Lomography

The Wave in Vermilion Wilderness, Arizona
written by day3hugger on June 27th, 2009 , 8 comments (7 votes)

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Between Page, Arizona and Kanab, Utah is the Vermilion Wilderness. This area is also called “The Arizona Strip” but you don’t really know if you are in Utah or Arizona. Actually, it is really easy to get confused with time differences because each state has a different time zone. This Wilderness is divided into two areas: Coyote Buttes South and Coyote Buttes North, which is were The Wave is.

This is a psychedelic contortion of sandstone rock that lies on the slopes of the Coyote Buttes. This geological formation has more than 200 million years of history and it was created by the workings of air, water and time. These formations were initially sand dunes that turned into rock. The rock literally appears to be flowing like water, maybe this is were the name comes from. Because the formations are so delicate, there is restricted access, so there is no overnight camping and visitors should leave no trace. Visitors need to apply for a permit up to six months in advance to snag one of the 10 daily reserved spots. There is also a lottery for an additional 10 spots per day at the BLM ranger station about 20 miles west of the small town of Page.

The hike from the trail head to The Wave is 6 miles round trip. Although there is no trail to follow, the people at the ranger station give you a very detailed map with pictures and coordinates. The hike is a complete adventure. There is so much to see around and explore that you barely feel you are hiking. The colors are fascinating; the contrast of the orange rocks with the blue sky is one of the most beautiful things I have seen. In my humble opinion, I believe this place should be considered as one of the wonders of the world. It is definitively one of the most spectacular places I have been in my entire life and I feel really lucky and grateful for seeing it up close and personal.