When you think of the American West, a skyline of red to
gold sandstone buttes with a single lane road might come to mind. You know the
scene out of Forest Gump when he runs through the country. This place is
Monument Valley, near the four corners of the southwest.
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| Highway 163 |
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| Skyline of Monument Valley |
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| Glen Canyon Dam |
Highway 163 takes you through Navajo Nation Reservation, no
cities or big towns anywhere in sight. The chill of springtime keeps me bundled
up in the blanket. The big rock behind
me has an interesting circular shape. I pass many closed Indian jewelry stands
on the side of the road.
Headed to the Grand Canyon, Page, Arizona is a worthy stop
to check out the beauty of Lake Powell, the second largest man-mad reservoir in
the United States. Lake Powell reservoir began filling up in 1963 and 17 years
later was finally filled. At full capacity it takes two years' worth of the
Colorado River's flow1. To really feel brunt of how much water is
there go tour Glen Canyon Dam.
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| Bear Rock |
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| Heart Slot |
Sitting on top of chunk of cement is only one way to
experience the intensity of nature's force. Antelope Canyon is a picturesque slot canyon further out of town. Broken up into two sections: Upper Canyon
"The Crack" and Lower canyon "The Corkscrew."
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| Lower Canyon Entrance |
Popularized by music videos, the canyon's smooth surfaces
are caused by flash flooding. The Navajo meaning is "the
place where water runs through the rocks." Best to see at noon, when the
sunbeam shines directly in the center. The Navajo guides are helpful in
presenting the good spots for photo-ops. Access to the Lower Canyon comes with
a considerable fee of $35.
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| North Side |
The best thing to see in this area is Horseshoe Bend. Four
miles southwest of the city, you park and hike a mile to the 1,000 foot cliff
overlooking the Colorado River. The smell of the river below keeps you crisp on
your feet as you edge forward. Once you find a comfortable spot, the echo of
birds and water stream calms my nerves.
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| South Side |
A prairie background feels so disattached to the gaping hole
underneath your toes. Uneasiness comes back once you notice the shreds of rock caused by erosion. What if where I am sitting happens to crack? These
negative thoughts go away as a boat approaches the north side of my view. The
wake left behind smears the glossy surface.
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| Horseshoe Bend |
This day left me really amazed at what diversity the
American West holds. Growing
up next to the river's side was where I started in life and returning was so
satisfying. This view left a high standard for the Grand Canyon.
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