Virgin River, Zion National Park
I got out of Bryce as the first snowflakes hit the windshield. The section of U.S. 89 from Panguitch to Mt. Carmel is some of my favorite driving country. The last of the golden cottonwoods fluttered along the Sevier and Virgin rivers, a fruit orchard scarlet red, even found a donkey. I always look along the Long Valley for the exact point where the watersheds meet. It's the transition point from the Colorado River drainage to the Basin and Range interior drainage, but the slopes are too subtle for 65 mph geography.
Dropping 1,200 feet from Mt. Carmel to Springdale had a subtle-like-a-truck impact on the fall colors. The valley floor was afire with color. California was afire too, more haze. Fourth trip since July that wildfire smoke has diverted my attention away from the big landscapes. No polarizer was going to cut through the muck. I felt sorry for the folks who were doing photography workshops, hoping for the classic sunset on the bridge photo. And the place was thick with photographers. I guess the word is out on Zion at this time of the year. I still can't figure out why I didn't get the memo before now.
Comments (1)
I love the abstract quality of light on water. This is just beautiful.
Posted by BWJones | November 7, 2007 6:53 PM
Posted on November 7, 2007 18:53