To and From Monument Valley, UT
Today turned out to be a big driving day for us ... but it was a drive through some of the most impressive (and varied) landscapes I've ever witnessed. We begin at Canyon de Chelly, then took Highway 59 north towards Monument Valley. Highway 59 provides some outstanding desert views, and is a road you should definitely travel if you ever get the chance. We passed through it during scattered storms, which made for some amazing lighting contrasts:
Highway 59 also passes through numerous, interesting rock formations, such as these:
When we arrived at Monument Valley, we soon realized that we were in the middle of a sandstorm. The pelting wind and sand made walking around unpleasant, and we promptly nixed our idea of camping there. At first, I thought the haziness would compromise the magnificent scenery; but as we drove the trails, I realized that the sandstorm was making the valley look quite ethereal and beguiling ... and most unlike how it is normally represented on film. I've dedicated a Flickr set to the different photos I took. Below is just one of the photos, taken from John Ford's Point. (As with any photo on this blog, click on it to view a higher resolution version.)
Continuing our journey north on Highway 163, we passed through yet more spectacular desert vistas, including the magnificent Valley of the Gods and the amusingly named Mexican Hat Rock. As we left Utah and entered Colorado, heading for Cortez, the landscapes changed once again, becoming more lush, foresty and mountainous. All-in-all, it was one of the most memorable driving experiences I've ever had.
Highway 59 also passes through numerous, interesting rock formations, such as these:
When we arrived at Monument Valley, we soon realized that we were in the middle of a sandstorm. The pelting wind and sand made walking around unpleasant, and we promptly nixed our idea of camping there. At first, I thought the haziness would compromise the magnificent scenery; but as we drove the trails, I realized that the sandstorm was making the valley look quite ethereal and beguiling ... and most unlike how it is normally represented on film. I've dedicated a Flickr set to the different photos I took. Below is just one of the photos, taken from John Ford's Point. (As with any photo on this blog, click on it to view a higher resolution version.)
Continuing our journey north on Highway 163, we passed through yet more spectacular desert vistas, including the magnificent Valley of the Gods and the amusingly named Mexican Hat Rock. As we left Utah and entered Colorado, heading for Cortez, the landscapes changed once again, becoming more lush, foresty and mountainous. All-in-all, it was one of the most memorable driving experiences I've ever had.
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