The Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon

Describing the Grand Canyon will never quite do the job, and neither will photos. There’s no way to capture its immensity or its grandeur. Carved by the Colorado River beginning 5 to 6 million years ago, it is 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide, and to reach the canyon floor, you have to hike down 17 miles. Ribbons of varied-colored rock mark the geological ages, with the oldest basement layer dating back 1.8 billion years. I’ve read that Native Americans have continuously inhabited the area for thousands of years, and that the Pueblo people held the Grand Canyon as a pilgrimage site. It’s no wonder to me that they considered it a holy place. Our first sight was at a spot on the South Rim where we watched the sun set, but we were not prepared for the spectacular views hiking down the canyon. We decided on the Bright Angel Trail, hiking down to the 3-mile rest stop, and we had a glorious day for it. (Pat told us later that it snowed the next week.) The return to the rim was harder, and the fact that we took pics at every turn going down and so few on the hike up says it all. Part of the fun was hiking with “fellow travelers” from all over the world. We learned that the French are big fans of the Grand Canyon, which explained their greater number. Everyone seemed thrilled to be there. At the days’ end of hiking, the Grand Hotel was our rest spot where we relaxed with drinks and conversation with Pat and Bob. Our last morning, we viewed the canyon from Mather Point near the South Rim Visitor’s Center. It was a great way to say goodbye. Though we visited Lower Antelope Canyon on our way there, I saved these photos for last. Located on the Navajo Indian Reservation near Page, Arizona, it is considered a sacred and spiritual place. (It is also near Lake Powell where opening scenes of The Planet of the Apes were shot.) It was formed by water erosion of Navajo sandstone, and flooding in the canyon still occurs, a deadly danger to tourists. Pat was especially interested in seeing Antelope Canyon, and we found the beauty incredible. How random natural forces could shape these places is truly amazing. And as Antelope Canyon is below ground, it almost requires the proof of photographs to confirm it’s real.