I have applied online for a hiking permit into North Coyote Buttes on the Arizona – Utah border, with a November 2010 trip now looking very likely. Only 20 people per day are allowed into this eco sensitive area and access is only gained through applying 4 months in advance via a lottery system or trying your luck whilst you are in the region ( good luck with that ! ). I’ve been wanting to shoot ‘ The Wave’ for a few years now so hopefully I can be allocated a permit to hike in for mid – November. The hike into Buckskin Gulch on the way to the Wave was named by National Geographic as the second best hike in the world, so this will be one of life’s great experiences ! I was in the area at that time last year so I’ll also take advantage of the peaking foliage colors in the lower deserts around the remote Cottonwood Canyon Road and of course the ‘Narrows’ and lower canyon in Zion. Unlike my epic trans-American journey of earlier in the year, I’ve only planned around 10 days in the South-West this time so it’s going to be a busy jam packed and hopefully productive time for photography. I couldn’t resist doing Zion in the Fall again as it truly is one of the most perfect and inspiring places I’ve ever been.