ADAM HAYDOCK

GREEN RIVER CANYONLANDS, ISLAND IN THE SKY

February 23, 2016

The beautiful island in the Sky in Canyonlands National Park is one of my all time favorite places to watch the sunset, the stars at night, and the sunrise over the vast vista canyonland plain, it just doesn't get much better than this.

Green River, Island in the Sky-canyonlands, Moab Utah

I camped at the willow site near the green river to get a few photos of this beautiful surreal overlook and what I view I had in the morning and at night.

Green River, Island in the Sky-canyonlands, Moab Utah

It got down to the 20s at night but it quickly warmed up with the suns radiant heat when it peaked over the horizon in the morning so the temperature was not bad overall.

Green River, Island in the Sky-canyonlands, Moab Utah

The Green river meandered through the basin and has created its own set of canyons which reflected the lighter colors in the backdrop of the darker colors as the sunset creating a pastel array of design and dimension. It seriously looks like a painting just being here looking out into the basin.

Green River, Island in the Sky-canyonlands, Moab Utah

Further out are some canyon pulls and river rafting that I have heard to be quite awesome and remote if you have time to find yourself in solitude, drifting down the green river.

Green River, Island in the Sky-canyonlands, Moab Utah

Other photographers showed up, as expected, to take a crack at the sun setting over the range in the foreground.

Green River, Island in the Sky-canyonlands, Moab Utah

The night time was interesting in itself as the milky way galaxy could be seen and I worked on a college of night photos to render the photograph at the bottom of the page.

Green River, Island in the Sky-canyonlands, Moab Utah

I don't think I can ever get sick of coming to the Island in the Sky and I look forward to coming back more in the near future.

Green River, Island in the Sky-canyonlands, Moab Utah

cell phone reception sucks and I was not able to reach out to anyone but the visitor center appeared to have service yet text messages and phone calls were not coming through.

Green River, Island in the Sky-canyonlands, Moab Utah

Next stop will have to be the grand overview and an afternoon shot of mesa arch, yea I know so many people go there to photo the window but it is good practice.

Green River, Island in the Sky-canyonlands, Moab Utah

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ENTRAJO CANYON

February 22, 2016

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CAMELTOE CANYON

February 22, 2016

Cameltoe Canyon. Moab, Utah

After U-Turn canyon I headed over to Wall Street and drove up to the corona arch trailhead to visit Cameltoe canyon. I did not have much beta on this route other than a few way points on a GPS and some previous understanding that there are just a few drops and some hiking involved.

Cameltoe Canyon. Moab, Utah

I hiked past the petroglyphs but unfortunately they have been destroyed by graffiti which was really unfortunate to see. The large rock just past the train track is on BLM land but it appears that it did not help hide this ancient Indian artifact.

Cameltoe Canyon. Moab, Utah

Continuing on past this rock art was a large canyon that had some nice tarnished walls in the distance but the canyon below had some distance to cover as I meandered around the bend and ended up getting a bit disoriented and my vague waypoint took me to sections of canyon that required me to climb over ridges a few times and I ended up wasting time crawling around the desert for a bit until I found the entry point into camel toe canyon. The canyon itself appeared to be a bit un interesting in my opinion and the walls were not what I thought it would be.

Cameltoe Canyon. Moab, Utah

Eventually, I made it to the cameltoe which consists of a 15-20ft slot canyon in length to a pool of water that goes to a 50-60 foot waterfall. This was the only mildy interesting section of the canyon. There was another dry fall that can be a walk around or the choice to rap can also happen.

Cameltoe Canyon. Moab, Utah

Every canyon has it own interesting aspects but I did not connect with this one and the most interesting thing about this canyon IMO, is its name. I can see how this canyon will be interesting to people that will like to go for a hike in the desert and rap down a trickling fall or have not been in a canyon before.

Cameltoe Canyon. Moab, Utah

I would give this canyon a 3AII with mild effort and low reward but others might find this hike in the desert the preferred canyon.

Cameltoe Canyon. Moab, Utah

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U-TURN CANYON

February 22, 2016

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TOOTHBRUSH CAVE

January 31, 2016

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BOOMERANG CAVE

January 23, 2016

Adam Haydock in Boomerang Cave, Utah

Utah has some amazing mountain ranges that are famous for climbing, hiking, and general outdoor enjoyment but in some sections of Utah, there are mountains that are made up of some excellent limestone layers that allow some of the deepest caves in the United States to form and some of these caves rival my beautiful TAG region.

over three feet of snow at the top of the cave in Boomerang Cave, Utah

The cave systems here appear to be pretty interesting and I am looking forward to checking out more of them in them in the near future.

Adam Haydock looking up in Boomerang Cave, Utah

I met up with Peter Hartley at his place around 7 AM so we can get an early start on the 4 foot sugar powder hike and so we can make the 2 hour drive to Logan Utah in good time.

Peter Hartley at the top of the last drop in Boomerang Cave, Utah

The car ride was fantastic as we got to chat about future projects and other caving activities that have been happening. It was quite the charm to consider all of the cave opportunities and find out where the best coffee shop is in Logan, that going to come in handy!

calcified bones in Boomerang Cave, Utah

We started up the road that will take us to the cave and along the way Peter notated the strata layers and all of the limestone in the area that has created these cave systems. It appears that the quartzite layer is a contact zone where caves develop above and below which can lead to Mississippian, Devonian, and other strata layers.

Peter Hartley ascending from the last drop in Boomerang Cave, Utah

After stopping at a few spring resurgences, we made it to the parking lot where we have to hike up to the cave. It was in the single digits, the snow was crunchy and the air was the kind of dry crisp that almost makes you cough.

Peter Hartley climbing the second climb in Boomerang Cave, Utah

Now being a caver in the Midwest and central America, I have had my fair share of cold days caving but I never had to bring a avalanche beacon, shovel, poles, and snowshoes...welcome to winter alpine caving in Utah.

Peter Hartley in Boomerang Cave, Utah

The "trail" up to the cave consisted of a random backcountry skiers ski tracks which was actually a help as it packed down some of the snow but it was still a march up the wash in 3 to 4 feet of fresh powder. Snowshoes were a must but they even would drop into and under tree branches that would get us stuck right in our tracks. The cave itself was not that far from the road but the hike in the snow made it bit of a huffer.

Snow falling from the lip in Boomerang Cave, Utah

half way up the trail I realized we were walking on top of some of the smaller trees that would otherwise be eye height in the summer time. One foot after another, we work our way to the entrance of the cave...woohoo!! made it.

Peter Hartley climbing out of Boomerang Cave, Utah

The cave has a 150ft entrance pit with a snow cone at the bottom which is basically snow that fell in and is kept refrigerated for most of the year. Than there is a 30ft climb, another 80ft., drop another 30ft climb, and another 100ft drop to the bottom of the cave. We dropped into the cave and it was around 40 degrees but dry at the bottom. It was just a couple hour trip in the cave but a nice introduction to Utah caving. As I was climbing up, my locking device on my ascender broker so I had to ride my QAS above just to make sure I had point of contact.

Boomerang Cave, Utah

FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/exploration-worldwide/albums/72157663639167102

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ALAKAI SWAMP TRAIL CLOUD FOREST

January 08, 2016

Alakai Swamp trail, Kauai Hawaii

After connecting to the Alakai Swamp trail from the Pihea trail I went into the swampland to catch a glimpse of the plants that this 4500ft bog had.

Drosera anglica sundew or miki nalo Alakai Swamp trail, Kauai Hawaii

The trail looked pretty similar to the Pihea trail with its green arboretum aesthetic, until it broke out into a swampy marsh with some very interesting plant life growing amongst the grassy patches surrounded by water. The tips of the grass appeared to be black and if you look at the ground, you can find the rare drosera anglica bug eater plant!

Alakai Swamp trail, Kauai Hawaii

The Alakai Swamp ,one of the wettest places on earth is home to some rare plants that few places on the planet and accommodate!

Alakai Swamp trail, Kauai Hawaii

Along the trail, there is a boardwalk in place to walk across to keep the bog somewhat pristine and to keep people out of the water which helped me slow down the blister cycle bit on this 14 mile day. Every plant that I saw at this elevation had some kind of alteration to it as the winds and water level can turn some, un-willing to change plants, into mush.

Alakai Swamp trail, Kauai Hawaii

The orange Ohia Lehua and Hapuu Ferns appeared to have a different texture to them and the Pine trees appeared to have similar qualities with their leaves and pines being a little more slick and tubular in nature so the water can slide off the leaves and down into the roots.

Alakai Swamp trail, Kauai Hawaii

The Lobelia is another rare plant that was really interesting to see as it looked like a miniature palm tree of sorts and the stunted Ohia Trees lie in patches around the bog.

red blossom Alakai Swamp trail, Kauai Hawaii

I continued down the planked swampland for another mile and the terrain changed back into the cloud forest flora that I have been getting accustomed with on Kuaui. The time it takes to get the connection trails has doubled due to the plants that I kept on recognizing on my way back.

Alakai Swamp trail, Kauai Hawaii

I had lunch back at the bog and that is when I started noticing the Drosera plants in between the grass patches. The Drosera Angelica is a carnivorous planet that emits a sugary smell to attract bugs that get stuck on the plant. The plant folds around its victim and starts to digest its prey with enzymes that plant produces.

Alakai Swamp trail, Kauai Hawaii

This was a fascinating place in itself due to the nature of the environment and knowing how the island was formed as it grew out of the ocean, made this Alakai Swamp that much more interesting.

Drosera anglica or miki nalo Alakai Swamp trail, Kauai Hawaii

Apparently there was a caldera of sorts at one time in the Alakai swamp that filled in causing water to collect at the top which is continuously overflowing where Mt. Waialeale and other 1000ft plus cascades exist.

Alakai Swamp, Kauai Hawaii

The trade winds bring abundant moisture to this region of the pacific and with the moisture that has already collected at the top of the plateau, this forest becomes a home to some of the most delicate plants on the planet due to the abundant access to water and lack of sunlight.

Alakai Swamp, Kauai Hawaii

The amazing structure and design of this island has created a perfect storm of beauty and a sanctuary where rare plants, birds, and life can thrive with the thick moisture in the air at the elevation that the volcanos have created over 5 million years ago.

Alakai Swamp, Kauai Hawaii

So much to visit and see in Kauai, even watching other people negotiate around the inevitable muddy shoes is interesting to see!

Alakai Swamp, Kauai Hawaii

I highly recommend visiting this trail system if you have a day to use and want to see some rare plants in a lord of the rings Sci-fi like environment. You will not be able to find plants like this anywhere else on the island. Tomorrow I am off to the Waialeale Blue Hole and I cant wait to get down there and see it after seeing the top!!

Alakai Swamp, Kauai Hawaii

FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/exploration-worldwide/albums/72157662552917979

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PURCHASE NFTS HERE:

As a photographer, I always loved having the viewer experience the place I see through the looking glass. This kind of experience that speaks to our curiosity and to our sense of adventure. It is a way to experience a place that most will never see yet has been around for millions of years. It is a way to imagine yourself being in this exotic place and to ponder what else is out there. Photographers and collectors have to deal with authenticity, pirating, and copyright boundaries, I believe that this technology will allow us to own a piece of this property with a footprint of authenticity and exclusivity. Purchase one of these pieces of property and you can be apart of documenting history and experiencing this exotic place unlike in anyway photography has been allowed to share previously.

Welcome to my personal writings:

This a place where past writings and experiences live for the purpose to read and reflect back into the past with great people that I have been able to share these experiences with. Although this can be a place to view and transcend past experiences, this platform is only for personal reflective writing and not for official information to be used for official scientific analysis or to plan a trip of any kind whatsoever. Indeed, there is information within this diary of writings that contain information about caves, canyons, mountains, hikes, and the most exotic of places on the planet that can not be found anywhere else. This access to exclusive information inspires curiosity, creativity, and progression within the world exploration. I wish I had this inspiration back when I was eager to go caving so these writings allow a glimpse into my experiences, including these one of a kind places including caves. It must be known that the writings continue to protect the location of places like caves but if you are able to gain access to the location and have the means of entering caves to practice responsible caving, you may find these writings interesting to read. Do these personal writings self credit myself or provide entitlements to a status, beats me...besides I do not this perspective type of influence to be within any realm of possibility. We should all know we are enough and know we are amazing people without such entitlements. In me, this place is a modern day diary and photo album and I want you to enjoy the world as we saw it. To those that have shared these written experiences with me, welcome back to our rhetorical time travel into pastime and I am so grateful we all had a chance to share a piece of life amongst us.