The Needles District

Here's a shot from a recent backpacking trip to Chesler Park in the Needles District of Canyonlands NP. This was taken about 15-30 minutes after the sun had set, when there was a nice even light. Chesler Park is a sweet spot... I recommend a visit, if you can put up with all the NP red tape. Oh, and beware the ravens which will tear your food apart and steal your tuna and snickers bars (I learned the hard way )

Tachihara 4x5, 120mm, provia

Hey Jack, very nice shot. I really like the light and the composition.

What kind of administrative issues did you have to deal with?

Thanks for posting.

Thanks Momo! The red tape I referred to is just the regular NP rules... such as getting backcountry permits, camping in designated sites, etc. No big deal, it just sort of makes you feel like you're at a theme park instead of in the middle of the wilderness.

Nice shot. Really like the colors.

Nice shot of Needles.

I've 4 wheeled through Elephant Hill and Horse and Salt Creek. There is so much to see back there. Its a really amazing part of the park, but the BC passes are kinda a pain sometimes. There is a part on the Elephant hill trail where the trail goes through a slot that is just a bit wider than a jeep. The walls are vertical and the bottom flat.

Sweet image, Jack! This makes me want to take a long walk...........If it makes you feel better, ravens are the smartest bird on earth. It's been proven that they can count to nine.

Sweet image Jack. Ravens also "hunt" with wolves. They lead wolves to the prey so that they wolves can open up the kill for all to eat.

Ravens also peck holes in plastic water jugs left out on the picnic table at the Grand Canyon...um, or so I hear.

Nice photo, Jack. I like the soft quality of light.

Oh man, I'm jealous. Curious how you got in there and what the road conditions were like after the recent flooding.

Guy

Thanks for your comments!

Scott - that's pretty awesome about the ravens hunting with wolves! Smart indeed. Smarter than me at least.

Guy - I backpacked into Chesler Park for the second night of my trip... first night I camped at Big Spring Canyon. So basically I did a big loop... probably around twelve miles total; not sure.

Thanks for the memories, Jack. It's been over 30 years since I've backpacked into Chesler Park. The highlight of that trip was a little kit fox that visited my campsite.

Speaking of ravens... we were warned on a Grand Canyon raft trip last month that the ravens would fly off with ANYTHING loose, and that includes watches and wallets. We found them staking out every campsite. Sounds like finding a raven's nest could be quite profitable...

Great view and nice light, Jack.

Safe to leave your food out? Quoth the Raven, "nevermore!"

Nice light,
It brings back old memories from my trips in there during the seventies.
Thanks