March 27, 2005

Photo for Easter morning


Photo for Easter morning, originally uploaded by jo(e).

Most of the hiking I've done has been here at home, through hardwood stands, wildflower meadows, groves of aspen or birch, forests of pine. Whenever I go out west, I feel overwhelmed by the landscape: stark cliffs, deep canyons, gorgeous red rocks, long views that make me tremble. This photo, taken last May, is of me hiking down into the canyon at Bryce. I felt tiny in that landscape, humbled by the strange and beautiful red cliffs that surrounded me, towered over me, held me.

13 comments:

Ianqui said...

Beautiful pic. A few summers ago we went to the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion in one trip. I thought my head would explode from all of the different dramatic landscapes. I seriously considered trying to find a job at U of Utah or U of Arizona after that (even though I'm an east-coast girl at heart).

Phantom Scribbler said...

Awe-inspiring picture, jo(e). Is that snow on the ground, or just a trick of light?

ianqui, where did you get your devilish rubber duckie???

kp said...

P. & I made a cross-country drive on our way to get married 2 summers ago... stopped at every national park we could on the way. Bryce was one of our favorite places. (& Utah in general!) What I remember most (besides those red cliffs) is the glorious light.

Great picture.

Jane said...

Oh, I love Bryce Canyon! It's one of my favorite places on earth. Thanks for posting such a beautiful picture. And happy easter!

jo(e) said...

Phantom: It's just a trick of light. There wasn't any snow.

Ianqui: The dramatic landscapes are beautiful but I could never live in Arizona or Utah. Too much bright sunlight, too much heat. I am more suited to grey skies, which are easier on the eyes, and cool weather. But what a beautiful place to visit.

Zipzap: My husband and I did this trip last year for our 20th anniversaty. I think Zion was my favorite of the national parks. Hiking there was just fantastic.

Happy Easter Jane!

Moreena said...

Oooo, I love this picture. Just right. I remember visiting the Grand Canyon when I was 12 or so with my family, and it was our very best vacation. I can't wait to take the girls when they're old enough.

bitchphd said...

Thanks for that pic. As for me, I miss that feeling of being lost in the landscape terribly...

~profgrrrrl~ said...

Happy easter! Wow, I think that landscape would freak me out a bit. So big and imposing. But beautiful!

timna said...

I love that landscape. our transition from Israel to the US was seamless in terms of that very type of scenery.
Bryce was one place the kids loved hiking. They rebelled from the parking lot on at the Grand Canyon, but we went so far into Bryce I really did wonder how we were going to all get back out that day.

great picture.

Scrivener said...

Thanks for this great photo--brings back memories of the trip my wife and I took out west the summer after my first year in grad school. We spent 6 weeks-plus hiking and camping in the Grand Canyon and all those parks in Southern Utah--Zion was amazing, as were Bryce and Arches. And just like ianqui, I was fantasizing about jobs in the region, though in my case, I gotta admit I'm still fantasizing about a job at Northern AZ State U in Flagstaff.

Unknown said...

Bryce was *the* place in the world my husband wanted me to see when we were early in our relationship. We spent a week in Utah and Arizona: Arches, Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon, Sedona, Zion, and finally Bryce. He told me he was saving the best for last, his idea of the most beautiful place on earth.
Thanks for the picture.

Cheeky Prof said...

Wow, what a great photo. It's just breathtaking. Makes me want to travel again. Looks like you're having a wonderful time. Good for you!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful. That feeling of being overwhelmed by the landscape is such a big part of why I'm here out west to stay. I have yet to be so stressed or so upset that spending time among the giant redwoods wasn't enough to soothe me.