Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish my family, friends, and customers Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Here are a few photos of my favorite ornaments from our tree...

Zion National Park

I arrived at Zion National Park before dawn. It was still raining but lighter than yesterday; flash flood warnings were in effect for Zion and the surrounding area. Except for the occasional passing car, I was literally the only one in the park. As the sun began to rise, I could see the snow-capped mountains of Zion draped in haze. No words or pictures can begin to describe this park.

The intermittent rain continued most of the day but I shot non-stop (except for a late breakfast at the Zion Lodge). As I made my way up the canyon mountain pass, the sides of the road were covered in snow; the view was spectacular! Zion spans an area of over 147,000 acres; a small fraction of this can be viewed from the road. I did my best to see as much of the park as possible but Zion has many hidden secrets; some of which I hope to visit tomorrow.

Valley of Fire

The Valley of Fire State Park looks like another planet. The sand and stone is red like the surface of Mars and the terrain varied. This photo of Arch Rock is an example of the formations sculpted by wind and rain. With a major storm approaching, I shot as much as I could before, during, and after the rain.

This area was once occupied by Indians who scratched petroglyphs into the desert varnish (black coating) on the sandstone. The petroglyphs are over 3000 years old.

Next stop, Zion National Park, Utah...