skypointer2000
The Eye of Earth
At the end of the rainbow, there is a pot of gold, but what lies at the end of the Milky Way arch?
The eye, where Mother Earth is gazing the stars!
Some people call this structure the “Escalante Volcano”, which it obviously isn’t. Others call it the “Cosmic Ashtray”, which is a horrible name for such a beautiful structure – at least for a no smoker.
I cannot say how it formed, but I am one of probably a very few who ever spent a whole night up there and for me it will always be the "Eye of Earth".
I cannot say though that it was a very pleasant night. It seemed that Mother Earth did not want me to discover the secret of her eye…
After hiking Coyote Gulch and a few other places in the morning and early afternoon, I set out to this remote place in late afternoon. I was planning to arrive well before sunset, but my 100 lbs. backpack and some deep sand along my trail slowed me down considerably. When I arrived at the foot of the sandstone mesa, on top of which the eye is located, I already was severely exhausted!
But the worst was still to come: I clambered up a steep cliff, only to discover halfway up that I was climbing the wrong peak. I was able to make my way along the contour of the mesa, but I was panting like crazy, unable to make more than 5 steps with the heavy load on my back, before I had to take a break and wait a few minutes for my heart to spool down. It took me well over an hour to climb up to the eye and I finally arrived just after sunset, completely destroyed, feeling sick and with severe cramps in both legs.
I therefore did not have enough strength or time to scout the place as I normally would, but, despite my fear of heights, I found a spot where I was able to set up my camera. At least the weather seemed to be fine and I was anticipating a rewarding night that made up for my ordeal.
Unfortunately, an extremely strong and chilly wind started blowing soon after nightfall. Nevertheless, I clung to the cliff and bravely operated my camera until 2 a.m., when I collapsed on the spot and, seeking shelter behind my backpack, slept for the rest of the night despite still cramping legs and freezing temperatures…
Thanks for all your faves and comments.
Prints available:
The Eye of Earth
At the end of the rainbow, there is a pot of gold, but what lies at the end of the Milky Way arch?
The eye, where Mother Earth is gazing the stars!
Some people call this structure the “Escalante Volcano”, which it obviously isn’t. Others call it the “Cosmic Ashtray”, which is a horrible name for such a beautiful structure – at least for a no smoker.
I cannot say how it formed, but I am one of probably a very few who ever spent a whole night up there and for me it will always be the "Eye of Earth".
I cannot say though that it was a very pleasant night. It seemed that Mother Earth did not want me to discover the secret of her eye…
After hiking Coyote Gulch and a few other places in the morning and early afternoon, I set out to this remote place in late afternoon. I was planning to arrive well before sunset, but my 100 lbs. backpack and some deep sand along my trail slowed me down considerably. When I arrived at the foot of the sandstone mesa, on top of which the eye is located, I already was severely exhausted!
But the worst was still to come: I clambered up a steep cliff, only to discover halfway up that I was climbing the wrong peak. I was able to make my way along the contour of the mesa, but I was panting like crazy, unable to make more than 5 steps with the heavy load on my back, before I had to take a break and wait a few minutes for my heart to spool down. It took me well over an hour to climb up to the eye and I finally arrived just after sunset, completely destroyed, feeling sick and with severe cramps in both legs.
I therefore did not have enough strength or time to scout the place as I normally would, but, despite my fear of heights, I found a spot where I was able to set up my camera. At least the weather seemed to be fine and I was anticipating a rewarding night that made up for my ordeal.
Unfortunately, an extremely strong and chilly wind started blowing soon after nightfall. Nevertheless, I clung to the cliff and bravely operated my camera until 2 a.m., when I collapsed on the spot and, seeking shelter behind my backpack, slept for the rest of the night despite still cramping legs and freezing temperatures…
Thanks for all your faves and comments.
Prints available: