Happy New Year to everyone! This post marks the beginning of a new direction for my posts and photography.
I’m in the planning stages of a photography tour through the Southwest. Specifically Southern Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. And already I’m discovering that not only is there way more than I can do even with 2 months to fill, but it’s more complicated than I imagined!
I innocently assumed that since a lot of these places were fairly remote that it wouldn’t be a problem to just roll up and visit. Apparently not! One of the first places that I am planning to visit is Coyote Buttes in Arizona. It’s the home of a sandstone feature known as the Wave. It’s so popular and yet so fragile that the BLM has limited it to 20 visitors a day. Yes, 20. 10 of these spots are handed out in an online lottery four months in advance, while the other 10 are held and given out the day before as a walk in lottery.
The Wave - Coyote Buttes, Utah - Source:Wikimedia Commons
I applied as soon as I found out about it, but was notified by email yesterday that I didn't win. No big deal, another strategy is to travel to the area, see all of the other available sites, and then do a daily attempt to win permits for the actual wave.
And in learning this from other blogs, I discovered just how many other things there are to do in the area. There are multiple slot canyons similar to Antelope Canyon by lake Powell, as well as several other features near the Wave that are just as interesting, but not as difficult to obtain permits. One of the more remote places to visit in the area is Toroweap overlook at the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
Toroweap Overlook by John Fowler - Source:Wikimedia Commons
And I’m not kidding when I say remote! The overlook and campground are at the end of 75 miles of washboard dirt road. Including several washes that routinely entrap even 4x4 vehicles.
So there's a lot to plan and prep, and I'll be sharing it here and on my Facebook page, Stay tuned!