On the Way to the Wave

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In order to spend as much time as possible at the Wave, we timed it so we left the vehicles at the trailhead when it was just light enough to see the trail. We saw a lot of interesting things on the way to the Wave and nearby. If you do this hike, bring lots of water and plan on being out in the sun for a long time. The trail is about 3 miles each way.

Click on images for enlarged view.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L @ 38mm, ISO 100

Coyote Buttes Tree

This is shortly after sunrise on our way to the Wave. If you look at the enlarged picture you can see a nearly vertical crack in the distant white formation. The Wave is just below this.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L @ 27mm, ISO 100

Cactus and Teepees

This image says a lot about the desert environment we were hiking in. Dry, colorful, hard on some plants, but others flourish in spite of the adverse conditions.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L @ 45mm, ISO 100

Desert Finger Painting

This small clump of grass has taken advantage of the ever changing directions of the wind to draw these beautiful forms in the sand. If you look closely, you can see the tracks of a curious bird who visited the exhibit before we got there.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L @ 70mm, ISO 100

Cactus Ledge

It looks like someone used some sticky black glue to paste this little ledge with it's twin cactus clusters on the canyon wall.