I recently returned from a photo safari I arranged for some friends to Southern Utah. We made some really nice images, had a good meal or two and enjoyed each other’s company during our time together. What could be better.
What prompted the trip was a mailer I received from someone promoting a trip to Kanab, Utah. I read the brochure and realized that I have already been to all the places they were promoting, sometimes more than once, and I thought to myself, why don’t you arrange a trip for a couple of friends that follows a similar itinerary.
So I did.
When leading a trip, it helps if you have been there already. Most experienced trip leaders have already visited the locations they would like to include on the shooting itinerary and have experienced the lodging and local food options. This was true of our trip. I had been there, done that. It helps so you have ready contingencies should the weather or other circumstances force changes.
I thought I would share my thoughts on how to plan for a trip of this sort and things to take into consideration.
I have been to Kanab in Southern Utah a number of times. It is one of my favorite places to visit. My wife and I even rented a house there for three weeks a few summers ago. There are so many places nearby that are photographically interesting; Buckskin Gulch, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Toadstools, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, North Rim of the Grand Canyon and of course the iconic (and from a permit process) elusive Wave. The red rock begs for photographic attention. I would happily go back again and again.
For the purposes of this trip, I knew I wanted us to visit White Pocket, which is a bit of a sandy drive. My first time to White Pocket I hired someone to take Carol and I in. I also knew I wanted to be there for both afternoon/evening light, perhaps some nighttime photography and then predawn and morning golden hour conditions. That would mean staying overnight at the site. The only option is camping. So camp we did. Prep work for this included setting up the tent before we even left home to make sure we had all the parts and remembered how to set it up quickly. Since it is about a five hour drive from my home in Park City to Kanab, it was the perfect Day 1 activity. We drove to Kanab, had lunch and then headed out to White Pocket. We aired the tires down to 25 PSI to better ride in the sand. We also carried a Hi-Lift Jack on the truck, two gallons of gasoline, two gallons of water, Max Trax to help with traction and an air compressor to put air back in the tires before we hit pavement on our outbound journey. I carry a Garmin InReach for SOS satellite messaging. A newer iPhone with the latest iOS also allows satellite messaging. Other than the air compressor, those other items are things you hope you don’t need, but will be glad you have them when you do.
On our way to White Pocket, we stopped at the Condor Release site at Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. It was a convenient place to air down the tires, for a “pit” (toilet) stop and to look for condors with our binoculars. Then it was off to White Pocket. It took us about 2.5 hours to drive the 50 miles or so from Kanab.
Once there, we set up camp, grabbed our cameras and walked the short distance to another world. We all (there were four of us) set out in different directions to explore the otherworldly landscape and look for photos. We stayed through the golden hour, through the blue hour and then we all found our way back to our tents after dark where we enjoyed PB&J under the light of an almost full moon.
We put ourselves in reverse the next morning, getting up well before sunrise, returning to camp for brekky and then packed our tents for the drive out. Another stop at the Condor Release site to put air in the tires and we headed to Kanab for lunch.
I won’t bore you with a further blow by blow of our trip. But I do include our itinerary.
Day 1 Drive to Kanab
Lunch in Kanab
Drive to White Pocket
White Pocket Photography
Spend night in tents at White Pocket
Day 2 White Pocket Photography
Lunch in Kanab
Apply for Wave Lottery Permit (you are required to be in geofenced area to apply)
Hotel Checkin in Kanab
Toadstool Hoodoos
Dinner and Hotel in Kanab
Day 3 Kanab Sand Caves
Red Canyon Slots (also called Peekaboo)
Lunch in Kanab
Toadstools (we had planned to go to Alstrom Point overlooking Lake Powell, but decided to visit the Toadstools again.
Hotel Kanab
Day 4 Johnson County Road
Lunch in Kanab
Buckskin Gulch Slot Canyon (we chose not to go because of rain)
Hotel Kanab
Day 5 Toroweap Overlook (North Rim of the GC)
Camp at Toroweap (Permits required)
Day 6 Return Home
Well things did not quite go according to plan. The weather changed, so did our plans. We cancelled the last overnight stop to Toroweap. It was rainy with snow at the higher elevations so we opted to head home instead. We also opted not to drive down the sandy road to Red Canyon on Day two. There were too many off highway vehicles (OHV) and did not want to compete with them. Instead we did a drive through the Best Friends animal sanctuary located outside Kanab and spent some time in the pet cemetery there. Lots of choices in Kanab.
We were flexible and willing to adjust our schedules as needed.
Tools for planning? I always buy a National Geographic Map of the area I am visiting. In this case I used the Paria Canyon, Kanab Trails Illustrated map. It has good detail. Especially useful when you accidentally cancel the map directions on the phone where there is no service. I suggest downloading an off line map before you leave an ar Avenza Maps is with redownloaded maps is a good choice. During the planning, I make use of Google Maps to figure out driving times and waypoints. I used Orbitz to find a good hotel. In this case, the historic Parry Hotel had one of the best rates. We took advantage of local resources like the Kane County Visitors Bureau and the local Bureau of Land Management office.
One problem, but also sort of nice, with four like-minded individuals it was easy to stray from the task at hand, like hiking back to the car. Someone would pose a question and before you knew it, we were standing around having a photo discussion. Not necessarily a bad thing, we had many of those.
It was a successful trip not matter how you measure it. Good Photos, good companionship and some good meals. If you find yourself in Kanab, I recommend Vermillion 45 for a top notch meal in pleasant surroundings. And of course lunch at Escobars Mexican.
Thanks for stopping by.
