To RMAF and Back Again...A Speed Demon's US Southwest Tour

[Iron_Dreamer]

As some or many of you may know, I decided to turn a visit to last month's Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in Denver into a week-plus epic road trip through the southwest. While I certainly couldn't visit every amazing place this part of the country has to offer, that didn't stop me from trying at a breakneck pace. To my delight, I found more amazing sights than I ever could have imagined, including many excellent surprises.

Here is a collection of photos from the journey. Of course, there are many more, but this felt like an appropriate representation.

From Cali to Denver:

Just outside an I-70 rest stop, Central Utah

A chilly morning in Maroon Bells, near Aspen, Colorado...

...and the local moose, my only company that morning

Independence Pass Road above Aspen, over 12,000ft

An amusing ode in one of Colorado's highest cities

Climbing some rock, again above 12,000ft, this time in Rocky Mountain National Park

Mt. Chapin and quaking Aspen, Rocky Mountain National Park

A quaint stream just off a busy road, Rocky Mountain National Park

Moonlight hiking with Justin on Colorado Mines Peak above Empire, Colorado

Looking down at Berthoud Pass Road

And now the way back!

Sandstone walls of Arches National Park glistening in the moonlight

First light on the aptly named Landscape Arch

And a hiker finds the breathtakingly perched Partition Arch

The White Rim of the Green River Canyon, Canyonlands National park

Sun setting over Schafer Canyon, Canyonlands National park

Morning Sun bestowed on the Capitol Gorge, Capitol Reef National Park

Mile after mile of this displaced earth splits Utah in Capitol Reef National Park

Meadows of quaking Aspen dotted Boulder Mountain, Utah

And the nearby Grand Staircase holds countless acres of remarkable rock

The hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park make it a popular destination:

The deep color of Zion Canyon towers in the early dawn hours

And Zion National Park's distinctive colored peaks rise into the morning clouds

Seeming impossible colors rise from the desert floor in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

Amazingly, this little-known wonder is less than an hour's drive from the Vegas Strip:

[Voltron]

Fucking amazing shots Peter. And no gear in them! Sweet.

[Grahame]

Awesome Photo's of amazing geological features. The Florida Flatlands will be somewhat tame by comparison.

[Asr]

Ah, some very familiar locales. And fantastic pics as usual too of course. I especially like the one of Independence Pass.

[blessingx]

Very, very nice Peter.

[jinp6301]

So many good pictures.

Looks great and thanks for sharing your photos with us

[tyrion]

Peter, those are amazing photographs! Peter, is that Red Rocks Canyon? My wife and I hiked that last year.

Awesome Photo's of amazing geological features. The Florida Flatlands will be somewhat tame by comparison.

Whenever I see pics like that it reminds me of how much Florida sucks.

Edited November 10, 2010 by tyrion

[Aura]

wonderful stuff peter. love the contrast between land and sky in the 2nd-to-last pic.

[agile_one]

Awesome images, Peter!

[aardvark baguette]

This image is like night and day. Literally.

[Torpedo]

Congratulations for the trip and the pics. Really wonderful!

[HDen]

Very nice photos, must be great visiting all those places. I love the 'Night and Day' one

[Iron_Dreamer]

Thanks for the nice comments everyone. I was certainly having the time of my life out there. Of course, now I just want to set the compass back to Utah again! So many great places I didn't get to. Good thing I've got a lot of years ahead of me.

Peter, those are amazing photographs! Peter, is that Red Rocks Canyon? My wife and I hiked that last year.

I don't think it's the same place. I think you were here and I was here.

I almost went to Red Rock Canyon when in Vegas in September, but just didn't have the time. I won't miss it next time, and I'd really like to hike Mt. Charleston as well.

[shellylh]

Nice pictures Peter!

[Dusty Chalk]

Those pictures are great. Not only are they fantastic shots, but the subject matter is some of my favorite subject matter (I've said many times that mother nature is my favorite artist). Well done, and thanks for sharing it with us.

[jvlgato]

Wow, great pics! I had my first taste of the Rocky Mountain region this past fall, and just loved it. I hope to get back there soon!

[n_maher]

Very, very nice Peter.

This.

I spent some time in CO a decade ago and those pictures really took me back.

[bhjazz]

Wow. You've got the gift. These are wonderful.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Great photos, I lobe them!

[Pars]

Awesome images, Peter!

x2 (or more...) Thanks for sharing these!

[HeadphoneAddict]

I hate posting on an iPhone, as above, my iPhone's spelling correction of love into > lobe? Sigh...

[aardvark baguette]

I just made the 'night & day' image my desktop background. Goes well with Iron Maiden or CS Lewis.

[boomana]

Gorgeous. I need to get out of Florida.

[jp11801]

Peter, great photos, it must have been a fantastic trip. Thanks for sharing the pics.

[GPH]

Beautiful photos!

Whenever I see pics like that it reminds me of how much Florida sucks.

Want to switch homes for the winter? We have great mountain landscapes here too.