Camping in Utah, Spring Winds

Spring weather in Utah

Normally, this is the kind of imagery I like to make while camping at Valley of the Gods

On a recent Photo Workshop, I taught the technique of sun stars in Valley of the Gods

I have been traveling out to Utah for the past 20 years.  And I consistently enjoy the weather, year round.  Spring is a special time in the desert.  It's the beginning of wildflower season, and I often teach Wilds and Anasazi Ruin Photography.  This past weekend was the exception.  I didn't dare take my DSLR camera gear out of the car.  The spring weekend started with a glorious evening of hiking, a night of star gazing, followed by a morning of art making at camp.  And then it began...

Our first evening at camp including a walk along Lime Creek.  Here's Moochie enjoying the water in the Canyon.

A friend hiking in Lime Creek

My nephew was visiting from New York and we made some art together at camp.

As I looked south into the Navajo Reservation lands, I could see the approaching wind.  We hurried to "batten down the hatches" before it hit.  The gust were epic.  The sustained winds were at least 40mph and we were able to gather most of the camp and run into our rigs for the afternoon and evening.

Looking north from inside my camper

We called it "Camp Blownapart"

The sand blew for hours and the sky turned a red-rock color.  I dared not take out my DSLR.

After sunset we "ran" for the cover of my car and headed to town for dinner (no one wanted to cook).   As we drove out of Valley of the Gods, we stopped to check on a Popup camper that was flipped over.  This served to show me that I was lucky that my 3500 lb camper was strong enough and heavy enough, and that my friends 6500 lb Eurovan was too.

The town of Bluff was in a "black out" as the storm had blown over a handful of power poles which affected all the towns from Moab to Mexican Hat.  Lucky for us the Cottonwood Steak house was serving as they had propane barbecue and gas candles for the tables.