Traveling the back highways of Colorado, it was easy to run into snow storms in the high passes. If you look closely, near lower-center of the photograph, you can see three wild/range horses.
Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado.
Photo # IM7_2398bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
You can see the dramatic mix of clouds and sky in this photograph. I braved the 4-mile desert hike in sustained 20 mph winds, gusting to 40 mph, all while praying the rain wouldn't reach me during the hike. Over a mile into the hike, the sun broke through the clouds and provided a wonderful, dramatic view of the East Mitten Butte.
Being over 1,000 feet high, the summit of East Mitten Butte is 6,226 feet in elevation. The rocks of the valley are mostly sedimentary, dating from between the Permian to the mid-Jurassic.
East Mitten Butte, Navajo Nation Reservation, Monument Valley, AZ.
Photo # IM7_1526-36bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
This part of Utah and Arizona offer many infinity highway views. This particular location may be recognizable from the Forrest Gump film. It's surprising how long it takes to travel these distances as they appear closer than they are. The monuments in the distance are those on the Navajo Nation Reservation, in Monument Valley.
Route 163, Near Monument Valley, Arizona.
Photo # IM7_0980a.
(c) Kelly Shipp
There are many views of Monument Valley from higher elevations, but the view from the valley floor is impressive. The sense of wide expanse seems to be even stronger. The rain was chasing me this day on a very windy, 4-mile hike, as you can see from the sun striking the distant monuments. If you look closely, you can see the snow-capped mountains on the horizon.
Navajo Nation Reservation, Monument Valley, AZ.
Photo # IM7_0648-59bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp
The light in slot canyons are constantly changing and are often very mesmerizing. There were moments I just had to pause and enjoy the view as it would soon change.
Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona.
Photo # K04_3480r.
(c) Kelly Shipp
I could spend days here. This is a dramatic photograph of the formation called "Lady in the Wind". If you look near-center, you can visualize a profile of a lady, facing right, with long hair flowing behind her. Her curves all follow the same flow. The lady formed by millions of years of exposure to wind and water stands beautiful and strong, yet full of soft curves and detail.
Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona.
Photo # K04_3632.
(c) Kelly Shipp
As I was traveling the back highways of Colorado, near the New Mexico border, I found these wild/range horses as I was photographing the area. Snow and sleet was just off to the West (right of this photograph) and coming this way. The horse in the foreground is the same as in my previously posted photograph. This horse was very curious of me, as the others kept their distance.
Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado.
Photo # IM7_2428bwsk.
(c) Kelly Shipp
Posts
