April 28
We left Zion this morning, stopping at Toadstools Trailhead offering another view of the Colorado Plateau geology. Then on to a campsite on Lake Powell at the Lone Rock Beach Primitive Camping area which is run by the National Park Service. It allows users to find a site that suits them along a stretch of sand bordering the reservoir. It was a little disorienting at first for a New Englander accustomed to being issued a numbered, defined space for camping. We then went in to Page, toured the visitor center at the monumental Glen Canyon Dam and took in some of the view points on the dam and river below it. The reservoir is currently only 1/3 full and there is a 'bathtub ring' far above the water line, indicating the previous full level of the lake.
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| Toadstool Trailhead |
Having a lifetime National Park Pass makes visiting almost all of the National Park areas free. We just pay for the camping.
The town of Page AZ is right on the border with Utah and exists largely to support Glen Canyon Dam.
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| Horseshoe Bend in the Colorado River |
APRIL 29
Today we explored another slot canyon off the main drag. We drove ( slowly ) 8 mile down the dirt access road. Wire Pass is a dry slot canyon that leads in to the wetter and slightly wider Buckskin Gulch. We walked the latter for a few hundred yards, wading shin deep in frigid waters interspersed with sand and rock. Went far enough to get a taste for the canyon and to get cold, then returned the way we came.
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| This is where it started to get wet. |
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| Feeling for rocks and depth as we go. |
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| Almost missed the petroglyphs at the trail juncture. |
Had a lazy afternoon at the CG, watching the light change.
Burrito bowls for dinner!
We started the day at the John Wesley Powell Museum in Page which was a fun overview of some of the early exploration on the Grand Canyon by boat. People were made of tough stuff back then!
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| One of Powell's boats |
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We explored another magical slot canyon today. This one was guided by our competent Navaho guide Darleen. It is a popular tour and we were signed up for a time slot with a number of others. The guides were key because they paced the groups through the grottos allowing a few people at a time to experience the wondrous light inside. We spent an hour walking, commenting and taking photos in the short distance covered by the tour. Darleen took photos for each party going through and knew the perfect place to position us for some great pix.
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| Darleen giving us the inservice |
