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The Crack

The Crack
© Miles Hecker

CLICK ABOVE IMAGE TO SEE GOOGLE MAP LOCATION

SEASONS

The Left Fork of North Creek is home to The Subway. The Subway is a slot canyon cut deep in the Navajo Sandstone walls of the Left Fork Canyon. It’s floor is an ebony like fossilized lake bed of the Kayenta Formation. It’s light at the proper time, has a neon hue reminiscent of a great natural cathedral. It’s pools, glow with a turquoise shimmer. It is a truly visual potpourri of the first order.

Going to The Subway requires a permit and a nine mile round trip strenuous hike. Information on getting a permit can be foundhere.

The Subway is legendary in the pantheon of southwest photo locations, but about 200 yards before you reach the Subway, you pass The Crack. The Crack is a fault line in the Kayenta Formation floor of the canyon. It is deep enough to swallow most of the creek when flow is low. It makes for a fascinating visual contrast betwen rock and running water. If you like macro landscape photography, this is an opportunity like no other I have seen.

The above photo was taken with a focal length equivalent to 45mm on a 35mm full frame camera.This area is best photographed in summer and fall. I would pick the third week in October through the first week in November as the best time for fall color.

TIMES

Photography is best at this site late in the morning.

LENS & FILTERS

LENS: 17-35 mm for 35mm camera, 10-20mm for crop sensor camera

FILMS

Slide films: Fuji Velvia 100 or Ektachrome 100SW

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