One more present for PSM

Message

SportsFan68 · #1 Post by **SportsFan68** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:40 pm

The grand finale is a little late -- I confess to an unusually hectic work week and a wonderfully hectic FNGD as excuses -- but I believe I have found the perfect gift for someone as enamored with her SUV as PSM is -- a grand outdoor adventure in the canyonlands of SE Utah. We'll have PSM is as comfortable behind the wheel on back roads as she is on California's freeways (which are much scarier, JMHO...) in no time.

Just in case Jeff and the girls want to sleep in while PSM is off adventuring amidst some of the most breaktaking scenery in the world, and to make sure that she gets her beauty sleep, here's home base:
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Utah’s only Small Luxury Hotel®

AAA Four-Diamond Award (2003-2007)

“Most Excellent Ranch in the US and Canada” - Condé Nast Johansens (2007)

“Utah’s Leading Resort” World Travel Awards (2006)

“Rockies’ Leading Resort” World Travel Awards (2004 & 2005)

“Rockies’ Leading Spa” World Travel Awards (2004)
Luxury Lodging on the Colorado RiverPerched on the banks of the Colorado River, just 20 minutes from Moab, Utah, the adventure capital of the Southwest, Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa sets the standard for luxury hotel accommodations, offering attentive service, scenic views and deluxe lodging near Utah’s Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

SportsFan68 · #2 Post by **SportsFan68** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:24 pm

We'll start off at Elephant for PSM's four-wheeling adventure. This is near the trailhead.

Just a few feet from the top. If Texans can do it, anybody can do it.

This particular view involves a short little insignificant easy 3/4 mile hike from the Elephant Hill Road. Uh, there may be a little up-and-down along the way.

Here's part of the short little insignificant easy 3/4 mile hike --

SportsFan68 · #3 Post by **SportsFan68** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:32 pm

We may come back to Elephant Hill later, but for now we'll head over to the Salt Creek side, where PSM will demonstrate her new-found four-wheeling prowess and drive us in ease and comfort to Angel Arch.

I included this spoiler for anybody who doesn't see the angel right off.

Spoiler

The angel is a girl in profile to the right of the arch and leaning slightly back against it. Her wings make up most of the arch support on the right, and her head is bowed slightly in prayerful contemplation.

SportsFan68 · #4 Post by **SportsFan68** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:42 pm

We love Angel Arch, especially since it takes only a short little insignificant easy 1/4 mile hike from the Salt Creek Road. There may be a little uphill involved.

Back out to the Elephant Hill side, let's go to the Confluence Overlook, overlooking (funny how they got the name) the Green River on the left meeting up with the Colorado River on the right. The two rivers are almost never the same color.

This again requires a short little insignificant easy 1/2 mile hike from the Elephant Hill Road. There may a little -- OK, a lot -- uphill involved.

SportsFan68 · #5 Post by **SportsFan68** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:47 pm

The heck with this four-wheeling. This could happen:

OK, probably not in Canyonlands. Except during a flash flood, which nobody in her right mind is out in (notice I didn't say her "or his" right mind, guys do insane things in Canyonlands all the time), there's rarely that much water in Canyonlands anywhere near a road.

Let's take an airplane!

SportsFan68 · #6 Post by **SportsFan68** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:49 pm

From the air --

For you heathens, this is Druid Arch:

SportsFan68 · #7 Post by **SportsFan68** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:59 pm

Let's try that again, the Druids didn't have any airplanes.

This may involve a short little insignificant easy five mile hike from the trailhead . . . OK, it may involve a long, gut-busting hike over rocks and sand in blistering heat. Unless it rains, then it'll be nice and cool, and you don't even have to worry about flash floods on this particular trail.

SportsFan68 · #8 Post by **SportsFan68** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 2:03 pm

PSM will not be worrying about blisters or anything else -- she will soon be back in the lap of luxury at Sorrel Ranch --

SportsFan68 · #9 Post by **SportsFan68** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 2:05 pm

For a luxury massage --

Or any salon service she may require --

SportsFan68 · #10 Post by **SportsFan68** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 2:07 pm

And the sun sets on PSM's Canyonlands outdoor adventure...

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #11 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 2:42 pm

Thank you so much for all of the fabulous gifts. I have had a lot of fun receiving them. You are a very creative and imaginative Secret Santa.

tanstaafl2 · #12 Post by **tanstaafl2** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:08 pm

I am sure you would not want them to go to the lovely Moab area without taking in the fascinating view from Dead Horse Point State Park, looking out across the Colorado, whilst on their way to the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands NP.

And no reason not to cross the road and head over to Arches for another interesting sight. Tantilizing from a distance:

It is another pleasant and insignificant 1.5 mile stroll up some 500 feet in elevation to this Utah landmark and what I thought was quite a sight to see close up as well as from a distance.

Well worth the 3 mile round trip!

Also not to be missed is Landscape Arch.

It really is an easy stroll to get to this one but you may want to hurry because this one could become nothing but rubble at any time! At least it sure looks that way.

Have a few pictures either taken by me or of me at each of these sites, including one standing on a rock underneath the right end of landscape arch but alas they are from the pre digital age.

In any case I can attest that all of this, as well as all the other parks in the general vicinity to include Mesa Verde, Capitol Reef, Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon and many other sites not in the National Parks proper are well worth the trip!

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #13 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:17 pm

I am pretty sure that we went rafting along this section of the Colorado River a few years ago. The water was very cold and the air was very warm.

silvercamaro · #14 Post by **silvercamaro** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:29 pm

When I see photographs like this, I am reminded that the Creator is great at His job.

cindy.wellman · #15 Post by **cindy.wellman** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:28 am

silvercamaro wrote:

When I see photographs like this, I am reminded that the Creator is great at His job.

No wonder why I love this time of year.

HUGS to SC.

When we do finally stop in Moab, I'll be sure to ask this group for suggestions. My family lives in Albuquerque, and Eric's family lives in Idaho, so we've made the driving trip through Moab at least 30 times, if not more. The sad thing is that with the exception of grabbing a bite to eat, we haven't stopped to do anything else.

What a great Elf to give all of this to PSM. (Tanstaafl too!)

tanstaafl2 · #16 Post by **tanstaafl2** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:37 am

cindy.wellman wrote:
silvercamaro wrote:

When I see photographs like this, I am reminded that the Creator is great at His job.
No wonder why I love this time of year.

HUGS to SC.

When we do finally stop in Moab, I'll be sure to ask this group for suggestions. My family lives in Albuquerque, and Eric's family lives in Idaho, so we've made the driving trip through Moab at least 30 times, if not more. The sad thing is that with the exception of grabbing a bite to eat, we haven't stopped to do anything else.

What a great Elf to give all of this to PSM. (Tanstaafl too!)

Cindy Lou, you got some 'splainin' to do! That is almost sinful. When in Moab you probably aren't much more than 30 minutes from every one of the sites from which these pictures I included were taken! Really, it's true.

So the next time you are "passing through" you should stop, take a day, and smell the cactus blossoms as it were!

SportsFan68 · #17 Post by **SportsFan68** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:27 pm

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:
I am pretty sure that we went rafting along this section of the Colorado River a few years ago. The water was very cold and the air was very warm.

Then you're already experienced with the Canyonlands area! Let me know when you're ready for your four-wheeling adventure!

I love Delicate Arch too and once walked back to camp in the dark because I had to get the PERFECT sunset shot.

I forgot to mention that Confluence Overlook is where I was with Nitrah in spirit to wave at him when he and his family rafted the Colorado out of Moab. Tan's photo is a bit upriver from that.

Most of those shots were in the Needles District, but I almost included the same view that Tan did. I also thought about including this shot taken from Island in the Sky, but "you can't get there from here." The fastest way to get from the Needles District over to the Maze district and then on up to Island in the Sky is to swim the Colorado, a course of action not recommended unless you are an experienced strong swimmer with overkill PFDs.

This shot is irrestible to anybody who has ever take a photo, myself included (except mine are still pre-digital, I haven't fully entered the information age yet). It's the same formation as the one directly above except seen through Mesa Arch on the Island in the Sky rim.

tanstaafl2 · #18 Post by **tanstaafl2** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:59 pm

SportsFan68 wrote: [This shot is irrestible to anybody who has ever take a photo, myself included (except mine are still pre-digital, I haven't fully entered the information age yet). It's the same formation as the one directly above except seen through Mesa Arch on the Island in the Sky rim.

Indeed a beautiul shot although it would appear to be "enhanced" a bit to get those vivid colors or perhaps a filter of some sort on the lens. Even in this beautiful region you don't typically see purples and oranges that are quite that striking!

Sadly some of my own favorite shots, particularly of this corner of the world, are also pre digital, mostly in slide format.

SportsFan68 · #19 Post by **SportsFan68** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:11 pm

tanstaafl2 wrote:Indeed a beautiul shot although it would appear to be "enhanced" a bit to get those vivid colors or perhaps a filter of some sort on the lens. Even in this beautiful region you don't typically see purples and oranges that are quite that striking!

It could very well be enhanced, but it was taken at sunrise. I'm guessing no enhance on this one.

tanstaafl2 · #20 Post by **tanstaafl2** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:30 pm

SportsFan68 wrote:
tanstaafl2 wrote:Indeed a beautiul shot although it would appear to be "enhanced" a bit to get those vivid colors or perhaps a filter of some sort on the lens. Even in this beautiful region you don't typically see purples and oranges that are quite that striking!
It could very well be enhanced, but it was taken at sunrise. I'm guessing no enhance on this one.

Could well be. From the shadows over the formations it appears the sun is already up a bit and I would think a polarizing or maybe a blue filter of some sort might have been involved.

Nowadays it is all done digitally and I rarely use more than a UV filter for protection of the lens. But I used to use and still have a few filters lying about. I still occasionally use my polarizing filter on the water or through glass windows even when shooting with digital.

tanstaafl2 · #21 Post by **tanstaafl2** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 3:13 pm

tanstaafl2 wrote: Also not to be missed is Landscape Arch.

It really is an easy stroll to get to this one but you may want to hurry because this one could become nothing but rubble at any time! At least it sure looks that way.

Have a few pictures either taken by me or of me at each of these sites, including one standing on a rock underneath the right end of landscape arch but alas they are from the pre digital age.

After digging around a bit I found picture taken of me with my own camera at Landscape Arch that I had blown up into an 8x11 from a slide. It is a little worse for wear as it is stuck to the glass in the frame so I had to scan it glass and all. It looks rather faded as well. You can see where it is stuck together.

In any case the little white blob on the left is me standing underneath the arch. Has to be '94-'95 time frame.

cindy.wellman · #22 Post by **cindy.wellman** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 5:00 pm

tanstaafl2 wrote:
tanstaafl2 wrote: Also not to be missed is Landscape Arch.

It really is an easy stroll to get to this one but you may want to hurry because this one could become nothing but rubble at any time! At least it sure looks that way.

Have a few pictures either taken by me or of me at each of these sites, including one standing on a rock underneath the right end of landscape arch but alas they are from the pre digital age.

After digging around a bit I found picture taken of me with my own camera at Landscape Arch that I had blown up into an 8x11 from a slide. It is a little worse for wear as it is stuck to the glass in the frame so I had to scan it glass and all. It looks rather faded as well. You can see where it is stuck together.

In any case the little white blob on the left is me standing underneath the arch. Has to be '94-'95 time frame.

I like these pictures. It really emphasizes Sprot's comment that we need to hurry to see this.