My recent one-man-exhibition 'Passages' includes images from slot canyons and The Wave.  Clefts cut through a reef-like barrier called the Cocks Comb on the western side of the Paria/Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness in extreme south-central Utah mark the entrances of Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch.  Wire Pass is a very narrow slot canyon, less than shoulder wide in places also serves as the starting point for hiking to The Wave.

Indirect and glowing light are one of the distinguish special qualities of slot canyons.  Sky-glow illuminates the canyons walls which glow according to light intensity and the color of the rock.  Some days tones may range from gold to nearly scarlet and even to purple and warm lavender.  Deep shadows dominate the lower reaches of these canyons like Wire Pass where color blends with darkness and the undulating canyons walls in fanciful designs.

The Wave stands off to the south less than 3 miles distant.  This uniquely banded, eroded sandstone feature captures the imagination of all who visit.  Entering the tiny sculpted slick-rock vale within The Wave often overwhelms perception and disorients with surreal beauty.

Access requires a day-hiking permit from the BLM (Bureau of Land Management).  Only 10 in-person permits are allowed each day.  This limit keeps crowds from overwhelming this most wonderful slick-rock feature.  Contact the BLM in Kanab, Utah for details: ADDRESS: 318 North First East, Kanab, Utah 84741
PHONE: (435) 644-4600

Utah