The WAVE, Kanab, UT

October 28
The Wave is a gorgeous red sandstone formation along the Utah/Arizona border in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. This is a picture of a postcard which Diana and I thought might be all we would get to see of it.

Due to the overwhelming popularity of this breathtaking site, the Bureau of Land Management limits foot traffic to 20 people/day, thus preserving the integrity and beauty of the Wave. So you have to win the lottery to get a permit to hike there. Ten permits are awarded to winners of an online lottery. Diana applied for that last June for a permit in October and lost. The other ten permits are awarded during an in-person daily lottery at the BLM office in Kanab, Utah. We were in Kanab for a few days, so planned to apply for the lottery each morning. We won on the second day! Here is the Ranger drawing our lucky number.

Preparing our permits. More than 50,000 people apply each year, meaning about 7300 people a year receive a permit with a 14% success rate. There were 49 in-person applicants the morning we won. Some of those applicants represented groups of up to 6, so the 10 permits could be used up with just 2 draws. 

We were surely blessed. The permit is for the following day.

So we arrived at the trailhead at the crack of dawn after a 50 mile drive, 8 miles on a gravel road in the dark. Only one other couple arrived the same time.

You hike at least 3 miles through wilderness...there is no trail. We were given a map with photos of some landmarks to look for. 

 You look for landmarks like the saddle you see here.

This jackrabbit though he was hiding.

There are very few trail markers.

A desert rose?

Diana photographing the bloom.

The other couple passed us on the trail.

Sometimes other hikers have left trail hints: this rock arrow,

and this rock cairn.

Twin buttes, another landmark.

We did lose sight of a landmark and got off track once.

But we saw some pretty cool stuff while finding our way back.

We were heading toward the vertical crevice in the gray mesa in the distance.

The Wave is directly below that crevice. You have to climb that sand dune at the bottom and scramble up some rock to get to it.

But we weren't there yet.

So just enjoy the sights on the way, like this hanging cactus.

And this pack rat's nest.

Some cool formations can be seen ahead.

Tiny asters are blooming.

Almost ready to climb the sand dune.

Things are beginning to look a little wave-like.

Yes, we have to climb up there.

After which we declared a rest stop.

The view from the rest stop was nice.

Our first view of the Wave!

Oh wow!! So much more than I was expecting.

Looking back the way we came.

Colors are amazing.

We were speechless.

The Jurassic Navajo Sandstone Formation is the foundation of the Coyote Buttes which includes the Wave.

200 million years ago this region was a sandy desert where huge dunes migrated across the landscaped pushed by seasonal winds.

Prevailing winds can be determined by examining the crossbedding (layers) in the sandstone.

What we see today are some of the original crossbreed dunes exposed by erosion of eons of runoff.

Puddles become reflecting pools.

The spectacular ribbons of various colors are called "Liesegang bands," and were formed by movement of oxidizing minerals such as iron and manganese by groundwater.

Thin veins of calcite cut across the sandstone, adding another dimension.

All we know is that it is beautiful beyond words.

Teddy Roosevelt saw it in 1903 and said, "Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it."

And this was only the first small area that we saw.

We haven't even gotten to the iconic postcard view yet.

Lets go around the tower.

Looking down below the Wave area, is another interesting view.

Continuing into the Wave.

Diana looking back. We came through the opening to the right of the tower.

A U-shaped slot.

Interesting stain patterns.

I wonder what caused this rock art?

That's me in the slot.

My hiking stick has a rubber tip to protect the rock.

More mystical patterns.

We are now on the other side of the reflecting pool looking back to the area where we began.

We are approaching the area of the postcard view.

There!

We caught up with the other couple here and took turns taking pictures for each other.

Looking up above the Wave...much more area to explore that I didn't know about.

Diana in the Wave.

Both of us together.

And me in the Wave!

Ok, let's see what else is here! Do you see the arch up there? Some people climb up there, but we didn't go that far.

Above the wave.

Other hikers are arriving. We were lucky to have all that time to ourselves.

Diana is sitting beside a Ranger who was checking permits. He was also leading a hike above the Wave. We tagged along with him awhile.

Notice all the different directions the patterns take.

Do you see the jackrabbit?

He saw us!

Don't worry, rabbit. You don't need a permit.

View from the top of the Wave looking back the way we came.

Coyote Buttes

Rains create little oases in the depressions.

Which make nice reflections.

We are in a large area above the Wave.

Sun peeking over the mountain reflected in the pool.

The lady is looking down on the Wave.

The arch.

More reflecting pools.

The Wave below.

The Ranger called this the "brain." You can even see both hemispheres.

It just went on and on.

And the Ranger led us to a second wave!

Looking down from the second wave.

Second wave.

The guide led his group up from here to the arch. We turned around.

Diana photographing the second wave.

There is more to see down below in the wash, including dinosaur tracks, but we couldn't do it all in one day.

We didn't really want to leave.

The hikers are high above.

We are heading back.

Can you tell I loved the reflections?

This little boy hiked up here with his mother.

Back through the Wave.

He's Waving at us.

Believe it or not, but dogs are allowed out here. This is the only one I saw. I wouldn't bring Thistle on that long hike or to this special place.

Finding our way back.

A rare trail marker.

Nice views on the road out. It was dark when we came in.