Winter Gateway 2020

Page is on Manson Mesa, though it reaches beyond the
mesa to Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, the Colorado River
and the Navajo Nation.
Last November, at the Balloon Regatta, I had the chance
to see Page and the surrounding area from a hot-air balloon.
The image on page 10 shows a bird’s eye view of many of the
locations in the following pages. A map of Rimview Trail is
also included.
In this photo story, I’ll share locations, tips and camera
settings. I shoot with Nikon DSLRs and variety of lenses, but
much of the information applies to any camera, including
smartphones.
The Chains
Settings: Aperture Priority, 1/320 seconds, f/11,
ISO 320 at 35mm. I always use a tripod because
I use graduated filters, but it’s not needed if the
light is good; or with cameras and lenses with
good vibration reduction.
FOR THIS PHOTO, I USED A NIKON D600 CAMERA WITH A NIKON NIKKOR 17-35 F2.8 LENS WITH
A 3-STOP GRADUATED NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTER.
The Hanging Gardens near Page are
interesting to look at, but the best photo
opportunities are at the Chains at the end
of the road. This isn’t on most maps, but it’s easy
to find. There’s a large parking lot at the end of the
graded road. From there you can walk down the
hill to Lake Powell or explore the rock formations
to the east or south.
This is an easy daytime trip, and usually great
for water reflections on the Colorado River. The
water was clean and clear every time I’ve gone. To
the west, there’s a good view of the Glen Canyon
Dam. Walk a short distance to the east, Wahweap
Marina, Navajo Mountain (Naatsis’áán in the Navajo
language) and Tower Butte come into view.
I recommend treaded hiking boots, though I’ve
seen many take the hike in sandals and in running
shoes. My personal favorites are Timberlands for
traction and comfort. In some areas, the loose
sandstone is fragile and slippery. There are trails,
but they’re difficult to see and not necessary. It’s
easy to look ahead and make your own path.
Landmarks are always visible, so it’s easy to find
the parking lot on the return hike. There’s a lot to
explore, and you might decide to stay longer once
you see views. I always bring a bottle of water.
The sandstone formation in the above photo is
below the parking lot at the end of the road. It’s
easy to spot. I walked down the hill, then tried a
few vantage points. I settled on this one because of
the sharp contrasts. Luck brought a storm to the
north. This added some depth to the composition.
Luck also brought two speedboats crossing paths.
They added splashes of light to the darker waters.
It works as a counterbalance to the sunbathed
water on the other side of the rock formation.
GATEWAY TO CANYON COUNTRY 11