Plane and tripod

[with_elan]

In March I'm planning a photo trip to Page, AZ. I'll be flying from Boston, MA. From what I've read online, camera tripods can be problematic to carry on. They're safe to check but I may be changing planes twice, so I don't want to risk losing my luggage and tripod.<BR>
<BR>
Right now I'm considering shipping the tripod to my hotel in advance of the trip. Anyone have any experience with this situation? What have you done?

[pixeldawg]

<BR>
This is the way to go. Normally, at least in my experience, the security people at airports frown on you (And sometimes forbid you) to carry on a tripod, since it can be used as a blount object for hitting people. And as heavy as my tripod is, if it hit someone, it would do extensive damage to them.

[Rob_Jordan]

Everybody has their lost or delayed luggage stories. I've checked my tripod every time I travel and I've never had any problems. My checked bags are almost always opened up when leaving from Seattle, but I don't know if that's because of the tripod.<BR>
<BR>
It just boils down to how much you trust your airline. Personally, I think the chance of actually loosing your luggage permanently to be pretty remote. <BR>

[Bobfireman]

<BR>
I've always packed my tripod and monopod in my checked baggage, and it hasn't been a problem. On the other hand, on my trip from San Francisco to Denver in October, my baggage was searched by TSA (had a little love letter in my baggage when I got home) so maybe all that aluminum and carbon fiber that showed up on the x-ray peaked their curiosity.

[GMG111]

Like everyone else who has replied, I always pack my tripod in the checked luggage. As a friend of mine once told me - if your tripod is lost or sent to where you are not, you can rent a tripod for the week if you are fortunate to be near a store that will do that for you.<BR>
<BR>
Good luck and enjoy Arizona!

[dwnorthaz]

<BR>
I take my camera backpack as carry-on and pack the tripod in checked in suitcase. Never worried about it. Like mentioned, if anything happens you can probably rent one in Page. I was there in early September and was blown away with Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon as well as Horseshoe Bend. One of these days I'll get my Dimage Ultra IV and will be able to post.<BR>
<BR>
Just a thought, from what the locals told me, March maybe too early to get the good overhead light for the slot canyons. July is best, beginning of September worked for me but they said October would be too late.<BR>
<BR>
If the worst happens and your luggage goes missing I'd be willing to overnight my Bogen 3021BP up from the Phoenix suburbs for ya. How long you going to be up there? Coming down to the Valley of the Sun (greater Phoenix area) at all?<BR>
<BR>
DonW <BR>
<A HREF=http://mailto:dwnorth@yahoo.com TARGET='_blank'>dwnorth@yahoo.com</A>

[with_elan]

Thanks for the responses, and the generous offer! I'm going on a Great American Photography workshop, March 15 - 20. I'd be disappointed if we don't end up with good overhead light, though I've heard good things about this group overall.

[Philter]

Never had a hint of trouble in America carrying on a 3021BPRO along with various cameras. I carry on 2 or 3 bags at a time. European customs is definitely a hit or miss though. Film always holds me up and gets me personal swipe/counts of all individual canisters. After every trip I write the TSA.Gov website and thank all the specific airports for their support and cooperation. Let us know if you have troubles, rules change all the time.<BR>
<BR>
-phil

[macdaddy]

My folks live near Sedona, AZ so I usually ship my ''pods<BR>
along with my camping gear to them ahead of time. I have<BR>
also stowed them in checked baggage without a problem<BR>
and my bags always get searched for whatever reason.<BR>
<BR>
My bodies and lenses go carry-on of course.<BR>
<BR>
March light should be good in the slots but you probably<BR>
wont encounter the light ''beams'you see in some photo's<BR>
of Antelope. June is actually a great month because you<BR>
have the summer solstice and its also the dryest month<BR>
of the year. More tourists in June but I found them easy enought to shoot around, or over.Monsoon(ha!) season kicks in in july thru september and sudden storms and slot canyons don't mix.<BR>
<BR>
By all means let us know what time of day works best at Horseshoe bend for you. I was disappointed with my evening shots there and Im thinking mid to late morning might be better.<BR>
<BR>
Also, you'll only be a few miles from the Wave, is it on the agenda? We struck out there last June-my parents wilted<BR>
in the heat half way there,and we got washed out two<BR>
days in November right before thanksgiving. So far, its<BR>
proven to be my nemesis ! :)<BR>
But, that will change, in April, and June ! yes, I do believe<BR>
it will.<BR>
<BR>
I shot both provia 100 and velveeta 100 In Upper Antelope<BR>
but since I too, dont have that Minolta scanner yet, Im in<BR>
limbo on what exactly I have. Just beware of the falling dust<BR>
when changing film or lenses. It can be persistent. It doesnt<BR>
taste very good either.<BR>
<BR>
Enjoy the trip ! Please report back to us as to what worked<BR>
and what didnt. Also, I'd recommend a good place for dinner in Page, but I havent found one yet. :)<BR>
<BR>
The dining room at the Wahweap resort is very nice with a<BR>
great view, but its closed for the season and may not reopen before you get there.

[phantom]

When I visited Page a couple of years ago, I used one of the local tour guys to take me to Antelope Canyon. He charged about $35 and I was able to rent a very heavy duty Manfrotto tripod from him for the day for $10. I don't recall his name but there are only one or two such small independent operators in Page like him. He has an office in a shopping center right along Lake Powell Blvd. If you find him you will know he is the right one by the very beautiful photos on the wall of Antelope Canyon. You will also know him because he is about in his late thirties and a bit eccentric - a real old fashioned Western independent type guy.<BR>
I wish I could remember his first name for you. Anyway, you can drive yourself out to Antelope Canyon and give the Indians guarding the gate around $15 and they will drive you to the canyon entrance and pick you up later on. I suspect you can find the tour guy and rent a tripod without using his tour services. Ten or fifteen bucks for a good tripod for a day beats shipping yours both ways. There are also several overlook points of the Colorado River that you should visit. One is on the highway that goes towards the Grand Canyon. You have to hike through sand for about 3/8 mile but the overlook of a horseshoe bend in the Colorado a thousand feet below is stupendous. You will not want to venture up to the edge without being VERY careful as there is no fence or guard rail and the drop would be fatal. It can be very windy. I crawled up to it with my new Leica and did not have a neck strap for the camera. Got a real good shot though. I would not stand near the edge as a gust of wind could be tragic. This spot is about 4-5 miles out of town and anyone can direct you to it. There is another developed overlook right near town with guard rails but it is not as dramatic as the houseshoe bend.

[phantom]

Disregard my previous answer to your post. I've done a little homework for you.<BR>
I just called Antelope Canyon Adventures and spoken with the owner Norm. The guy I described in my prior post died a couple of years ago. Norm takes people on tours and rents Bogen tripods out. He is at 104 S. Lake Powell Blvd which is the main street through Page (Page is a town of only around 7000 inhabitants so Norm will not be hard to find). His phone # is 928-645-5501. He informed me that the Indians have limited traffic in Antelope Canyon so that one may only spend a max of two hours on any one day. Norm was very friendly and helpful on the phone and I would recommend you contact him when you get to Page.<BR>
<BR>
Re: Monument Valley - Monument Valley, in my opinion, is not worth the five hour round trip from Page. The best time in MV is sunrise or sunset. If you could go there on the way to other national parks up in Utah, it would be worth a stop. There is NOTHING between Page and Monument Valley. Just a long boring drive.<BR>
You have to pay the Indians for driving on a very rough, poorly developed fifteen mile ciruitous route through MV. It closes at sundown. We did the ic sight, can be skipped and you will always find other things to shoot.round trip from Page and it was not time well spend. But I had my German brother in law with me and it was probably his only opportunity in life to see it so that made it worth it for him. There is so much magnificent photographable scenery in Arizona that MV, while a fantastic sight, can be skipped in light of the "cost" to see it in terms of time and inconvenience and you will always find something<BR>
else worth shooting. Have fun! Dale in Roseville, CA

[BobF]

<BR>
I've yet to have been refused carrying on my camera backpack with tripod attached. The only problem I did have was when the airline switched equipment after I had checked in and the pack wouldn't fit in the over seat bin. They had to take it off and stow it as checked carry-on. I've had to do that a few other times with smaller prop planes as well but have never been told I couldn't carry it on. This includes flights in both Canada and the U.S., large and small airports. I'd say just strap it to your camera bag and carry it on with the rest of your gear.

[Enigma]

I flew on the 26th and 30th of December through Seattle and San Jose. I brought my film and cameras with me as carry-ons and wrapped my tripod in a towel into my checked suitcase. On the way to San Jose, the TSA searched my suitcase and left their "love letter" on the top of my tripod. In the x-ray, I could understand their suspicion, it probably looks like three sticks of <i>long</i> dynamite (

[BobF]

<BR>
At least she knew what your RB was. I've been asked if my C220 TLR is an old movie camera.

[Philter]

I would love to head up to the Lake Powell region again. Unfortunately this lake has lost 12 million acre-feet and about 150'of level since my last trip. Not worth dragging the boat from Albuquerque anymore but still worth dragging all the camera gear for sure. I'll see if June will afford any free time for the Canyon this year. <BR>
<BR>
-phil

[dwnorthaz]

<BR>
Yeah the giant ''bathtub'ring of calcium deposit left behind due to the many year long drought we are experiencing here has definitely hurt the beauty of Lake Powell.<BR>
<BR>