Day 34: Page, AZ

Upper Antelope Slot Canyon,

Glen Dam Tour &

Horseshoe Bend 

We started our day off with a Navajo led tour of the Upper Antelope Slot Canyon. Our tour guide, Ronda, talked to us about the local history, geology, and Navajo Culture. 

The slot canyon was extremely beautiful with varied colors of reds.

The light was just coming in through the top.

Although, not apparent in the pictures, it was very crowded. There were 4 different Navajo tour groups operating tours through this Canyon, and our group had about 20 total. In some areas, it was standing room only.

Adam liked our tour group leader and he stuck with her through most of the tour. She took his camera and made several unique shots for him.

We signed up for a tour of the Glen Canyon Dam too in the afternoon. Earlier, we had visited the Visitor's Center and Adam picked up another Jr. Ranger booklet to complete, and we noted they had tours. 

Our tour guide, another Navajo, spoke of many facts and figures concerning the water flow and height and building process, but I can't remember any of them tonight. 

It's still impressive anyway.

Nana, who doesn't like elevators, had to descend in two of them for this tour. She's not too happy with me.

A view from the top of the Dam. 

Still later in the evening, Natalie and I took a short hike/walk up to Horseshoe Bend. It was a wide sandy stroll up and then down a long hill to the edge of the cliff. 

That's about as close as I felt comfortable getting. 

You can see others, didn't have any common sense though.

I made Natalie stand way back from the edge. 

She's a bit fearless.

The sun is going down on us. 

A pretty desert flower/weed.

Sunset over the buttes/mesas, whatever.

 I don't know what to call them.

Day 33: and How We Gained Another Hour

Zion National Park, UT to

Lake Powell @ Page, AZ

Total Miles: 110

Total Distance: 4635

Our Route:

We left Springdale, UT heading  back through the Mt. Carmel Tunnel Rd. on hwy 9, which is the scenic drive through the hairpin turns and switchbacks.  This is where Nana closed her eyes and put her head down til we reached  level ground again. 

RV backup traffic. They have to close part of the tunnel whenever an RV goes through the tunnel. It's not wide enough for 2 way traffic. 

Looking into the next tunnel on Mt.Carmel Rd.

Fascinating layers of sandstone and mudstone.

When we got on the other side, we turned south on hwy 89 heading to Kanab. 

Still lots of hills and curves on this hwy.

Dad doing his thing behind the wheel. Both eyes on the road. 

This is what he wanted to look at.

We crossed over the AZ state line and gained one hour. We didn't know that AZ doesn't follow the Daylight Saving Time. So when we went into the Visitor's Center the time was all off for us. Took us a while to figure it out. They are in Pacific Time zone til the rest of the area falls back one hour then they are the same?? But the Navajo Indian Reservation does follow Daylight Saving, so they keep with the rest of us. Clear as Mud?? I'm confused too. 

A view of Lake Powell.

Natalie took this picture from Wahweap Lookout. She's doing a great job!

Our campsite at Wahweap Marina RV park.

Finally, we had hamburgers for supper. They were excellent.

Sunset view.

Day 32: Zion National Park

Zion National Park

We took the shuttle into the park this morning. Adam picked up another Junior Ranger booklet, so he was a happy hiker today as well.

We took in another Ranger talk. This time about the early history of the park. How they made the one mile tunnel and what the early tourists encountered when they arrived.

Then, we went on the shuttle up to the furthest point and got off. It happened to be the Temple of Sunwava. There was a nice riverwalk stroll that we took along with everyone else was happened to be visiting Zion today. It was crowded. 

We learned about 3 million people visit Zion each year. I can see why.

The walk was about 2 miles round trip. Not too bad for us. It was a paced path with very little incline. 

The Virgin River

At the end, some people continue hiking into the Narrows, which crosses the river and up the narrow canyon.

We chose to eat our lunch and watch them....

Afterwards, we took the shuttle back down and stopped at various points called, The Grotto, Weeping Wall, and Zion Lodge.

Adam had to find out all sorts of interesting facts, such as whose face is engraved in the plaque at the Museum Center? 

Stephen Mather.

What type of tree is in front of the Zion Lodge?

Cottonwood.

Who were the Court of the Patriachs named after?

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

We also took another short trail at the Zion Lodge called the Lower Emerald Pools Trail. It was about a mile long. We saw all sorts of creatures. tarantulas, deer, lizards, and squirrels. 

  Natalie and Adam have been taking many of today's pictures. 

Then we took the shuttle back to the visitor's center so Adam could be sworn in as a JR. Ranger.

Another happy boy. 

We ordered take out pizza. 

All are tired and need some rest.