Antelope Canyon, Page AZ

After seeing the sun set over Horseshoe Bend, I went online to look up some Antelope Canyon photography tips.  I had read enough before leaving Ontario that it would be the most challenging venue to photograph. After reading tips and suggestions, I knew that the low light would limit the number of spectacular photos I could expect...so I hoped for at least a couple of great ones. Camera shake is the biggest challenge in low light.  And I would be limited to one lens... I would not be changing lenses due to the high level of dust in the canyon.

We started the day with another quick hike and opted to visit Horseshoe Bend again, this time in daylight.  To get this photo I had to hold the camera over the edge.  I'm not very fond of the edge!  My beloved is holding my hand.  He is the anchor allowing me to move close enough to the edge to see this spectacular sight, and he will not let me fall. Do you have someone in your life like that?  Who anchors you and holds you up?  I am so blessed!

Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon, one of many throughout Arizona and Utah, and one of my beloved's top 5 things to see on our trip. If you go to the link above you will see a photo of the famous "Beam". For a few minutes every day the sun passes through a spot in the top of the canyon and travels across the sandy floor.  This phenomenon occurred when we were on our way out of this canyon....I saw the beam(on top of the head of the guy in front of me....)but we were being herded through since a small group of photographers had paid extra and were set up for this coveted shot.(..and everyone was yelling at the guy to get out of the way.) THE shot requires a tripod, remote shutter release, and a good command of all your manual features. I decided ahead of time not to focus on this moment and I was okay with that.

One reviewer said it was overrated and to remember to enjoy the experience. When your expectations are set right, you are never disappointed.  You can focus so much on the one moment (which allegedly surpasses every other moment) that you forget how beautiful these rock formations are and how violent the floods must be to create them.

The acoustics are fantastic.  Our Navajo guide, Vere, brought her flute/pipe along and played a melody.   Haunting.  Lovely.
Next stop? Water Holes Canyon.  If you ever go to this area, DO go to Water Holes Canyon, across the road. It is worth the effort to find the Tribal land office in Lechee and pay $5 per person for a hiking permit.  (And do go back to tell them or telephone that you made it out!)

Glencanyon Dam and HorseShoe Bend, Page, AZ

The story of this trip is that we always try to squeeze in a hike or something at the end of the day when we arrive, or in the morning before we leave. This is how we reached a total hiking distance of 50km or so.   But... you have to be conscious of the amount of daylight left when you estimate a distance.   Going on a holiday in the spring did mean somewhat shorter days than  during the summer, but the temperatures for hiking were sublime!!  I can deal with a toque and gloves in the morning and evening, and layering down to a tshirt by noon.  

Page is NorthEast of the Grand Canyon.  Lovely and sandy. We were hoping to find a nice little hike and headed out of town toward the Glencanyon dam which is responsible for creating Lake Powell, another large reservoir.  And I thought that bush looked like a pile of chicken wire!  The hike near the dam was too long for the amount of daylight left, but a lovely Canadian family hiking out gave us great directions to the Horseshoe bend....we made it to the trail head, headed over the dune and followed the trail.   I am amazed at how something as large as a 1000ft deep canyon can be virtually invisible in a horizontal landscape.  Until you get to the edge that is!

I don't mind heights but I don't like the edge.   And...I don't really like other people being close to the edge either!

Next stop: Antelope and Water Holes Canyons, Page, AZ

Grandview and Desertview, East end GC

The Grand Canyon lies in the Kaibab National Forest.  In this area, you are constantly driving in some National Forest or another.  Grandview and Desertview lie about 25 miles East of GC and Tusayan. 

The Grandview trail was a hike that both of us were looking forward to.  It was not a mule trail and we anticipated that it would be a bit more rugged.   A few minutes into the hike I realized that I like a much wider trail...  (check the 3rd and 4th photo!  They weren't kidding when they noted on the map that some scouting might be required.)  It made me think later that I like life to be that way too.  While I like the adventure and thrill of the road less traveled, I do like a broad path and some idea of how I will reach the destination.  I was surprised to feel a fear that squelched my excitement and sense of adventure. I so disappointed about that. Maybe, deep down inside, I don't like risk as much as I say I do. I don't think it was always like that.

And so you realize that you have changed and it lingers in your mind...what are you going to do about it?

I didn't want to hike to end for my beloved and we agreed that he would continue for another half hour.  While hiking alone is not recommended, I was happy that I wasn't holding him back from something he really wanted to do. A group had gone done just before us and another one was coming down behind us.  I knew I would be quite happy taking photos back at the top of the rim.  I spotted the Watchtower at the Desertview lookout and knew we soon would be there, taking our last looks of the Grand Canyon.

This is always bitter sweet.  Over the years I've learned that I like beginnings and first glimpses much more than endings and last glances. 

The last two photos are taken from the Desert View lookout and beyond.  The colors in the landscape are amazing. That meandering river is the Colorado.  There were rafts going down the river.  This would have been a fun adventure if we had more time, but we spent more time hiking...it was a great decision!


Next stop, Page Arizona!

AND....there is a steel post in front of the Kaibab National Forest sign, so you can all be in the photo with Smokey the Bear.  Another thing off the bucket list! 

A Day on Bright Angel Trail, GC

How fun! When it's your blog, you can write about your vacation as long as you want!  Yeay me!

Today we head out ont the Bright Angel Trail, which is really well known. Probably the most hiked trail in the park, likely because it is right in GC village.  It is also a mule trail and takes you down to Bright Angel Campground at the bottom of the canyon. And Bright Angel Lodge is right on the rim beside it.  After this post...you'll never forget that name.  When we set out....we planned to hike just past 1 1/2 Mile Rest House.

Operative word....planned....

On our way down a man with a heavy pack and a big tent on top was heading up. We quietly scoffed at his giant army issue pack and monster sized Coleman tent when he was out of earshot.  We continued on our way down.  When we were on our way up we saw that he had stopped at the 911 call box.  We waited until he was finished on the phone to see if we could do anything to help.  "Ted" had been camping with a family group and his daughter sprained her ankle as they were heading back out to the rim.   Help was on its way and we offered to carry his pack and tent up. Ted went back down. We combined our day-packs and my beloved carried the big pack and I carried the tent. And people quietly scoffed at our load!  I remember saying "It's not mine!!" to a group of young fellows all decked out in ultra-lite gear.  In the end, it was nice to be able to help a little with what was a big ordeal for someone else. Kind of makes for a good kind of exhausting. Sometimes I wonder if we realize how easy it is to help someone?

There is a neat time lapse video on the Grand Canyon Facebook page today of Bright Angel Trail, of clouds passing over the canyon, and teeny tiny people hiking in and out.

We also saw a California Condor...a fairly rare sighting...yes, it's the blue photo with the speck on it :)

One of my favourite pieces of gear is my camera bag. "I got my holsters around my side", (a line from needtobreathe's "The Outsiders").  It's on my hip and is so much easier than having to take my backpack off every-time I wanted the camera.  I simply unclip, reach in, take the lens cap off, flick the camera on, click! With one hand!

Still... the phrase most often out of my mouth was, "Argh wrong lens!!!"  My standard lens 18-55mm and my telephoto 55-250mm. I love them both!

Next stop, our last day at the Grand Canyon, Grandview and Desertview.

 
PS -Note to potential visitors: The Grand Canyon Village is across the road the Bright Angel Trailhead.  WE stayed 10 minutes outside the Grand Canyon, in Tusayan, which is basically a strip of hotels and restaurants, but not nearly as congested as the Village.  The shuttle service inside the park is fantastic. Bring a day pack, park at the visitor's centre and just ride the shuttle all day.  Visiting during the first week of March was ideal, since March Break guests had not arrived yet, but all the park facilities were opening up for the season. Bring refillable water containers since there are spring fed water refill stations at the visitor's centre and most main trail heads! 

Cedar Ridge, South Kaibab Trail, GC

 

And finally we hit the trail!!! I hope you love this day as much as I do. It is one my favourite hikes of our entire trip.  This one and Boynton Canyon, in Sedona.  

Somewhere in our reading and research for this trip I remember reading that hiking into the canyon changes how you look at the canyon from the rim.   For me, getting into the canyon, as opposed to staying on the rim, was getting to know it.  I've discovered over the years that relationship: knowing and being known, is really important to me.  I hope I live that out consistently.

The South Kaibab trail has an 1100 foot elevation gain between Cedar Ridge and the trail-head at the top.  That would be uphill!!   Most of the elevation is near the top as you take the switchbacks down the almost vertical yellow stone layer.   Mules use this trail too and it is very well maintained. 

When we set out, the butte on which Cedar Ridge sits, was unknown to us.  Once we headed back, we could spot the switchbacks back up the cliff in front of us, and the trail out onto the point behind us.  It was a neat point of reference to look for from other scenic lookouts.

Isn't life just like that sometimes?  Just as the trail is carved into the cliff, the path you journey shapes you. And if you're fortunate, those who journey with you can see how the journey has changed you.A really neat insight I had a couple of weeks ago: Events in your life may shape you, but the coolest part is when you realize they don't define you.

Our journey is not just a piece of road we share, it's a part of  the landscape of our lives. There are days when all you can see is a dusty path and your scuffed up boots. Days when you put one foot in front of the other.  Other days you are able to look ahead and see your destination, or look behind to see how far you've come. Or days when the voice of a friend pipes up behind you and you walk together for a while.  Best of all are the days when you reach lookout points that you've been struggling toward and you are rewarded with the most amazing view and sense of accomplishment.   I love those days!!

Sunset at South Kaibab, Grand Canyon, AZ

One day at a time, every moment a favourite moment.

Sunset in the Grand Canyon(GC) is not actually about seeing a sky ablaze with colour.  It's about how the light of the setting sun plays with and enhances the shadows. 

We drove into Tusayan, a little town just before the GC and found that our hotel room was not quite ready.  The sun was on its way down and we decided to get oriented with the park.  We took our 1 week pass and headed into the park,  hopped on a random shuttle which took us to South Kaibab. These were our first glimpses.

So many different layers of stone.  It's neat to orient yourself when you are hiking by looking at nearby cliffs to gauge just how far you've gone.   It feels like we went really deep into the canyon...at least that's how it felt hiking back uphill!!  It's more like just descending the tip of an iceberg....

Next stop?  Cedar Ridge, South Kaibab Trail.  

Lake Havasu City, AZ

Ray wondered if we would see palm trees on our trip.  They were everywhere!  But we learned that they are not a native species to this area and need lots of water. There were so many different kinds.  This one is a date palm. 

Lake Havasu City is one of this little stops we made because it was halfway to somewhere else.  However, we did learn about it and several other stops we made, because of the "Paddling Bryans".  Sometimes the story is half the (mis)adventure!  We watched their second season which saw them paddling down the Colorado River, and this made many names like Lake Powell, Glen Canyon Dam, and Lake Havasu City household names for us.   How could you NOT stop here?

Lake Havasu City is on Lake Havasu, a reservoir created by the Parker Dam.  And in a dry climate, any place with an accumulation of water, like Lake Havasu is a magnet for water sports. We saw houseboats in dry dock that were as big as our house!!!!  Its lesser claim to fame is that the actual London Bridge, which was dismantled from London England in 1967,was reassembled here in 1971 and still stands today.  An architectural marvel.  If you have the money, you can buy a bridge. (This is your geography lesson for today...)

And the last photo is on the way to Grand Canyon.  Within a 3 hour radius of Flagstaff you can go skiing in the Arizona Snowbowl (San Francisco Peaks), boating on Lake Havasu or Lake Powell, or hiking in the Grand Canyon.  They really do have it all.

On our we to Flagstaff and Sedona, we drive along the other side of those mountains.   Watch for them in the roadshow post coming up somewhere down the line!

In preparing for our trip I had really hoped to pick up a set of filters for my camera.  I ended up running out of time and decided to make do.   While driving in California  I discovered that I could adjust the colour saturation and add filter type adjustments in my manual settings!!  Playing with my camera is such a fun part of my vacation.

Next...a 3 day stopover in Grand Canyon National Park.