PhotoDude.com

Fri. Jun 04, 2004

A Man Named Tom

On September 11, 1997, I was experiencing photo-ecstasy at Monument Valley. And on Day 6 of Red Rock Road Trip, I wrote about the native guide who enticed me to follow his tour vehicle: “He paused, looked me in the eye, and said, ‘we’re going to look at petroglyphs and ruins and arches …. I think you should follow us.’ With that, he turned and walked away.”

Though I created a separate page for those images of Petroglyphs, Ruins and Arches, much of the page was about the guide. He was just a striking character, in a most humble and unassuming way. And over the past seven years, I’ve gotten dozens of e-mails asking how they could reach him to arrange a tour. I never really had an answer, other than a description of the man and a first name, Tom.

But not any more. Thanks to another one of those e-mailers asking about Tom (thanks, Bruce!), I now can not only point people to his guide service, I can show them his picture. Because I’m not the only one who was inspired to write about him:

It’s 6:30 a.m., an hour before sunrise. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is pitch black, and I’m the only person at the locked gate outside the visitors center.

In a few minutes, headlights appear on the road leading into Monument Valley. I’m hoping it’s Tom Phillips, the 54-year-old Navajo guide who is going to take me on a sunrise photo tour among Monument Valley’s imposing sandstone monoliths.

“I think I need a 9-to-5 job earning minimum wage,” a sleepy Phillips complains as he steps out of his Jeep Cherokee, holding a mug of coffee. “I think I’d like it better.”

Phillips has been leading tours into Monument Valley “off and on” since 1979, and about five years ago he started his own small company, Keyah Hozhoni Tours. Now he’s burning the candle at both ends, leading sunset tours that finish after dark and then coming back before sunrise for more.

Phillips enjoys photography and specializes in tours for photo enthusiasts, although the hours wear on him.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “Land of spirits; Park is sacred land for Navajos, photographers”

Yep, that’s the Tom I remember: “He told me about some of the commercial shoots he had worked on, and how he’d taken up an interest in photography after he found three cameras in one month out in the desert. He figured someone might be telling him something.”

And the article also brings back some memories: “Phillips’ truck takes a pounding on Monument Valley’s bumpy roads, which are akin to an obstacle course in some spots. In this part of the country, these kinds of roads are referred to as native roads. The Navajos want Monument Valley to remain as close as possible to its natural state.”

A clean, journalistic explanation of the road conditions in Monument Valley. Mine was a bit more … colorful: “On the way to Moccasin Arch (at left) and Big Hogan (below), we encountered two spots that caused Tom to slow his heavy duty, high clearance, 4×4 vehicle … to … a … crawl. After he rocked heavily through this yet unseen obstacle, the male German tourist turned around with a look that said, ‘there’s no way he’s going to make it, and it is my duty as a tourist to watch this catastrophe.’ Tom’s forward progress revealed a 4 foot long, 2 foot deep chasm, filled with mud. In 1.5 seconds, a chorus of voices ran through my head: ‘No Way’ ‘C’mon, it’s a rental’ ‘No Way’ ‘There’s no other way out’ ‘No Way’ “This is why they made Full Coverage Per Diem Insurance … I need warp speed NOW Scotty!’”

But if you ride with Tom, you won’t have such issues. So if Monument Valley is ever on your travel calendar, Tom’s your man.