The Story Behind the Camera at Horseshoe Bend
It was an early afternoon in March and Steve and I we were a few days into our photographic expadition through the State of Arizona. The weather couldn't have been more cooperative. It was unseasonably warm which gave us beautiful sun filled days. A welcomed break from the recent frigid midwest winter. We made plans to stay in a little town called Page, located in the northern part of the state, just a few miles south of the Utah state line, the gateway to Lake Powell and Glen Canyon National Park. We had heard of a wondrous place called Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado river makes an abrupt hairpin turn, so we made it a point to add the stop to our itinerary.
An easily missed turn off of route 89 a few miles south of Page but we managed to find it on the first attempt. We parked our vehicle and decided to wait for the light to soften as the harsh shadows of late afternoon were still a major part of the landscape. The canyon was not visible at this point, there would be a hike to the canyons edge. For now we took time to enjoy the arid scene that was all around us. A deep red clay like soil covered the ground, and blackbrush shrubs and other desert flora dotted the landscape. Not a terrible way to spend some time waiting for the light.
Soon after we gathered our camera gear and started up the trail to the river. The ground was soft with deep red sand and we met a somewhat steady incline for the first hundred yards or so. You could begin to see the very top edge of what proved to be the rim of the canyon. We continued our hike this time along a gradual declining slope for about a mile.
We then knew the edge was near as the wind suddenly began to pick up and large flat rocks layed out like fallen dominoes lined the horizon. The goal now, to capture as much of the grandeur of the canyon with one wide angle camera view. We scouted the edge, carefully weaving our way in and around the rocks. Finally we came to an area that was flat enough to serve as a camera platform.
Steve was able to walk to the rim almost immediately, I however need a moment or so to gain my composure and the courage to take in the view. I was too fearful to stand and walk to the edge, therefore I literally got down on my hands and knees and crawled closer. Eventually laying flat down on the ground, face to face with the canyon. The drop, straight down 1,100 feet! The height is so that you are unable to grasp it immediately, you're overcome by the absolute magnitude and beauty of the scene before you. However after a moment you look down and see a tiny yellow dot on the rivers edge below and wonder what you are looking at. When you realize its a camping tent your brain immediately registers how high you actually are. It's at this point that I decided to slowly back away as I could feel all of my muscles turning into overcooked noodles.
We spend the next hour photograhing sunset over one of mother natures beautiful creations. At times we needed to hang onto the cameras on tripods as the wind was getting so strong and at times threatening to knock them over. We changed film feverously as the light peaked and the red color of the rock glowed and then faded just as quickly as it had arrived. Soon the best of the light was gone, the sun had set and we started to pack up our gear for the hike back. What a way to end a beautiful day in Arizona.
~Kimberly
