Sunday, May 25, 2014

Glen Canyon National Rec Area

 The area around Glen Canyon was a great place. I don't think I have ever visited this area around Lake Powell and like many other things we have seen I was pleasantly surprised. We stayed at the Wahweap campground in the Glen Canyon National Rec Area. It was a beautiful sight every morning and evening with the sun rises and sun sets. After a day of rest we visited the Glen Canyon dam with a group of fulltime families we traveled here with.


Bridgeeta loves Uno.  

Not a bad view for morning coffee!

We were being stalked by the dam security agent as we walked from the dam parking lot into the dam bookstore. Then again as we started the dam tour. The Glenn Canyon Dam tour that is! Glenn Canyon is breathtaking, I have never seen anything like it. They have a fantastic Dam tour as well, (Only $5 wahoo!) We learned all about the importance of the Colorado River to the entire country and how they use Hydroelectric to create energy. We even got to see one of the generators as it was being pulled apart and serviced. We went as a huge group so it was nice to have the kids all learning together. And, the best part, they got to use the phrases, "Dam tour, Dam tour guide and Dam bathroom" at nauseam!



Antelope Canyon was an awe-inspiring experience. Nothing in this country has compared...YET! We have ten thousand pictures of it, ideas about how to share them???? Slot canyons, who knew? On this stop we were able to visit one of the most unforgettable places I have ever been. We were able to tour Antelope canyon, a slot Canyon in the area. It is a sacred area on the Navajo reservation. Our guide was an awesome Native guy who taught us all about photography in low light as well as the structures in the canyon. When we arrived it was incredibly windy, the sand acted as a sandblaster stinging each piece of uncovered flesh and piling in unsuspecting places, like our ears and hoods! We fought our way through the sandstorms to an unassuming crack in the earth. Once we descended down, down, down into the canyon the world was transformed. Even the children stopped hooting and hollering for a moment as they were struck with awe at the beauty and serenity of the area.  Then, of course they were hooting again! The acoustics were awesome! I can’t explain the beauty of the place, it’s something you need to experience. However, the tours are full so if you go you better be good at soaking up the beauty pronto before you have to move on! I think they need to open up a contemplative tour but so far, no such luck! It was a great reminder that we never know what is lurking beneath the surface. Intense beauty, deep sorrow, great joy… you have to be brave and dig once in a while to get to the good stuff.