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Author Topic: Winter in Monument Valley  (Read 23076 times)

framah

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Winter in Monument Valley
« on: October 13, 2007, 01:46:49 pm »

Does anyone have any experience shooting in Monument Valley in the winter...like in January?  I'm thinking about it and thought I'd check to see if I'm crazy or not.  

Thanks.
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Tim Gray

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« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2007, 01:51:31 pm »

Not January - but early December - used Tom Phillips as a guide - got some nice early morning frost shots.  I expect Jan would be pretty interesting...
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framah

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« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2007, 02:49:12 pm »

Thanks, Tim. Would you still have info to get ahold of Tom Phillips?

Did you use your own vehicle or theirs?
 How about snow? Alot? None? How cold?
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framah

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« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2007, 03:02:52 pm »

I googled him and up popped his site . Thanks, I'll communicate with him and see what happens.
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Tim Gray

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« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2007, 03:30:13 pm »

Quote
Thanks, Tim. Would you still have info to get ahold of Tom Phillips?

Did you use your own vehicle or theirs?
 How about snow? Alot? None? How cold?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=145746\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Used his vehicle - "a lot" of snow is very unlikely.  FWIW, at Bryce at that time there was a lot of snow - made the shots from the overlooks interesting, but all the trails were closed.  At Zion, no snow.  Cold enough that you'll want to layer a couple of thin gloves.

Tom is getting on in years, I hope I have one more opportunity to take advantage of his guiding in the next year or so.

Don't know what your other plans are but the stuff around Page (the Antelopes and Horseshoe Bend) as well as Moab (Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point, I'm not a big fan of Arches, you really need an extended stay to do it justice) would be worth the time as well.
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framah

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« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2007, 04:24:00 pm »

Thanks, Tim...
 My other plan was to maybe head back out to Toroweep point on the North Rim. I did that in May a long time ago  and thought that might be nice as well.

Lower Antelope is a must for sure.  Imagine slight layers of snow on the walls of the canyon! )If that happens!)

 I always try for the full moon time of the month when I head out there.

I have Toms website bookmarked so I'll contact him later on.
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Tim Gray

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« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2007, 05:37:21 pm »

Quote
Thanks, Tim...
 My other plan was to maybe head back out to Toroweep point on the North Rim. I did that in May a long time ago  and thought that might be nice as well.

Lower Antelope is a must for sure.  Imagine slight layers of snow on the walls of the canyon! )If that happens!)

 I always try for the full moon time of the month when I head out there.

I have Toms website bookmarked so I'll contact him later on.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=145761\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Pretty sure the road to the N. Rim be closed.
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camilla

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Winter in Monument Valley
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2007, 09:48:38 am »

Hi
Just returned from MV. Liked my photos from February much much better. I like the winter light. Have gone there several times at end of December and January and have brought back marvelous photos.

I use Daniel's Guided Tours- everyone there is professional, efficient and patient. I find Tom Phillips too rushed and has large groups with him every time he goes out---- that's just my experience.

If you want to reach Daniel his number is 435 727 3227. Have used them for years. and so have many photographer friends.

One books in advance for particular dates--- and you tell him that you want to leave well before sunrise to be let's say at the dunes of the Totem Pole 45 minutes before sunrise. They know what to do. Make sure you reconfirm and keep in touch with them.

be careful where you are coming from as the clock changes in different areas of the Southwest.

North Rim is already closed for the winter.
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Tim Gray

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« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2007, 09:55:39 am »

Quote
I use Daniel's Guided Tours- everyone there is professional, efficient and patient. I find Tom Phillips too rushed and has large groups with him every time he goes out---- that's just my experience.

If you want to reach Daniel his number is 435 727 3227. Have used them for years. and so have many photographer friends.



North Rim is already closed for the winter.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=145867\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Good to have a choice of guides.  I suspect mid week, off, off season Tom isn't that busy.  When I wen out it was just the two of us.
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Win

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« Reply #9 on: October 15, 2007, 12:39:54 pm »

Toroweap does not get snow like the North Rim and is open all year. While out there you should go to the Namoweap Petroglyph site. Over 1000 works in Billy Goat Canyon very nice!

Win
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framah

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« Reply #10 on: October 15, 2007, 02:45:09 pm »

Yep... the road to Toroweep isn't the "road" to the North Rim. At the town of Freedonia, there is a light. Instead of heading on down Rt. 89 to where everyone else goes on the North Rim, you turn at the light and go a few miles to a dirt road to the left thru a fence, The road is about 30 miles long and it goes past the Toroweep Ranger Station all the way out to the edge of the canyon at Toroweep point. That area isn't closed, but it also isn't maintained or patrolled so you are on your own out there.
Somewhere in my files, I have a photo of the 5 liter Mustang I rented in Vegas sitting near the edge of the canyon out there. Defintely not the car to take but, heck... it WAS a rental!!
Here is the one I got back then.

« Last Edit: October 15, 2007, 02:45:39 pm by framah »
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Win

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« Reply #11 on: October 15, 2007, 03:46:38 pm »

Toroweap Rd is actually 61 miles long out of Fredonia. I've seen cars out there but it's not a good idea. There is a towing company in Kanab that makes a good living going out there. In three recent trips I've seen someone with a problem each time.

Even more of an adventure is to go out of St George, 90 miles to the rim! And a couple of fun spots to get your adrenaline going. This route has some terrific scenery, though.

Win
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djgarcia

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« Reply #12 on: October 15, 2007, 04:56:20 pm »

I was in MV last September and found the light marvelous those 2 days. Weather is such a gamble, but a dust storm made life both hellish and interesting. This was a bit after the storm ...

« Last Edit: October 15, 2007, 04:57:38 pm by djgarcia »
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framah

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« Reply #13 on: October 16, 2007, 09:25:53 am »

That's great!! Thanks for showing us.
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djgarcia

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« Reply #14 on: October 16, 2007, 07:20:09 pm »

And during the storm ...

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alainbriot

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« Reply #15 on: October 16, 2007, 10:14:05 pm »

Win,

Where does the road from St George to Toroweap starts near St George?  I looked for it a couple of times but never found it.  I've been to Toroweap numerous times but always took the Fredonia-Toroweap road.

Thank you.

ALain
« Last Edit: October 16, 2007, 10:14:40 pm by alainbriot »
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framah

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« Reply #16 on: October 17, 2007, 11:28:47 am »

I think the road is the Mt. Trumbull Loop.  My maps have it starting out as River Rd. off of Brigham Rd.

Check out page 16 and 17 of the Utah Gazateer and then page 21 and 22 of the Arizona Gazateer.
It was about 20 years ago when I went out there but I did find the road in St. George and remember that it was near  I -15.  It is a long road out and connects to Toroweep Rd. on the east side of Mt. Trumbull the mountain, not the town.  Unfortunately, I no longer have the original map of the area I used back then. It was quite detailed with all of these roads tho the Gazateer books are great. They are printed by DeLorme up here in Maine.
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Win

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« Reply #17 on: October 17, 2007, 12:17:43 pm »

Framah has it right. You can access what is called "Main St" from River Rd in St George
or Brigham Rd out of Bloomington. You drive South to the Mt Trumbull Schoolhouse and turn left. That takes you across the base of Mt Trumbull and hooks up with the road to Toroweap.

Those Delorme books are good but I've been using the Benchmark maps and like them a little better.

Win

The old schoolhouse on Memorial Day, only time I've seen a flag flying:

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JeffKohn

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« Reply #18 on: October 19, 2007, 03:27:46 pm »

Quote
I find Tom Phillips too rushed and has large groups with him every time he goes out---- that's just my experience.
I did a sunrise tour with Tom in late June of this year (pretty close to peak season I would guess), and it was just my wife and I with him. It was a weekday though, and I'm guessing the sunset tours are more crowded since not as many people are willing to get up at 4:00am for a tour. We were not rushed, had plenty of time and were lucky enough to catch a really spectacular sunrise:

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djgarcia

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« Reply #19 on: October 19, 2007, 05:46:33 pm »

And early to rise gets the nice shot - very nice!
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