Stansbury Mountain Range view – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 800, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 18mm, natural light
I like to share some of the views I see while I am out wandering to look for birds because the scenery and different habitats I see at times are simply spectacular. Yesterday I was wandering in the Stansbury Mountains of the West Desert. The Stansbury Mountain Range is 28 miles long and trend north-south and it is one of the sky island mountain ranges of the West Desert of Utah. Deseret Peak is the highest peak in the range at 11,035 feet, a section of that peak is shown in this photo along with the road, blue skies, conifers, deciduous trees and various shrubs.
Canyon walls up close – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 800, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 20mm, natural light
In some places the canyon walls are very close to the edge of the road that goes up into the canyons of the mountain range. I’m sure the geology of this area is as fascinating as the history. If I would have had more time I would have walked around and touched the rocks. Feeling them with my fingers for me is touching the past, present and future.
Up high in the Stansbury Mountains – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 800, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 18mm, natural light
I loved seeing the grand views yesterday, seeing the mountain tops, the creeks, trees, rocks, grasses and the bright blue skies. It was an exploratory trip and I believe I’ve found some places where there should be plenty of birds during the spring but yesterday morning the birds were few, far between and skittish…
Immature Cooper’s Hawk in bright morning light – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
Except for one immature Cooper’s Hawk that was perched in the morning sunlight on the bleached out branches of an ancient snag in a canyon. I wish I could have gotten a view without the branch over the young accipiter’s head and the bright twig near its tail but it wasn’t possible. Still, I was happy to see this hawk warming up in the sun.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my West Desert photos plus facts and information about the area.
Beautiful area, I have not been out there in years, how is the road? I need to do more exploring again.
I “get ” what you mean by rubbing your hand over the rock, feeling the history of it. Quite the journey through that narrow canyon. The cooper’s Hawk is lovely , enough of it that I wasn’t bothered by the branch.
Thank you, Mia…I live these images. Inwas born in the East, grew up in the East and felt at home in the West…don’t know why…unless it was big, open spaces, views and skies, and tall mountains….
Mia, the bleached out branch with the Cooper’s hawk is a testament to nature, unretouched, the very best way to experience life. Beautiful!!
Thanks for the wonderful post. I’m not far from this spectacular scenery which tells me I need to get out more.
“The Stansbury Mountains sit two ranges west of the Wasatch Front. With the Oquirrh Mountains blocking the view of the Stansburys, they are out of sight out of mind to much of Utah. But, they are one of the few ranges in the Great Basin Area of Utah with a good system of hiking trails.” summitpost.org
Utahbooklover, there is a trail that runs the entire length and lots of spurs from those trails.
Definitely spectacular.
And yes, touching those rocks would be very grounding.
Stunning views, Mia. There is something comforting about touching a rock that is millions of years old!
In my opinion, excellent composition and a great image of the Cooper’s. Absolutely beautiful! If we weren’t so attached to the coast and ocean, I think we would have moved West.
Gorgeous scenery.
Thank you for providing us the scenery where you take your beautiful photos.
Much apreciated.
Spectacular