Arizona
We drove from Las Vegas and reached Page, Arizona around 5 PM. Not as dark as I had thought. It was still bright but freezing. We parked our car and then we had to hike a mile in order to reach the rim of this bend. We got out of the car and it was snowing and it was windy, but we were so determined to walk our way to the rim that the cold did not matter.
We asked one of the hikers who was returning from the bend if the weather would permit us to make it up there and to our surprise, it was gorgeous up there. It is weird that the weather over here was horrible and up there it was nice. So not thinking much about it we just began to hike. On our way up to the cliff, we enjoyed the incredible 360 degree view of mountains, red rocks, canyons on the far end and the devilishly red colored sand.
After around 20 mins we reached the rim and, it was one of the most awe inspiring experience. Horseshoe bend is formed in the Colorado river. This bend has been getting plenty of attention from the visitors of Grand Canyon. As you stand on the edge of the cliff, you can see the Colorado river and the perfect U shaped bend. We just wanted to take a dive and then fly out to see this spectacular bend closely. We took couple of photographs. There were many admirers all around. We forgot that it was freezing. This scenic view made us oblivious of the feel of this harsh weather.
Then on our way to the hotel, we came across this factory (see below). This is operated by the Navajo folks.
Antelope Canyon : Good Morning !!! We packed up and checked out of our hotel and left for our Antelope Canyon Tour at 8 AM. We reach the meeting point and then we were asked to be layered up well since it was going to be 5-10 o F cooler down in the canyon. I was thinking all the way, how are we suppose to enjoy, photograph and survive in these conditions ? But we were excited to see it.
She also explained to us that these canyons have three parts: Upper antelope canyon, lower canyons and rattle snake canyons. The one that we went to was the upper canyon and is 0.25 miles long and 100 feet tall / in depth depending on where you are. After 15 mins or so we reached the entrance of the canyon.
Our guide Marla who is a Native Navajo descendent greeted us and then, we took off in her Jeep with another couple to the canyon. Her jeep was rugged, safe but comfortable. On our way she gave us a brief history of the canyon and how is this entire town maintained by Navajo Tribe. The Navajo tribe is native American and second largest recognized by federal government after Cherokee tribe. Their major presence is in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado. This canyon is located on the Navajo land.
The mysterious and haunting beauty of this Canyon was awaiting us and all adventurous traveler who seeks to discover one of the most spectacular yet little known attraction. A tour to this awe-inspiring sculpture set in stone is a must for any photographer or a admirer of mother nature. It is truly mother nature's surprising masterpiece of color.
Then we entered, the amazing fantasy of world of stone which had been carved through many years of wind and water. As we walked through the chambers, we got ourselves immersed in this magical new world. The floor was sandy and flat. It was an easy walk.
There were no hikes and heights involved. The canyon walls were up to 100 ft tall.
As we walked, we could feel the sacredness of this place and also we could feel the harmony we had never felt before. Most important thing to know is that this canyon is made up of sandstone. It is formed over 100 years of water running through it and wind blowing through it. It is very sacred for Navajo tribe. It is like entering a cathedral for them.
It is called antelope canyon because, several antelopes wandered around freely in the canyon. It is not know when Navajo tribe actually found about this canyon but they say that it was the place for animals to graze during winters.
We moved along from one chamber to another and enjoyed its beauty and at the same time tried capturing every moment we could. The tour lasted for an hour or so. It was and is a truly spiritual experience. Not sure if this happens to all but when we got out of the canyon, our mind and heart were uplifted and were in better state than when we entered the canyon. I felt like and so I did join my hands in prayer pose and bowed my hand before I bid my farewell.
The rocks that make up Antelope Canyon are the petrified remains of prehistoric sand dunes formed by erosion of the sandstone by flash flooding. Rainwater, especially heavy during the monsoon season, runs into the extensive basin above the slot canyon, picking up speed and sand as it rushes into the narrow passageways.
Over time the passageways erode, making the corridors deeper and smoothing hard edges that form the characteristic "flowing"shapes in the rocks. At times the water cut its way into this sandstone with such tremendous force that it created eddies and whirlpools, which formed spiraling walls referred to as the Corkscrew formation. Looming overhead at almost every turn are many large overhangs with spiraling grooves carved into the sandstone creating breathtaking sites and images.
Around 10 AM we got back to the base and then left for Monument valley (see below).
MONUMENT VALLEY : The route was scenic. We saw many rock structures on our way. This valley is also on the Navajo Tribal Park property. It was a 2 hour drive for us. We grabbed some brunch on our way before entering the tribal park. We reached around 1 PM. Monument Valley is red sand desert region on Utah-Arizona border. As we entered the valley we could see the sandstone masterpieces standing as tall as 1000 feet. The scenery was and is spectacular.
We first went to the visitor center of the hotel The View. They gave us a map of 17 mile loop around the valley. We were not able to go on that route since it was snowing and it was very foggy. So we decided to go the other way round which was longer but worth every mile.
Wherever we found good photo spots we pulled over and got off and took our moments to capture the beauty in our eyes and also in our cameras. This whole area is around 91,000 acres and before the human existence this was a lowland basin. After hundreds or millions of years this basin was then formed into a plateau due to erosion. Natural forces of wind and water for past 50 million years ended in cutting and peeling away the surface. This natural wearing down of soft and hard rock slowly revealed the wonders of mother nature known as Monument Valley today.
The landscape overwhelms, not just by its beauty but also by its size. The fragile pinnacles of rock are surrounded by miles of mesas and buttes, shrubs and trees, and windblown sand, all comprising the magnificent colors of the valley. All of this harmoniously combines to make Monument Valley a truly wondrous experience.
Around 3 PM, we headed back with our captured moments and beautiful memories for Nevada. It was a 6 hour drive. We fueled up our car and started. We were bit skeptical about our route back especially after the snowy and bumpy ride we had while leaving Nevada. As we drove, we took some moments in between to take some pictures and allowed ourselves to be mesmerized by the wonders. The drive from Monument valley to Page was spectacular. The sky was clear and blue. After Page, the road was clear and we did not experience any difficulties by the grace of mother nature. The overall trip to Arizona + Utah or I should say Navajo Tribal Land was amazing. We learnt something new about wonders of mother nature and also about the Navajo Tribe. It is extraordinary to experience the wonders of the nature in person.
