Scriptures - To the Glory of God

"Ominous"

August 2012, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah

While not illegal, travel on Utah's clay roads during a storm is highly discouraged by the BLM, NPS, and any other agency with an acronym you can think of. The problem is that the clay turns to an impassable goo when mixed with water. It doesn't matter if you have all wheel drive, four wheel drive or an army tank - you will get stuck. The wet clay acts almost like quicksand. Years ago, after a brief rainfall, I tried to walk out in the stuff before attempting to drive my vehicle through. I immediately sank about six inches into the mud and barely got my foot back out. The stuff is just nasty.

The image above shows summertime monsoonal clouds blocking my only exit as I was leaving Alstrom Point which overlooks Lake Powell. I had been primitive camping for two nights on the point hoping to capture some nice shots of the lake with storm clouds. I had the whole place to myself just as I had at Toroweap earlier in the week. I love the feeling of isolation and the sound of absolute silence. I'm not sure why - it's just the way I'm wired.

Anyway, now there was the matter of getting back out. Long story short - I made it. Incidentally, the road was washed out the very next day by a flash flood.

Alstrom PointStorm CloudsStormy SkyThunderstormUtahdirt roadroadscripture