Archive: Sightings in the Desert


In the spring of 1999 my friend Roger from Fort Collins, Colorado, came to Moab for a visit.  Roger and I had been friends for several years and had done some amazing hiking together, including a backpacking expedition into the remote backcountry of Canyonlands National Park.  On this particular trip we planned to do a hike into Little Wild Horse Canyon, a slot canyon located in the San Rafael Swell not too far from Goblin Valley State Park.

Rhonda and I had enjoyed rock hounding for years in the San Rafael Swell, so when I mentioned that Roger was coming out for a visit to hike in Little Wild Horse Canyon, she suggested coming along and being dropped off in the Swell for a few hours of rock hounding.   The hike would only take a couple of hours, and Little Wild Horse Canyon was about a 30 minute drive from one of our favorite rock hounding locations.

The area where we dropped Rhonda off for a "few hours".
With our exciting day completely planned, Rhonda, Roger and I headed out on a beautiful spring morning.  It was great to see Roger again, and we all had stayed up quite late the night before catching up on everything that had happened since Rhonda and I moved away from Fort Collins over a year ago.  After dropping Rhonda off at her favorite rock hounding spot, Roger and I headed south toward Little Wild Horse Canyon while we continued to catch up on old times.

We turned off the main highway and bounced down the rough road heading toward Little Wild Horse Canyon.  After about 10 minutes we were surprised to see a flatbed truck parked along the side of the road with something unusual in its bed.  I slowed down to take a look at the strange cargo which, much to our astonishment, resembled a spaceship!   Now, it is interesting to note that I have an aerospace engineering degree.  I fully understand the technology that took us to the moon and I have witnessed a Space Shuttle launch from closer than most other people on the planet.  I live by the scientific method, and I have a logical explanation for just about every unusual experience that I have ever encountered.  Yet here before me, in the middle of the desert, was an object that appeared to be some sort of bizarre flying machine.  Yes, it looked like some sort of spaceship, sleek and futuristic looking, yet it also looked completely implausible – small and rather cheesy looking.  I wasn’t exactly sure what to make of it, but I knew one thing – I had 2 hours to get my friend Roger into the narrows of Little Wild Horse so that he could experience the intense beauty of one of the premier hiking spots in southern Utah.  We reluctantly moved on.

Roger and I continued down the long bumpy road to Little Wild Horse Canyon.  In 1999 the road was quite rough, we drove through deep sand and over rocky patches as we made our way to the trailhead.  After parking and getting our hiking gear together, Roger and I headed down the wash that led to the mouth of Little Wild Horse Canyon.

Click on the map for look at the
2 possible hiking routes
There are a couple of ways to hike Little Wild Horse Canyon.  The quickest way is to simply down a long wash from the trailhead and enter the mouth of little Wild Horse Canyon.  After another half mile we would reach the narrows.  For the next couple of miles we would experience the beauty of sculpted canyon walls, with new and breathtaking views around every turn.  After completing the narrows we could turn around and return to the trailhead, a hike of about 4.5 miles that takes no more than 2 hours.

The other way to hike Little Wild Horse is to travel the entire length of the canyon, exit the back of the reef, and return via an adjacent canyon named Bell Canyon.  Viewed from above, this entire hike takes the shape of a triangle so it makes a great loop hike.  It is a beautiful hike, but about 9 miles in total length.  Due to some rough sections it normally takes at least 5-6 hours to complete.  Due to our limited amount of time, Roger and I decided to take the shorter route.   Two hours was the amount of time that we had promised Rhonda and I was determined to adhere to it.

Roger and I share a great love of the outdoors, so being able to share a hike into such a beautiful canyon with him was a total blast.  Since we were still catching up, we continued to talk incessantly, spending more time listening to each other than to the terrain through which we were hiking.

After about an hour it occurred to me it was taking much longer to reach the narrows than expected. We should have been in the narrows 30 minutes ago.  I looked around and noticed that the canyon was widening instead of narrowing.  It finally occurred to me that we had made a mistake and accidentally hiked into Bell Canyon instead of Little Wild Horse.  Our options were limited, we could either turn around and hike back for about a half hour, or continue on and do the loop hike of nine miles.   Being the guys that we were, we decided to hike forward at a greatly accelerated pace.

Roger makes record time in Bell Canyon.

Roger in Little Wild Horse Canyon.

Flooded sections slow us down.

Rugged terrain slows us down.
We literally flew through Bell Canyon.  It was a breeze to hike quickly though this wide open canyon.  In no time at all we reached the end of it and headed north.  Within a half hour we reached Little Wild Horse and headed into it.  Because of some recent rain we soon encountered some deep pools, many of them knee deep.  Little Wild Horse also has some steep sections that require careful rock scrambling to navigate.  Although we hiked the canyon in record time, it still took us over 2 hours to hike the length of Little Wild Horse.  By the time got back to the trailhead we had already taken nearly 4 hours.   Rhonda would no doubt be upset, but surely she would understand our predicament.  We would only be a couple of  hours late.

As we headed back down the long bumpy road toward the highway we spotted another strange event, the “spaceship” that Roger and I had saw the back of the flatbed truck was now suspended from a helicopter and was headed out over Goblin Valley State Park!  What the heck?!?  Come on, who could resist the temptation to see what this is all about?  My wife was already going to be angry with us, so what harm would a few more minutes be?

We arrived at Goblin Valley just as the spaceship was being lowered onto the valley floor.  After some inquiries it didn’t take long to discover what was going on.  A portion of the science fiction movie Galaxy Quest was being filmed there, and the spaceship that we saw was an important prop for it.  Up on the rim of the valley we saw numerous trailers for the cast and crew.  (We later learned that the movie starred Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub & Sam Rockwell.) Much to our surprise, we were still allowed to hike into the valley.  We were also amazed to discover that we were the only people in the valley!  Who on this Earth could pass up that opportunity?!?

Roger and I headed down into Goblin Valley.  Unfortunately the spaceship wasn’t near the front of the valley, it was toward the back.  After about 30 minutes we arrived at the spaceship.  It was awesome looking.  Sure it was a Hollywood prop, but it looked pretty darn cool, with a charred exterior that looked as if it had entered the Earth’s atmosphere in a fiery blaze.  Like a couple of school kids we scurried around the craft and took pictures of each other posing next to it.  What an incredible experience this was, being on the set of a science fiction movie!  After about 20 minutes we decided that we’d better head back.  We were already 3 hours late for our rendezvous with Rhonda, but surely she would understand.  At least, that’s the way a couple of clueless guys looked at the situation.

Galaxy Quest Shuttle Pod

Me
Roger
We made our way back to the highway and headed north.  Driving 25 miles per hour over the speed limit I thought that perhaps I could make up the 3-4 hours that we were late.  After what seemed to be an eternity I turned onto the dirt road where we had left Rhonda.  Within 15 minutes I finally spotted her, backpack slung over her shoulder as she walked along the road.  I couldn’t wait to tell her about everything that happened to us!

Arriving at her side a mere 4 hours late we were greeted with a strange expression that I had never seen before.   I stuck my head out the window and said “Hi honey!”

Rhonda hurtled her backpack into the bed of the truck and firmly exclaimed, “Turn around!”  Roger and I exchanged clueless male expressions as I turned the truck around.  In a manner completely out of character for Rhonda she climbed into the bed of the truck and yelled, “Drive!”   If you know Rhonda you would know that she would never ride in the open bed of the truck, at least up until that point of her life.  There was only one thing that would cause such an incredible deviance from her normal behavior and that was anger.  When we reached the highway I got out of the truck to coax her back into the vehicle.

“You guys are four hours late!” exclaimed Rhonda.   “I thought something happened to you!  What were you thinking?”

My response was a line that, in many ways, I had waited my entire life to use.  The extraordinary circumstances that Roger and I just experienced had led to this point, and my pulse quicken when I finally realized the exact words I was about to say.  As I stood there surround by hundreds of miles of the most incredible desert wilderness that anyone could imagine, I uttered the greatest sentence of my entire life.  It was intensified by the fact that every word of it was the absolute truth…

“But Honey, we saw a spaceship!”

Rhonda shook her head and got into the truck.  Luckily, it was a 90 minute drive back to our home in Moab.  It took us just about that entire amount of time to convince her of what had happened, but in the end we had some memories that would last a lifetime, memories that well up every time we watch the movie Galaxy Quest together.

As of this writing (2010) I haven't
abandoned Rhonda in the desert...

...again.
Following Galaxy Quest images courtesy of DreamWorks Pictures...











Comments

Life in the Desert

  • A Date in the Desert

    A Date in the Desert

    An intimate desert rendezvous unfolds under golden twilight and open skies.

  • Beam Me Up, Nevada: Valley of Fire Is Out of This World

    A Flash of Magic on the North Rim

    A fleeting moment of magic on the North Rim - one lightning strike, a stormy night, and a reminder that the Grand Canyon’s wonder never fades.

  • A Thousand-Year Connection

    A Thousand-Year Connection

    Within the cliffs of Comb RIdge, ancient fingerprints and a distant handshake trace a quiet thread through time - linking a desert builder, an astronaut, and the wonder that binds us all.

  • Beam Me Up, Nevada: Valley of Fire Is Out of This World

    Beam Me Up, Nevada: Valley of Fire Is Out of This World

    Exploring Nevada’s Valley of Fire feels like hiking on Mars - if Mars had slot canyons, Star Trek filming locations, and the most photogenic rocks this side of the galaxy.

  • Beware the Bucket List: Finding Meaning Beyond the Crowds

    Beware the Bucket List: Finding Meaning Beyond the Crowds

    A cautionary tale about the pitfalls of chasing ‘bucket list’ destinations, told through decades of experience at Delicate Arch. This post encourages travelers to look beyond the Instagram-famous spots and discover the quieter, more rewarding corners of our national parks.

  • Bryce Canyon Sticks to Your Shoes

    Bryce Canyon Sticks to Your Shoes

    Mud-clogged boots turn a rainy Bryce hike into a sticky adventure.

  • Bryce Canyon: A Place That Never Stops Surprising Me

    Bryce Canyon: A Place That Never Stops Surprising Me

    Even after decades, Bryce still delivers breathtaking surprises daily.

  • Caineville Desert: A Black-and-White Dreamscape

    Caineville Desert: A Black-and-White Dreamscape

    Discover the haunting beauty of Utah’s Caineville Desert badlands, where Mancos Shale formations create perfect scenes for striking black-and-white photography.

  • Canyonlands: The Plateau with a Plot Twist

    Canyonlands: The Plateau with a Plot Twist

    A plateau photo session takes an unexpectedly epic turn.

  • Cathedral Valley: More Than a Place

    Cathedral Valley: More Than a Place

    In Cathedral Valley, you don't find answers - you find the kind of stillness that changes the questions.

  • Cedar Mesa - Where Stillness Comes Alive

    Cedar Mesa – Where Stillness Comes Alive

    An oasis of quiet where the desert seems to hold its breath.

  • Bryce Canyon: A Place That Never Stops Surprising Me

    Chasing Shadows in the Valley of the Gods

    A peaceful afternoon in Valley of the Gods turned into a time-lapse experiment fueled by clouds, coffee, and a very patient wife.

  • Chasing Stormlight in Dinosaur Land

    Chasing Stormlight in Dinosaur Land

    Thunder-chased skies set the prehistoric landscape ablaze.

  •  Cruising Canyon Country: Dead Horse Point to Moab

    Cruising Canyon Country: Dead Horse Point to Moab

    Take a scenic drive through Dead Horse Point State Park, perched high above the Colorado River. Then follow the winding route back to Moab past overlooks for the La Sal Mountains and iconic red rock formations.

  • Embracing Timed Entry at Arches National Park

    Embracing Timed Entry at Arches National Park

    Buckle up for a scenic ride through Arches National Park, from the Entrance Booth to Devils Garden, and learn about how well the Timed Entry Reservation System is working.

  • Fishmouth Cave: A Walk Into the Past

    Fishmouth Cave: A Walk Into the Past

    We spotted a cave and followed our curiosity. What we found was a landscape rich in ancient dwellings and untold history.

  • From Skylines to Summits

    From Skylines to Summits

    Urban horizons give way to wild mountain summits in one epic journey that ultimately led to the desert.

  • Getting High in Cedar Breaks

    Getting High in Cedar Breaks

    Altitude and meds combine for a dizzying Cedar Breaks experience.

  • High Elevations and Unexpected Guests

    High Elevations and Unexpected Guests

    A mountain hike in Nevada turns social when wildlife decides to tag along.

  • Hoh Rainforest: Trading Sand for Moss (and a Load of Laundry)

    Hoh Rainforest: Trading Sand for Moss (and a Load of Laundry)

    A construction worker walks into a seaside laundromat - what happens next might surprise you, but it all happened because of the desert.

  • Joshua Tree: A Desert Adventure with a Side of Classic Sci‑Fi

    Joshua Tree: A Desert Adventure with a Side of Classic Sci‑Fi

    Retro sci‑fi vibes meet desert dunes on an unforgettable Joshua Tree trek.

  • Mist and Memories at Bryce

    Mist and Memories at Bryce

    Foggy moments and nostalgic echoes float through Bryce’s rimlands.

  • Monitor, Merrimac, and My Feet

    Monitor, Merrimac, and My Feet

    Canyonlands buttes and my hiking boots steal the spotlight.

  • Naked Truths About the Desert

    Naked Truths About the Desert

    My naked path to the desert, where nothing is hidden and everything is real.

  • Photography Is Dead (Just Kidding)

    Photography Is Dead (Just Kidding)

    A playful poke at photography’s woes ends in heartfelt celebration.

  • Push‑Ups and Postures: Canyon Country’s Flashiest Lizards

    Push‑Ups and Postures: Canyon Country’s Flashiest Lizards

    Some desert lizards show off more than attitude on sunlit rocks.

  • Sea of Clouds, Stone Spires, and a Desert Puffball

    Sea of Clouds, Stone Spires, and a Desert Puffball

    Misty skies frame towering rocks and a lone puffball photobomb.

  • The Hidden Heart of Comb Ridge

    The Hidden Heart of Comb Ridge

    A secret desert ridge reveals its wild, rugged core.

  • The Path to Enlightenment Can Be Loud

    The Path to Enlightenment Can Be Loud

    Even quiet desert hikes can echo with unexpected noise and wisdom.

  • Utah’s Secret “Eye” in the Desert Sky - The Eye of Sinbad

    Utah’s Secret “Eye” in the Desert Sky - The Eye of Sinbad

    A hike in Utah’s San Rafael Swell leads to a massive cave with a natural skylight shaped like an eye - offering stunning views, ancient pictographs, and incredible photo ops in a truly hidden desert gem.

  • Watching the Sky: How I Use Webcams for Photography Around Moab

    Watching the Sky: How I Use Webcams for Photography Around Moab

    Desert weather is unpredictable - so I let a handful of webcams tell me when it’s worth grabbing the camera and heading out.

  • Welcome to My Desert Lens

    Welcome to My Desert Lens

    An invitation into a world shaped by light, lens, and desert wonder.

  • When Time Is Yours: Rediscovering the Enjoyment of Photography

    When Time Is Yours: Rediscovering the Enjoyment of Photography

    Savoring slow photography brings renewed joy and discovery.

  • Willis Creek: A Gothic Journey

    Willis Creek: A Gothic Journey

    Narrow stone canyons rise like desert cathedrals in Willis Creek.

Archive: A collection of memorable posts from my old blog

  • Moving On With No Regrets

    Moving On With No Regrets

    December 2002: A reflective journey that embraces change with an open heart.

  • Reflections on The Ineffable

    Reflections on The Ineffable

    Reflections on Ward J. Roylance’s “The Ineffable”.

  • Sightings in the Desert

    Sightings in the Desert

    January 2000: Unexpected desert encounters spark wonder under open skies.

  • Ward J. Roylance – A Personal Remembrance

    Ward J. Roylance – A Personal Remembrance

    November 1993: A personal tribute to a life that shaped my appreciation of the desert.

The Lighter Side of Life in the Desert

The desert Southwest can be brutal - heat, bugs, cliffs, and no water in sight. So if you're not having fun, what's the point? Chasing the same bucket-list hikes that a million other people do, just to recreate what’s available as a 1973 gift shop poster misses the mark. Blaze your own trail, stumble on it, and laugh. The best thing to pack? A sense of humor. If you're looking for us out here, just follow our laughter.


  • The Path to Enlightenment Can Be Loud

    The Path to Enlightenment Can Be Loud

    A humorous and heartfelt hike turns into an unexpectedly noisy path to personal insight in the desert Southwest.

  • A Date in the Desert

    A Date in the Desert

    A sweet and cinematic desert rendezvous unfolds under the vast open sky, blending golden twilight, warm conversation, and the serene beauty of the Southwest.

  • Photography is Dead (Just Kidding)

    Photography is Dead (Just Kidding)

    A tongue-in-cheek reflection on the state of photography, ultimately celebrating its resilience and the joy of creating images in a changing world.

  • High Elevations and Unexpected Guests

    High Elevations and Unexpected Guests

    A scenic mountain hike takes an unexpected turn when the local wildlife crashes the party - proving once again that even at 10,000 feet, you're never really alone.

  • Joshua Tree: A Desert Adventure with a Side of Classic Sci-Fi

    Joshua Tree: A Desert Adventure with a Side of Classic Sci-Fi

    A Joshua Tree desert adventure that’s part hike, part retro sci-fi romp—because why just explore when you can time travel and dodge cheesy monsters as well?

  • Hoh Rainforest: Trading Sand for Moss (and a Load of Laundry)

    Hoh Rainforest: Trading Sand for Moss (and a Load of Laundry)

    A construction worker walks into a seaside laundromat - what happens next might surprise you, but it all happened because I stepped out of the desert.

  • Canyonlands: The Plateau with a Plot Twist

    Canyonlands: The Plateau with a Plot Twist

    A performance one million years in the making meets a two minute review.

  • Getting High in Cedar Breaks

    Getting High in Cedar Breaks

    A lighthearted, altitude-fueled adventure at Cedar Breaks mixes stunning high-elevation views with a dose of oxygen-deprived humor.

  • Monitor, Merrimac, and My Feet

    Monitor, Merrimac, and My Feet

    A scenic hike at Canyonlands' Monitor and Merrimac Overlook turns into a hilarious flashback to a forgotten TV cameo - where only my ankles made the cut.

  • Bryce Canyon Sticks to Your Shoes

    Bryce Canyon Sticks to Your Shoes

    Turns out Bryce Canyon doesn’t just stick with you emotionally - it literally clings to your shoes.