Heading to grand canyon, monument valley, zion and bryce

I am taking the 30d, CP, 17-40mm, tripod and remote. I'm just wondering if the 70-200 is really needed. I am trying to travel light, have my hiking backpack stuffed with stuff as it is. I feel I will fine with the 17-40, but what the heck - Does anyone think I might regret it if I leave the 70-200 at home? I can take it along I guess, but then that is one extra thing to worry about if I don't use it.

I won't attempt to answer your questions, but I do have some advice/news about Zion.

We were there (and Bryce) just last week, and they are doing some construction just before the tunnel at Zion if you enter or leave from the east entrance.

We had to wait about 30 minutes to get through and, of course, the traffic was horrible after that!

The construction also closed the trail head just east of the tunnel, and that was my major goal this trip. Sigh.

Have a good trip!!!

bob snow

We did all those places plus Arches and Antelope Canyon back in May and did not need the telephoto at all.. You might want to consider though something a little wider. I used the 10-22 and the wife the 12-24 sigma for alot of the work. It really was a magical trip. Here is the link to my gallery. http://www.pbase.com/jackcrevalle/utah
Let me know if I can provide anymore help. It will take your breath away

Gary

for Zion; this place screams for a WA capability that you don't have (be prepared to take some panos). I use the 17-40 on a 1DmkII and this setup works out pretty well for most scenes I encounter at the places you mentioned. BTW, the mid-tele you discussed will not be necessary while hiking but you might want to have one in the car with you.

Regards,

Joe Kurkjian, Pbase Supporter

http://www.pbase.com/jkurkjia



SEARCHING FOR A BETTER SELF PORTRAIT

and 2 dozen of them live at the Grand Canyon... and they like to show off. Are you sure you want to be without 200mm?

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You might want the longer lens for wildlife. There are a lot of mule deer, some elk and a few mountain sheep in the Grand Canyon. Photographing them with a 17-40 is gonna be tough.

jack
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A few of my photos:
http://web.mac.com/kurtzjack/iWeb/ or
http://www.sportsshooter.com/members.html?id=4177

Been there, loved it. Used a longer lens to get the distant "fingers" nearer. I would take it.
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Life is not a dress rehearsal !
See Cuba & NYC at http://www.jonrp.smugmug.com

Thanks for the advise. I might just go and take it, I leave on the 7th.

I was fortunate to be in the Grand Canyon on vacation with all my lenses. I was shooting Wide angles from just inside the north rim when a condor flew within a few yards of the outlook.... Sad thing was that the longer reach lenses were in the car. No matter what it was a beautiful site all the same. the wingspan was huge, but the wide angle made it look like a sparrow.. =( I will say if the lenses weren't 30 yards away uphill it would have been special! As a side note I stopped shooting wides and shifted to my 100-400L, and the stares were 'priceless', but still no Condor shots. =(.
Jim

Jim Garnish said:

I was fortunate to be in the Grand Canyon on vacation with all my
lenses. I was shooting Wide angles from just inside the north rim
when a condor flew within a few yards of the outlook.... Sad thing
was that the longer reach lenses were in the car. No matter what
it was a beautiful site all the same. the wingspan was huge, but
the wide angle made it look like a sparrow..

Click to expand...

That's exactly what happened to me. I was able to get some people in the shot to show how big the condor is, but it's just not the same as if I'd had my Bigma with me



--
Please don't let these beautiful animals die - they need help now!
http://www.wildlife-sanctuary.org

Even if you can't donate, please help spread the word.

I 'm taking it, thanks for all the help.

I took it but didn't even use it. had a blast though, must go back.

Grand Canyon, I know we cannot hike into.

My wife is waiting for two new knees and any walk is difficult.

We are going to do the Grand Circle next month. I want to get to Delicate Arch, among other places. We will do Zion, Bryce, Escalante, Canyonlands, Arches and Monument Valley.

How much of these parks are out of range for my wife???

(Last year she sat on bench while I hiked down to bottom of trail ay Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone...But pleanty of people were around and I wasn't worried about her.)

All of the parks offer things to see from the car. A few years ago we visited Zion & Bryce while I was still recuperating from an accident. I enjoyed just being out of the house.

As for Zion, the shuttles are still going until the end of the month, so bear that in mind. Use of private cars in the main canyon is restricted. The drive up the main canyon is beautiful with many pull outs. As is the case with most areas, the best photo spots take a little walking, but there is still plenty to see from the road. A beautiful but seldom visited part of the park is along I-15 at mile marker 40. The Kolob Canyon area has a short five mile drive that is spectacular for those who are confined. Another drive starts at the town of Virgin and goes to Kolob Terrace area. This is another beautiful drive for those who have trouble getting around.

The Bryce Canyon road is on top of a plateau. The view points are all above with you looking down into the canyon. Most of these areas are wheel chair accessible, but to really experience Bryce you have to walk down into the canyon. If you have never been there, howeve, I would definitely make the trip. Sunrise makes the rock glow.

Most people go to the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands. Like Bryce, they stay on top of the Mesa and look at the vistas below. As glorius as they are, and believe me, they are! you really have to get a jeep and drive some of the many 4x4 roads to get the feel for the park. Still there are many areas that you are able to see from the parking lots (Mesa Arch is not, although it is a short walk). The Needles district is an hour or so south and is just as amazing as the more visited portion of the park. Newspaper Rock is next to the road and much of the beauty of the area can be seen from a car, but again, this is a hikers paradise. The Maze is for dedicated outdoor enthusiasts and is seldom visited. While at Canyonlands, don't miss Dead Horse Point, which is great for those in wheelchairs.

Arches is much the same, many great views from the car and parking lots, but most of the arches require a walk. Delicate and Landscape arch can't be seen unless you are able to hike, while the windows section and Balancing Rock are next to the road.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon has many areas that are wheelchair accessible, but it is closed as soon as the snow flies, which is about this time of year. You'll want to check before you go there.

Hope you and your wife enjoy the area as much as I do. Great time to visit the parks.

Thank you fallan

That's a big help. She can walk on level or slightly elevated walkways. We did almost everything last year at Yellowstone, including several of the longer walkway walks....like the Hot Springs area.

I was worried about leaving her in the car in a less traveled park.

Thanks

Arches will still definitely be worth it for you, there's plenty to see there, although as fallan2 alluded to, Delicate and Landscape arch would probably be too much for your wife to hike, and unfortunately I know of no place they can even be seen in the distance from a car (landscape arch you have to be almost right on top of before you see it). You might also want to watch Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade before you go - the opening scene was filmed in the massive double arch.

--
Please don't let these beautiful animals die - they need help now!
http://www.wildlife-sanctuary.org

Even if you can't donate, please help spread the word.

at a distance from a viewpoint opposite from where most hike to. If I remember right there is a viewpoint only a short distance from the parking area, which may be suitable for your wife, and a longer hike over the sandstone. This short hike is best in the morning as the arch is to the west, but it isn't as satisfying as the main hike to the arch.

There is still much to see from the viewing areas, just not many arches. Double Arch, the Windows and Turret arch all are and are beautiful in their own right. A coupl of other arches are along the road also, along with many formations that are just as photographic. A truly magical place.

Just got back from a week in RMNP, Arches, Monument Valley, et al, and here is a picture from the viewpoint you can drive to and your wife can easily get to, flat trail, might be accessible in a wheelchair. This road used to be 4WD only but now is paved. This pic was taken just after sundown so not much light, 10D, resized to 25% or original. Its a poor pic 1/25 sec at 200mm, just posted to give you an idea of the view.



This is the view from the 3.2 mile (round trip) strenuous hike up the side of the mountain. Taken with 1DMKIIn, 24-70L, Hoya thin circular polarizer.



The foot trail to landscape arch is not too bad, she might be able to make it. You can also drive right up to the Balancing Rock and the Windows / Double Arch. The 17 mile road in Monument Valley is mostly one way and terrible washboard all the way. With all the money the Navajoes make off the tourists they should do something about the road. The dust was so bad I could still smell it in the car 2 weeks later and even with the weather sealing on a brand new 1 series camera / L lens, it required a sensor cleaning after taking photos there.

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Regards,
John

My wife asked me to thank everyone for their helpful posts...She is looking forward to our trip. We leave Nov 4th

Thanks to everyone, great trip. My wife even went into Antelope Canyon.

Unfortunately, I will not be posting images. Last time I posted to pBase, several images ended up on other sites. I was able to get them removed, but will not go public again.