In Moab, Utah again last month which is not the subject of this post, rather the area around Moab, brimming with a wealth of spectacular geology and early American history. I refer specifically to “False Kiva”, google it if you must. Directions for the hike to the site abound. Pay particular attention to the one that warns: a lot of hikers using only GPS coordinates will end up on the canyon rim high above the Kiva. GPS coordinates are a bed sheet with a grid drawn on it thrown over the landscape. Tells you nothing about how far above or below you the spot you’re seeking actually is. If that sounds like the voice of experience, it is. Here’s the problem with taking the wrong route the first time: unless you have rock climbing skills you’ll have to backtrack nearly to where you started to pick up the correct route. Not a big deal as the hike to the point where you begin your descent in earnest is quite pleasant (unless it’s 102 degrees F). The change from gradual descent to serious descent is fairly abrupt. The terrain falls away at about 45 degrees through boulders large and small all vying to rotate your ankle to the breaking point and topple you over the edge of the cliff to your death. In other words, folks with a fear of heights, early death, or sprained ankles probably will want to skip this one. Keep in mind as you work your way down the cliff the fifty pounds of camera gear on your back needs to be hauled back up the same mountain. Did I mention water? Take water!

The view from the rock alcove in which the Kiva resides is extraordinary. To do it justice you’ll need a wide lens: my 24-14mm was perfect for the job. On this day about half the site was in sunlight, the rest quite dark. I used a lot of five-shot brackets to cover the range. This makes for a lot of work in Photoshop or whatever you use to stack bracketed images. I waited patiently for a nice thunder storm to move across the scene in the distance but none were available. The site is amazingly clean. One corner of the alcove is marked off as protected though it appears scavengers have been digging there. Looters are…. well, I was about to launch into a tirade on thieves and vandals but I’m well aware they don’t care what I think. As always if you take only photos and leave only footprints others will find it equally fascinating after you are gone.

PP