This morning I read about an award winning photographer who was caught altering photos. Since he won fame and fortune stealing lynx pictures and adding them to his scenes, I may need to award a prize to anyone who spots a lynx added to one of my scenes. This could be great fun and maybe it will even give people a reason to come back to my gallery.
http://photographersdirect.blogspot.com/2011/09/terje-helless-fraudulent-photos.html

Rain and or snow was in the forecast. I may have considered something easy like the Pa'Rus trail, but the color in that area isn't ready yet. I decided to go to the east side and try to fit in a few quick hikes. My first stop was at Petroglyph Canyon. I kept telling myself that I should turn around and try to get something else done. I knew that I would absolutely have to return on a day when the skies weren't so gray. This looks like it could offer some outstanding photos. But I noticed that I kept continuing. I ended up in a slot Canyon where I spotted an erosion feature that I figured would be my picture of the day. I also was treated to the song of a canyon wren. Bliss.

The inclement weather still hadn't arrived by this point so I decided that I could fit in a hike up Tunnel Canyon. I did this quickly because I didn't want to have to descend the slickrock when it was wet. I have to say that I was completely underwhelmed. I'll file that hike under I did that and never return.

I continued exploring Clear Creek. Since the snow level was supposed to be at least this high, I figured that the flash flood danger was low. Still, it's not a good idea to be in a place like that when precipitation is in the forecast. I felt that this wasn't dangerous since Route 9 runs more or less alongside the creek bed. Granted there are places with tall walls where you can't climb out. I just kept an eye on egress points when I reached those places.

It was lightly snowing when I decided to return to my car and drive it to a pullout up the road. That way if the snow increased I wouldn't be too far from my car. I have to say that turned out to be a pretty good idea. The snow really picked up so I beat feet to a spot I was familiar with, climbed up to the road, and walked back to my car along the shoulder.

All in all, it was a pretty good day even though I didn't have a multitude of photographic opportunities. I hiked six or seven miles (pretty good after yesterday's knee problems) and some of that was slickrock scrambling or hiking on river rocks. I had to cut the day short, but at least that meant I had plenty of time to return to the motel and do laundry.

I have a couple of interesting eroded rock photos that I'll share later. For now I've decided to keep things simple. I wouldn't want to make it too hard to spot the lynx.