Utah

I've started this particular post several times now. The original intent was to poke fun at the state - it's a large, slow-moving target particularly in terms of its predominant religion and its often downright scary conservative politics. But that's too easy. Besides, the South Park guys have already done a masterful job of that with The Book of Mormon.

Every state (at least 48 that I know) has its own personality - so much so that sometimes you can tell when you've crossed into a new state just by looking at the terrain. You don't always need a map. This is pretty much true for Utah just about anywhere you enter the state. In terms of raw, rugged, inhospitable beauty, it's very hard to outdo Utah. So I figure Utah deserves photos - it's a visual feast.

This shot of Devil's Slide is my favorite. It's not far from Ogden, and it's a bizarre limestone protrusion that's about 25 feet wide and runs up the side of a mountain for several hundred feet - almost straight up and down. It certainly looks like it would be a trip you'd only make once.

The photo immediately below is Ghost Rock, near Moab. The rest of the photos were taken either at roadside rest areas, or hanging out of the side of the truck - I'll let them speak for themselves...

By the way, just in case you've made it this far, I highly recommend a trip to Utah. No photography is going to do the state justice. You have to see it for yourself. That's just the way it is...