2005 05 10 St George to Kanab
Today really started in Las Vegas, but the drive from Las Vegas to St. George is all on I15, and is for the most part not very interesting. The drive up through the Virgin River Canyon is interesting, but since it's all interstate you can't really do much but try and look as you fly through.
The drive from St. George to Kanab, UT is much more interesting. You can drive east from St. George on Utah 9, to Hurricane, UT ("herkin" not "her-i-cane") and then on UT 59 south towards the Arizona border. Alternately you can continue on 9 into Springdale, which is the nearest town to the main entrance to Zion NP. I didn't do this, since the road through is quite winding and mountainous, and I wanted to "get there". At the Arizona state line you pass through the twin small towns of Colorado City AZ, and Hildale UT, which feature in Under the Banner of Heaven : A Story of Violent Faith. Once you read that book it isn't possible to look at these two sleepy little towns the same way. I have driven through many times before and not thought much of them.
Kanab is an interesting little town, but rather touristy since there are so many national parks around. I have stayed at the Parry Lodge in the past, but this time I found out that the Best Western has high speed internet access. The Parry Lodge is an interesting place, with a lot of history tied to the movie industry in and around Kanab. I'll go back when the internet connections are up to date!
I want to be in the area to go to the Coral Pink Dunes state park, and to shoot again along the Vermilion Cliffs. If the weather and light permit I want to drive out to Toroweap on the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
About all I did was drive today, no film, but there were some cool thunderstorms off to the south on the way to Kanab.
 |
 |
The road to Toroweap (second snap) is a long one, about 60 miles or dirt and gravel, but it is worth it. I hope the light and weather make it worthwhile.