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dslartooSo here is the second of two posts (go here for the first one) featuring pictures from my spring break vacation with my parents and ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
datalopez. We toured Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park (well, the outskirts of it) and Bryce Canyon National Park. Why is this the second of two posts? Because there are so many shots I don't want to overwhelm everyone.
In case you just want a jumping-off point, the collection which includes all of the photosets (one for each area, more than 1000 shots total) can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/philcarter/collections/72157615858888578/.
Most of the pictures I'm going to stick behind a cut tag to save your friends pages, but I'm putting a few of my favorites up front here (small size) because the scenery is just so freakin' GORGEOUS. For all the pics shown here (and the ones under the cut-tag), just click on the photo to be taken to the photo's individual page, where you can view it in larger sizes if you're so inclined or read the accompanying commentary on each photo. Or, as Wil Wheaton would say, "Click to embiggen".
Panorama shot taken of Monument Valley (this one positively begs to be viewed at larger sizes):
The famous Delicate Arch at Arches National Park, taken from about 3/4 of a mile away:
Panorama shot taken from a rest stop near the edges of Capitol Reef National Park. You really need to see this one at larger sizes to get a proper idea of the scale (the tiny dot on the highway is a massive 18-wheeler).
Panorama shot of the view from Inspiration Point in Bryce Canyon as the morning sun floods the amphitheater below. Please, please, please go and view this one in full resolution.
My sweetie and I with the landscape of Bryce Point behind us:
Those were some of my most favorite, but here's a lot more.
We'll start out by looking at Monument Valley, one of the Navajo Nation Tribal Parks.
The King on His Throne, seen off in the distance.
Panorama shot taken from the Merrick Butte area. I really recommend viewing this one at larger sizes so you can get a better idea of the grandeur of it all. King on His Throne (on L, in distance), West Mitten, East Mitten, Merrick Butte, and (on R) Elephant Butte and Camel Butte in the distance.
Camel Butte is the official name for this one, but our guide called it "Snoopy lying on his back".
The view from John Ford's Point. Starkly beautiful.
I don't think there's an actual name for this mesa (possibly Moqui Step Mesa?) but our guide called it the Sleeping Dragon. Looks like Falcor, the Luckdragon from Fantasia, to me. (His head's on the left).
The Sun's Eye formation, with Leslie at the bottom for scale.
datalopez and me, with Monument Valley behind us. Totem Pole and Ye Bi Chei (the White Dancers) are visible behind Leslie.
The North Window, with Elephant Butte on the left, Cly Mesa on the right, and the King on His Throne visible WAYYYYYYY off in the distance.
Next, it was off to Arches National Park.
The view from the Park Avenue overlook. The walls of this narrow canyon reminded early visitors of buildings lining a big city street.
North and South Windows viewed from a distance.
I guess we know now how Balanced Rock got its name. Here's my mom holding it up. :)
Panorama shot of the Garden of Eden area. Looks much better viewed at larger sizes.
Cove Arch, with a person sitting at the bottom of it.
Double Arch (see the photo page for details if you can't quite see where the two arches are).
Panorama shot of Salt Valley, best viewed at larger sizes.
My dad, mom anddatalopez with Skyline Arch behind them.
Landscape Arch (more than 300 feet long) in the failing light.
Our final official stop was Bryce Canyon National Park.
Panorama shot taken from Sunrise Point (elevation 8015 feet) on our first day, as day waned. This one begs to be viewed at larger sizes.
Here's my mom and I playing daredevil, standing out on one of the overlooks at Sunset Point. The Silent City is visible behind.
View from one of the outlooks on the way to Inspiration Point (elevation 8100 feet). Here we see the Silent City in all its grandeur.
View from Rainbow Point, elevation 9115, the second-highest point in the park.
The picnic area at Rainbow Point. Those beige things in the center are picnic tables, mostly covered by snow.
My dad, mom and Leslie at Yovimpa Point, highest point in the park.
View from the Black Birch Canyon viewpoint, elevation 8750.
View from Ponderosa Point, elevation 8904.
View from the Agua Canyon viewpoint, elevation 8800.
Panorama shot taken from Farview Point, elevation 8819. It lived up to its name. This shot is really best appreciated in the larger versions. Go look at those. :)
View from Piracy Point; apparently from certain views two of the buttes look like two ships engaged in a naval battle. I never did see that, though.
The Grottos, viewed from Bryce Point (elevation 8300).
The view from Bryce Point (elevation 8300). One of the most impressive landscapes we saw at the park, and that's saying something. My mom and dad are obviously enjoying the scenery. :)
Mossy Cave is outside the common areas of the park; it's near the northern boundary and about four miles from the main entrance. Mossy Cave in spring is STILL full of ice.
I couldn't count the number of times I said "OH WOW" when viewing some of these gorgeous landscapes. I highly recommend a tour of the American Southwest if you ever have a spare couple of weeks.
-- END OF LINE --
[[The Oracle would like to know where you self-identify on the Kinsey scale.]]
datalopez. We toured Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park (well, the outskirts of it) and Bryce Canyon National Park. Why is this the second of two posts? Because there are so many shots I don't want to overwhelm everyone. In case you just want a jumping-off point, the collection which includes all of the photosets (one for each area, more than 1000 shots total) can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/philcarter/collections/72157615858888578/.
Most of the pictures I'm going to stick behind a cut tag to save your friends pages, but I'm putting a few of my favorites up front here (small size) because the scenery is just so freakin' GORGEOUS. For all the pics shown here (and the ones under the cut-tag), just click on the photo to be taken to the photo's individual page, where you can view it in larger sizes if you're so inclined or read the accompanying commentary on each photo. Or, as Wil Wheaton would say, "Click to embiggen".
Panorama shot taken of Monument Valley (this one positively begs to be viewed at larger sizes):
The famous Delicate Arch at Arches National Park, taken from about 3/4 of a mile away:
Panorama shot taken from a rest stop near the edges of Capitol Reef National Park. You really need to see this one at larger sizes to get a proper idea of the scale (the tiny dot on the highway is a massive 18-wheeler).
Panorama shot of the view from Inspiration Point in Bryce Canyon as the morning sun floods the amphitheater below. Please, please, please go and view this one in full resolution.
My sweetie and I with the landscape of Bryce Point behind us:
Those were some of my most favorite, but here's a lot more.
We'll start out by looking at Monument Valley, one of the Navajo Nation Tribal Parks.
The King on His Throne, seen off in the distance.
Panorama shot taken from the Merrick Butte area. I really recommend viewing this one at larger sizes so you can get a better idea of the grandeur of it all. King on His Throne (on L, in distance), West Mitten, East Mitten, Merrick Butte, and (on R) Elephant Butte and Camel Butte in the distance.
Camel Butte is the official name for this one, but our guide called it "Snoopy lying on his back".
The view from John Ford's Point. Starkly beautiful.
I don't think there's an actual name for this mesa (possibly Moqui Step Mesa?) but our guide called it the Sleeping Dragon. Looks like Falcor, the Luckdragon from Fantasia, to me. (His head's on the left).
The Sun's Eye formation, with Leslie at the bottom for scale.
datalopez and me, with Monument Valley behind us. Totem Pole and Ye Bi Chei (the White Dancers) are visible behind Leslie. The North Window, with Elephant Butte on the left, Cly Mesa on the right, and the King on His Throne visible WAYYYYYYY off in the distance.
Next, it was off to Arches National Park.
The view from the Park Avenue overlook. The walls of this narrow canyon reminded early visitors of buildings lining a big city street.
North and South Windows viewed from a distance.
I guess we know now how Balanced Rock got its name. Here's my mom holding it up. :)
Panorama shot of the Garden of Eden area. Looks much better viewed at larger sizes.
Cove Arch, with a person sitting at the bottom of it.
Double Arch (see the photo page for details if you can't quite see where the two arches are).
Panorama shot of Salt Valley, best viewed at larger sizes.
My dad, mom and
datalopez with Skyline Arch behind them.Landscape Arch (more than 300 feet long) in the failing light.
Our final official stop was Bryce Canyon National Park.
Panorama shot taken from Sunrise Point (elevation 8015 feet) on our first day, as day waned. This one begs to be viewed at larger sizes.
Here's my mom and I playing daredevil, standing out on one of the overlooks at Sunset Point. The Silent City is visible behind.
View from one of the outlooks on the way to Inspiration Point (elevation 8100 feet). Here we see the Silent City in all its grandeur.
View from Rainbow Point, elevation 9115, the second-highest point in the park.
The picnic area at Rainbow Point. Those beige things in the center are picnic tables, mostly covered by snow.
My dad, mom and Leslie at Yovimpa Point, highest point in the park.
View from the Black Birch Canyon viewpoint, elevation 8750.
View from Ponderosa Point, elevation 8904.
View from the Agua Canyon viewpoint, elevation 8800.
Panorama shot taken from Farview Point, elevation 8819. It lived up to its name. This shot is really best appreciated in the larger versions. Go look at those. :)
View from Piracy Point; apparently from certain views two of the buttes look like two ships engaged in a naval battle. I never did see that, though.
The Grottos, viewed from Bryce Point (elevation 8300).
The view from Bryce Point (elevation 8300). One of the most impressive landscapes we saw at the park, and that's saying something. My mom and dad are obviously enjoying the scenery. :)
Mossy Cave is outside the common areas of the park; it's near the northern boundary and about four miles from the main entrance. Mossy Cave in spring is STILL full of ice.
I couldn't count the number of times I said "OH WOW" when viewing some of these gorgeous landscapes. I highly recommend a tour of the American Southwest if you ever have a spare couple of weeks.
-- END OF LINE --
[[The Oracle would like to know where you self-identify on the Kinsey scale.]]