A Personal Amateur Photography Blog
The Fire Wave Trail at Valley of Fire State Park Nevada takes one across some of the greatest formations any mile and a half hike can give you.
Words aren’t sufficient, so enjoy the photos.
Approximately 35 million years ago a volcano erupted in what is now western New Mexico. Thanks to the soft compound of the rocks, and millions of years of erosion, what is left is an amazing square mile of large sculpted rocks, some 40′ high.
Since 1953 this unique place has been the City of Rock State Park.
The size becomes apparent when compared to the cars, trucks and campers in the park.
One daring tent resident has taken up residence directly underneath a suspended boulder.
Nearby Table Mountain dominates the horizon to the east.
City of Rocks is a great place to spend a couple of hours wandering around between the rocks.
Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon in Navajo Nation just outside of Page, Arizona. It is an amazing place created by the erosion of the Navajo Sandstone by water (at times very intense flash floods).
For this trip I have tried to limit the postings to around 14 photos each – no chance here, it was tough enough to get down to 21!
A big thanks to our guide Lamar, who not only pointed out the highlights, he was very adept at taking photos with your phone (no – none of these are Lamar’s!)
As you drive across the flatlands of Oklahoma one feature you do not expect is a redish mesa rising 200 feet above the prairie, but that is exactly what Gloss Mountain does.
In fact there are a few of these features in the area just outside of the small, appropriately named town of Fairview.
The hike up the mesa was on some sketchy looking stairs, but they worked – from the top you have a panoramic view of the area.
These unique features were formed long ago when the area was under a sea that left behind layers of shale and siltstone, with a top layer of gypsum. There is something known as selenite in gypsum that is glossy, hence the name.
The mesa’s were formed from erosion over thousands of years.
From here you have a seemingly endless view across the flat lands.
Once you reach the top you pass numerous fields of wild flowers.
Gloss Mountain – an unexpected and fun hike in the middle of Oklahoma.
RDZ Photography 