.    We were both in Moab at this same time last year doing a motorcycle trip on the White Rim Trail so it's the Second Annual Moab gathering.  Kurt was in his Springer van so were able to camp and had perfect weather while there. Ended up spending three days with Kurt and his wife but I ended up staying in Moab for eight nights total.  Moab and the surrounding area is a photographers paradise. We've now decided that we need to make it an annual event.

Camp outside of town.

Quick drive back into Moab for some coffee with Petey.

One of the highlights of the trip was our hike on the False Kiva Trail in Canyonland National Park.  I had seen pictures of this over the years and had always wanted to do it.  The park service does not advertise it or place it on their maps but won't tell you that you can't go.  We saw one other photographer on the trail and basically had the kiva area to ourselves.

 Kurt in action at the Kiva Cave area and on a hike up Hunter Canyon.

We spent time in Arches and Canyonlands National Park.  After Kurt left for home I ended up camping a few more nights up in Arches National Park and in the Kane Creek area where I also got some riding in over Hurrah Pass and the surrounding area.

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.

  Riding over Hurrah Pass west of Moab.

More general pics during my stay in Moab.  Beautiful area!