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| Butte Fault Awatubi Crest - Sep 2007 |
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The distortion seen here is not
in the picture but the landscape. Standing on the saddle of
the divide between Malgosa and Awatubi, looking south to the
next saddle of Awatubi Crest and then to Sixtymile -- the next
drainage along the Butte Fault Route and the objective for the
day. Making the necessary distance between water is the critical
factor, assuring Still Spring at Lava Creek will be within reach
for the next day. |
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| Nankoweap Valley - Sep 2007 |
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Looking upstream from the Butte
Fault area. Tilted Mesa Trail joins the streambed at the lower
right corner. High points on the skyline are Mount Hayden and
Marion Point. The extensive drainage system captures enough
rainfall to cause frequent high-flow and flash-flood events
that move things around, clear streamside growth, and reroute
creek flow. Everytime I visit, the place looks different, former
campsites are gone, and water sources require rediscovery. But
the really big cottonwood marking the trail junction remains
in place. |
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| Lava Creek Colors - Apr 2007 |
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The Lava, Chuar, and Carbon Creek
drainages form a large open space between the Butte Fault on
the east and the Walhalla Plateau to the west. Unusual Supergroup
geology makes this an interesting area to explore. Huge stranded
stromatolite boulders can be found all over the valley. In this
photo at a bend in Lava Creek, narrow brightly-colored layers
make a striking image. Extensive mud/rock cemented debris rests
on top of these alternating shale bands, and similar material
can be seen above either bank along nearly the entire length
of the stream. It's a geologic mystery. |
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| Monument to Water - Apr 2007 |
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This view is from far up Lava Canyon
looking onto a broad basin area where the stream flow emerges
from a rock rubble layer filling the bed. Naji Canyon joins
from the left of the view with the Walhalla Plateau rim on the
horizon. Near the middle-left of the photo an enormous slab
of Tapeats sandstone stands up out of the bed and makes what
I call the "Monument to Water" where the spring flows
from the base of this slab. Very nearby, an extensive Anasazi
dwelling site is located under a convenient sheltering overhang. |
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| Clear Creek Snow - Dec 2006 |
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"Wow, look at that."
We are up on the slope opposite Cheyava Falls looking for a
stone-wall ruin site hidden in the trees, the dark green foliage
and white snow making a dramatic contrast. Just at that moment
the snow falling lightly around offers a clear view up-canyon
to the North Rim, snow falling heavily there and shrouding the
Redwall cliffs. What a great view!! |
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