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Re: [OM] South West USA Trip

Subject: Re: [OM] South West USA Trip
From: PCA Cala <PCACala@xxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 11:20:02 EDT
Hi Clive:

The only E-6 processing I can recommend in Las Vegas is through Michael's
Photo Labs.  2 hour service (if their chemistry has warmed up for the day!) is
a bit over $8.  Casey's Camera will offer overnight E-6 through Qualex (Kodak
licensed) labs - at about $6.  I don't trust anyone with E-6 sheet film
processing, so mine goes to Main Photo and Imaging Service in Santa Ana, CA.
A local camera store manager agrees.  I believe St. George has an Inkley's
with E-6 processing.  Haven't tried them in two decades, though.  They are
Utah state-wide.

Depending on my working schedule, I could take you on a camera buyer's tour of
Vegas, but I'd say that your time is better spent shooting.  The pickings are
cyclic with an occasional outstanding buy.  If you or anyone else meets up
with me while in Las Vegas, I can likely tell you everything presently being
sold and its asking price.  Can't any OM'er in their home local?

Best values for lodging would include $9.95/night per person at the Virgin
River (Casino? Resort?) in Mesquite (MOST other Mesquite locations are also
VERY inexpensive - a budget travelers dream), $39/night at the Santa Fa casino
in the northwest side of Las Vegas (near me), about $70 per night for great
rooms at the Rio (just off strip, great buffet) and (I believe) $59/night at
the Mirage on the strip (rated high for value in newspaper polls).
Most places in St. George, UT are priced at around $40/night.  Weekends are
higher everywhere (at least +25%).  You'll find lots of offerings in Kanab.
For Death Valley try the Exchange Club in Beatty, NV (at about $43 any day) or
the resort at Stovepipe Wells ($70 and up).  You'll be early for the travel
season so I think you can get by with no reservations in St. George or Kanab.

Locally owned Allstate Car Rental (not the Sears subsidary) has great values
and can even rent you a truck.

Shooting locales (assuming a non 4WD rental car):
Zion NP, esp. the Virgin River Narrows, the Kolob Canyons one-way road, and
Checkerboard Mesa area (near St. George, UT)
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Scenic Drive (just west of Las
Vegas)
Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (from NW to SW of Las Vegas)
Valley of Fire State Park (near Mesquite, NV)
Cathedral State Park (near Panaca, NV)
Dixie National Forest and Cedar Breaks National Monument (near Cedar City, UT)
Bryce Canyon National Park (near Panguitch, UT)
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, NV (esp. for birds and plant
photography)
Death Valley National Park, CA & NV (everything)
St. George (Morman architecture)
Las Vegas (atop the Stratosphere at 30 minutes before to just after sunRISE,
if there are clouds, or after dusk; the Fremont Street Experience; the Strip;
Boulder Dam, esp. at night; the Clark Co. Governmental Center (for distinctive
architecture))

not so grand:
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (an ORV Recreation area - limited area not
impacted by ORVs)
Kodachrome Basin State Reserve (now surrounded by the new and grander Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument which really needs 4WD and a good
knowledge of where to shoot).

If you are staying a week, I'd recommend a figure 8 trip with both
southwestern Utah and Las Vegas to Death Valley.  You will probably find the
North Rim of Grand Canyon to be snowed in, or at least so much as to limit
shooting opportunities.  Going there anyways can really eat up the time.

Gary Reese
Las Vegas, NV


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