Cisco and Glenwood Springs....

We woke today in the literally freezing weather. We lit the fire and packed up - it was so cold that the minute amount of water in the washing up tub actually turned into a sheet of ice in less than 15 minutes. It was bloody cold!

On our way out of the park our first stop was at the Ranger Station so that Max could collect his Junior Ranger Badge. Max has made a huge effort this year and earned a Junior Ranger badge in every National park we visited. This was the last badge that Max will be able to collect in America and he was still thrilled to earn it! He proudly pinned it to his chest and wore it with pride. I hope that one day both Max and Yasemin will be able to look back on our adventure this year with joy and will be reminded of our incredible journey each time they look at all the badges they collected.

Our next stop was at the ghost town called Cisco. Cisco was made famous in Thelma and Louise, so I figured it was worth a quick stop. But what a truly eerie place!

The following store is where the scene in the movie was shot. The man Susan Sarandon was talking with was a real resident of Cisco during the time of filming, but has since died. The store is not open but it clear that someone is living inside.

I was still in disbelief that Cisco actually has residents when we continued our drive home. Our next stop was at Glenwood Hot Springs. This was a fantastic way to break up the trip and soothe sore muscles from yesterdays big hikes. We arrived just as the sun was setting and throughly enjoyed our soak in the natural spring water.

The Fiery Furnace...

We had spent the last few days driving backwards and forwards past the area in Arches known as The Fiery Furnace and each time I was captivated by the amazing landscape.

We gamely set off on a Ranger Guided tour of The Fiery Furnace! I was slightly apprehensive because when I booked the tickets for this tour the Ranger was very clear that Everyone attending the tour should be aware of the demanding nature of this hike and properly equipped for current conditions. During the hike, participants must walk and climb on irregular and broken sandstone, along narrow ledges above drop-offs, and in loose sand. There are gaps which must be jumped and narrow places that you must squeeze into and pull yourself up and through. In some of these places, you must hold yourself off the ground by pushing against the sandstone walls with your hands and feet. Due to the maze-like nature of the terrain, all participants are committed to completing the hike once they enter the Fiery Furnace. She was particularly concerned about Max's age as five is the youngest they allow and even this age it is with hesitation.

Max was entranced with Ranger Mike from the start and became his shadow.

Walking through these formations was fabulous. At times the light was also perfect.

I am not sure what all the worry was about, because even though we experienced some tight squeezes and walked on some high ledges we all found the walk very non-threatening.

We were on the walk for roughly three and a half hours and at the end I was tired but the kids handled it really well. It was lovely sharing the walk with them and our dear friend, Susan.

 A great end to another perfect day - we returned to our campsite as the sun was starting to set. I'm not sure if its because this is was to be the last National Park we visit or  if its simply watching the colour on the rocks as the sun sets, but we all agreed that Arches is one of our most favorite places.

Student Show at John Fielder's Gallery...

When we arrived in Colorado, one of the very top items on my bucket list was to attend a photography workshop with an outstanding American  Landscape Photographer. After a few months I realised that John Fielder was photographer I wanted to most learn from. He is a legend in Colorado and famous throughout the US. From majestic sunrises over the Rockies to colorful Colorado wildflowers bordering alpine lakes, his photos portray Colorado in all its glory.

I had the pleasure of attending a workshop in Telluride in the fall and learnt so much. I truly believe my photography really jumped to the next level particularly in terms of composition, after the workshop.

I  recently submitted 3 of my images to a panel to be considered for entry in an upcoming exhibition in John Fielders gallery in Denver. He has been running a number of workshops each year for the past 18 years. The only criteria for the exhibition was that you had to have taken the photograph for entry  in one of Fielders workshops. This is the first exhibition of this kind and is to become an inaugural event in the gallery.

On the workshop I took literally thousands of photographs and I found it very difficult to narrow it down to three unedited images. I finally made the decision and was excited and nervous after the submission.  What a great end to the year to have the possibility of one of my images being selected and hung in the exhibition!

I am so happy and excited that my work was selected!

The following article was in the Denver Post;

Professional and amateur landscape photographers who have been participants in a John Fielder Photography Workshop in scenic locations ranging from Telluride to Kauai over the past 12 years are featured in an Inaugural Workshop Student Exhibition at Fielder’s gallery located at 833 Santa Fe Drive in Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe. The show opens on First Friday, December 7.

Eighteen photographers were selected from a call for entry that was juried by the staff of Fielder’s gallery, all of whom are photographers themselves. Featured in the show which runs from December 7, 2012 through January 26, 2013, are Evan Anderman, Jeanette Azar, Doyle Brewer, Mary Carley, Bo Cheatham, Chris Cillian, Johanna Clifford, Anne Cook, Jim Donlon, Bryan Kean, Cari Linden, Deb Olson, Robin Riddle, Brett Rodewald, Glenn Sackett, Frank Sueberling, Keith Wallin and Ron West. Each of the selected images have been matted and framed at the gallery and all are for sale with 100% of the proceeds going to the photographers.

An Artists Reception hosted by Fielder is scheduled for Saturday, January 19, from 2 to 5 p.m., when gallery guests can meet the photographers and find out what it’s like to take a workshop with Fielder. They may also vote for “Best in Show” in a People’s Choice contest which continues through the run of the exhibition.

The schedule of 2013 workshops where students can learn -- directly from Fielder -- how to take beautiful landscape photographs begins with winter photography in Steamboat Springs in March, and continues with whitewater rafting and camping on the Gunnison River in May, spring scenery in Summit County in June, wildflowers in Crested Butte in July and wraps up with fall colors in Telluride in October. An April workshop in Costa Rica is on the drawing board.

John Fielder’s Colorado gallery hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.. For more information about the exhibition and the workshops, please call 303-744-7979 or visit www.JohnFielder.com



The following is my artwork that was selected.

I am proud, excited and nervous all rolled into one and can't wait for Friday nights exhibition opening that I will be sharing with friends and family.

Delicate Arch...

Our dear friend Susan had told us months ago that we should try and walk the Fiery Furnace hike inside Arches National Park. This is a very popular hike and you require a permit as the park limits this terrain to only 70 people per day. You are advised to attempt this hike with as guide as it is very easy to get lost. So the first thing we did when we entered the park three days ago was to stop at the Ranger Station and enquire about this hike - and a good thing we did because the first hike we could book was on our last day! Today was the day we had been looking forward to, but we were due to meet at 1pm in the afternoon, so we had time after breakfast to visit Delicate Arch - possibly the parks most famous site.

We set off for our 3 mile hike full of energy. At the beginning of the hike we passed The Wolfe Ranch. The Ranch was settled in the late 1800's by John Wesley Wolfe and his son. John moved west from Ohio looking for a drier climate, due to a nagging leg injury he received in the Civil War. John selected a tract of 100 acres of land along Salt Wash for its water and grassland - enough for a few cattle. The tiny cabin was tiny and sparse - how they survived in this harsh terrain I can't begin to imagine!

 The hike was all up hill though soft sand and over slick rock. I started to worry that such a big hike in the morning and possibly a four hour hike after lunch might be to much for the kids?

We knew when we started that the best pictures were taken at this location were shot in the afternoon. However, if we were going to see Delicate Arch it was now or never - so Yasemin and I practiced our sun start photography and drank up the beautiful view. Our photograph does not do any justice to the amazing view.

Our walk back to the car was all down hill and much faster than the way up! We took a minor detour and saw examples of Ute petroglyphs.  This petroglyph panel is believed to be comprised of historic Ute images since it shows people on horseback, and horses were adopted by the Utes only after they were introduced by the Spanish.

We arrived back at the car with an hour to return to camp, eat, rehydrate and meet at the Fiery Furnace hike!

Dead Horse State Park and Canyonlands...

Today we headed out of Arches National Park and travelled into Thelma and Louise country. Dead Horse State Park is where the famous finale was filmed an it was even more impressive in real life!


In the movie our hearts freeze as their car flies off the edge of the cliff in the final scene. Towering 2000 feet above the Colorado River, the neck of the formation was used by cowboys to corral and capture wild horses. One time a herd of unwanted mustangs was inadvertently left waterless behind a 50 feet fence, where they died of thirst. Dead Horse Point is a marvel of form and color!

Although you may not guess it by its name, Dead Horse Point State Park is a stunning place. It sits atop a lofty mesa with see-forever views, stunning cliffs, canyon rims, fun and challenging mountain bike trails and hiking trails that lead to even more grand views.

I discovered the work of local artist Serena Surpplee in the State Park shop and couldn't resist purchasing a 2013 calender featuring her watercolour paintings. Serena works in watercolours, oils, and sculpture. She also uses the Giclee printing process, making it possible to produce a print of her paintings. Her artworks made me want to stop and start painting immediately - they are simple yet capture the magical landscape.

The next stop was not far up the road - Canyonlands National Park. The park is divided into four districts by the Green and Colorado rivers: the Island in the Sky, the Maze, the Needles, and the rivers themselves.

The Island in the Sky is the most accessible district,and we were rewarded with expansive views from many overlooks along the paved scenic drive. We spent the remainder of our day exploring the key lookout points.

With limited time we still managed to complete a short hike to the Mesa Arch. The trail ends in front of an elegant stone that spans fifty feet across the top of a 500-foot vertical cliff. Mesa Arch is classified as a pothole arch because it was formed by surface water that pooled on the sandstone behind the arch, slowly eroding the rock. The result is an arch that dangles across the mesa’s edge.

Geology aside, the arch provides the frame for a stunning Utah landscape.

As the sun was setting we stopped at the Visitor Center on our way back to Moab. Yasemin and Max had both completed their Junior Ranger booklets and were rewarded with two more badges to add to heir collection.

We headed in to the Moab Brewery for dinner. We were all starved after such a huge day. We feasted on some of the best burgers we have eaten while in the US, while Garry sampled some boutique beer from the Brewery - another great end to a wonderful day.