Across the Southwest » Utah

Anasazi Hands Pictograph

Adam Schallau — Thu, 14 May 2009 04:09:14 +0000

On a recent trip exploring the canyon country of southeast Utah, I came upon a pictograph panel containing several hand prints that were most likely created by the Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) peoples that once called this area home. Perched high above a canyon in a small alcove, this was obviously a popular spot as evidence by the sheer number of hand prints scattered along the wall. Offering protection from the elements, namely the intense Utah sun, the alcove was considerable cooler than the mesa above and would have been a welcome relief to an Anasazi as it was to me.

We have yet to discover the Anasazi people’s “Rosetta Stone” and thus have no definitive way of knowing what the symbols left behind by the Anasazi mean. Perhaps this ancient graffiti was there way of saying “I was here”.

Please click on the image for an expanded view.

Enjoying a sunset in Utah

Adam Schallau — Tue, 12 May 2009 22:50:05 +0000

A woman and her canine companion enjoy a beautiful red-rock sunset in southern Utah near the town of Bluff.

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Yellow-Headed Collared Lizard

Adam Schallau — Tue, 12 May 2009 03:31:33 +0000

Yellow-Headed Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris auriceps)

I came across this interesting little guy (or lady) while hiking with friends in southern Utah. It’s a Yellow-Headed Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris auriceps). This image was captured with my Canon EOS 5D Mark II with a 70-200mm f/4L IS lens and 1.4x tele-converter, hand-held.

Please click on the image for an expanded view.

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The Spirit Within ~ Anasazi Cliff Dwelling

Adam Schallau — Mon, 11 May 2009 06:46:25 +0000

I have just returned from southern Utah where I spent a few days with friends exploring the many archaeological treasures left behind by the ancestral puebloan people better known as the Anasazi. This particular shot was captured inside a large cliff dwelling that had a fine dust filtering through it.

This site is not part of any national park or monument. It sits deep in a canyon many miles from the nearest paved road and requires considerable effort to visit it.

Please click on the image for an expanded view.

Lipan Point, Bright Angel Trail, Mohave Point

Adam Schallau — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 06:28:40 +0000

Sunrise to sunset, one end to another, and a hike into the canyon. That was my day today. I began my day by getting up a little before 5:30 to drive out to the east end of the park near Desert View for sunrise. All went well, There were a few nice wispy clouds and the light broke through long enough to light up the north rim. I did manage to take a short tumble and in the process I tore my winter pants, this was my first morning to actually wear them. Oh well.

After sunrise I drive back to my trailer in Grand Canyon Village. I needed to catch up my journal entries, prep for my presentation tomorrow, and I needed a little rest. After all that and a little breakfast I headed out the door for a hike down Bright Angel Trail (my first time into the canyon) to the 3-mile rest house.

Six miles round trip and a little over 2,100 feet loss and gained again in 4-hours with a 20 minute lunch break and a few photos on the return trip to the rim. There was some ice on the first mile of the trail, but otherwise the trail appeared to be in good shape, although I wouldn’t know any different since I’ve never hiked it before. I’ll be doing several hikes into the canyon over the next several days and in two weeks I will be hiking down to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon. I can’t wait. Getting below the rim is an amazing experience.

After my hike down Bright Angel Trail I headed over to the Verkamps’s Visitor Center to take care of a few last minute details for tomorrows presentation.

I was going to head home and call it a day, but after seeing the sky begin to fill with clouds I decided to head out Mohave Point on the Hermit’s Rest Road for sunset. This is a great spot because it sees very few visitors and you have a view down to the river.

Oh, and the last thing, updating the blog at 11:30 at night. I sure hope I spelled everything correctly. Good night.

Cracked Mud #1

Adam Schallau — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:48:23 +0000

I couldn’t resist photographing this drying and cracked mud that I came upon in Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

I shot this image using a Canon 5D and 24-70/2.8L lens at its widest aperture to minimize depth of field. I wanted the cracks to fall out of focus near the edges of the picture.

Please click on the image for an expanded view.

White Canyon Waterpocket

Adam Schallau — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:26:02 +0000

I’ve been revisiting several older images on my hard drives lately. Perhaps it’s because I haven’t traveled as much this past year due to fuel prices. I find myself longing for some time on the Colorado Plateau, especially southern Utah. It’s a bizarre land full of interesting shapes and textures, not to mention the colors of the landscape.

As I review these older images, I’m finding new ways to look at them and to process them. I’ll be sharing several of these images here on my blog over the next several days.

Please click on the image for an expanded view.

Red Rock Moonrise – Cedar Mesa, Utah

Adam Schallau — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:51:19 +0000

An autumn moon rises over the red rock bluffs of Cedar Mesa. Located in southeast Utah, Cedar Mesa is a location I frequently visit for it’s magnificent vistas and ancestral puebloan cultural sites. Captured with a Canon EOS 5D and EF 70-200mm f/4L IS lens with a 1.4x extender.

Please click on the image for an expanded view.

Procession Panel Petroglyphs

Adam Schallau — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:12:52 +0000

This past Saturday I hiked up one of the many canyons that cut into Comb Ridge near Bluff, Utah to visit Procession Panel, a huge rock art panel with 179 figures. Comb Ridge is an amazing place that is full of cultural treasures and quite canyons to explore, appreciate and enjoy. I’ll share a few more images of Procession Panel over the next few days, including a large panoramic showcasing the entire panel.

Please remember that it is a privilege to visit Ancestral Puebloan cultural sites, whether in a National Park or public lands such as Comb Ridge. When visiting a cultural site, please do so with respect for their past inhabitants and future visitors alike.

Please click on the image for an expanded view.

Sign atop Mokee Dugway ~ Then and Now.

Adam Schallau — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:56:13 +0000

What a difference two years makes.

I’ve driven Mokee Dugway on Highway 261 countless times and I remember always seeing a few stickers on the sign at the top of the switcbacks, but I wasn’t prepared for what i found this past May on my drive to the top. As you can see in the above photo, the sign is nearly completely covered with stickers from passing tourists. I wonder how long it will be before the Utah Department of Transportation replaces the sign and the process starts all over.

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