Mary and I really enjoyed staying at Red Cliffs Lodge in a not so rustic cabin with a view of rapids on the Colorado River in the foreground and the red cliffs across the river.
Red Cliffs Lodge was a working ranch in the 30's and now has a horse stable and pasture land on the grounds.
Some of the views along the Colorado River Valley near Red Cliffs Lodge
Marlboro Point
Tom Till was our guide to find Marlboro Point. It is between Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands National Park and was used for the 1970’s Marlboro Man Cigarette commercials. The road to the point requires a 4WD vehicle and was a bit rough but fun!
A bit about our guide for two of the seven days we were there, Tom Till. Tom is one of America’s foremost landscape photographers. In his nearly fifty-year career he has authored more than 30 books, published more than 350,000 images and had prints displayed in every corner of America and the globe. Outdoor Photographer Magazine has called him one of the “Lords of Landscape Photography,” and described him as “legendary.” More important, Tom is very kind, interesting and humble. He was a joy to be with for 16 hours. We booked him morning and sunset/evening tours for two of the seven days we were there.
I set up my tripod next to a road along the Colorado River (see Cover photo.) The Colorado River was 20 feet below on a 50 degree angle. It was windy, and you guessed it, the wind caught my tripod and the camera/tripod almost went in the river! I was going to try to get it, but Tom, who is 75 years old, stopped me and climbed down to get it. He worried about the camera and did not complain. He did share it was a first! :-) Luckily the lens hood was on so it did not damage the lens. Took me a while to get the lens hood off and I had to clean dirt around a button that was stuck but beyond that and cleaning red sand off, it seems fine! Phew!!
Arches National Park
"Let children walk with Nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star, and they will learn that death is stingless indeed, and as beautiful as life" - John Muir
We set up an hour before sunset and then waited another hour after sunset to get the center of the Milky Way in the arch. Clouds came and went so we took multiple shots but this was what we were looking for. The arch was light painted with a small handheld light.
What a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend our last night in the Moab area!
“You may be a little cold some nights on mountain tops above the timber-line, but you will see the stars, and by and by you can sleep enough in your town bed. or at least in your grave. Keep awake while you may in mountain mansions so rare.” - John Muir
Special thanks to Jay Brooks and Jen McGee Hunt for their input as we planned the trip. Jay in particular provided invaluable input as he shared his images, experience and planning resources. Mary and I appreciate it!!
I am most grateful to my significant other, Mary, who was by far the most enjoyable part of this experience!!