We hope our 2023 wall calendar will give you “Sparks of Joy”. Here is a little additional information about each month’s photo.
Surreal
You probably won’t be able to guess where this was taken. It’s in Capital Reef NP, but it’s not your typical Capital Reef photo. We hiked on the Capital Gorge trail, trying to find the Water Pockets, but it’s not your typical Capital Gorge or Water Pockets photo either.
We love the lines and colors in the sandstone and also the fact that we lose our sense of scale despite the fact that we included the mountain and the tree in the background. Also a good memory for us, because it took some good effort to reach the spot to take this photo.
Bisbee on a Wall
Bisbee is a hip little town at the Arizona-Mexico border. Which labels would I use to describe it? I know it would take quite a few.
We found this exterior wall on a building (abandoned?) in town. I was intrigued. How many pieces are there? How did it come about? It takes all of those pieces to tell a story. And I was reminded of the labels I want to put on this town.
Surprised
We are just above Antelope Point Marina in Page, Arizona. It became a favorite dinner picnic spot for us with a view of Lake Powell and Navajo Mountain in the distance. Even the rocks there seem special in shape and color variation (we collected some and still have them).
But it’s the desert! What is this tender little lush green unprotected plant doing here? How does it thrive in such a harsh environment? How does it claim its space?
The Control Tower
Yes, really! That’s what it’s called. It’s a formation in Coyote Butte South (permit required), which is part of the Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness Area in Northern Arizona with access from Utah. In the background you see “The Witches Hat”.
It is easy to get lost in there, literally and figuratively. Comforting to know The Control Tower can always get you out of there.
Ocotillo
A fresh take on an old favorite of ours. Will there ever be a calendar without an Ocotillo? Why do we keep coming back to it? Perhaps we find it challenging to truly capture what we see? So we keep exploring.
Despite the fact that the Ocotillo is armed to its teeth, isn’t it soothing? The lush green, the symmetries (both in large and small), and how it’s soaking up the warmth of the sunlight…
Cracked
This is another formation in Coyote Butte South. I doubt it is named yet. So, here is your chance! 😉 What would you call it?
I think the main reason I keep looking at this photo is that I struggle figuring out what it actually is I’m looking at. And who left all this dark chocolate out there?
Jumping Cholla
When we see Chollas, they remind us of the Cholla Garden in Joshua Tree NP. We also have lots of Chollas around us in our winter basecamp. They tend to come in big clusters and seldom alone. They also tend to turn black from the bottom up as they start aging or dying.
That’s why this Cholla seemed special to us in two ways: it stays away from the crowds and it radiates life. Coincidence?
Ripple Effect
JJ captured this at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Southern Utah. ATV tracks criss-crossing the dunes, accentuated by the warm and low late-afternoon sunlight.
The man-made tracks disappear in the background as nature slowly paints them over. It’s a ripple effect. Nothing is forever.
Zion
Most easily recognized by those who have been there. One cannot develop a sense of scale without visiting in person. The huge rock walls are the canvas on which the lush green trees are painted. The walls provide contrast and context. Notice the “sprinkles” on top?
If you plan a visit, make sure you walk The Narrows. Go as far as you can. Forget about the waterproof boots and pants they offer to the tourists. Those are for sissies. Be real!
Layers
Along the Escalante River. While the sagebrush in the foreground couldn’t care less about the seasons, the yellow Aspen leaves already struggle holding on. The lush green of the Cottonwoods will soon be a thing of the past. The blueish evergreens against the rock face will be king and the only green in town. Very soon.
You can sense this may be the last day of fall. Do I see some snowflakes in the air?
Hang in there!
Buckskin Gulch is the longest and deepest slot canyon in the Southwest. We hiked it on a dry day.
Flash floods are hard to imagine, yet they do happen! Debris can get stuck all the way up there. Way over my head!
First Snow
It was a beautiful but cold weekend in Escalante, UT. Everybody talked about the coming deep-freeze. And then it happened. Overnight. It snowed high up! The clouds not willing yet to release their tight grip on the mountains. The unofficial start of the winter. We were so lucky that we got to experience it with our friends.
I see so many layers in this photo, which is a reminder of how to dress for success. Or shall we say “survival”?