pt. I
ANTELOPE CANYON
May 19, 2019: Antelope Canyon | Page, AZ • 👟
Upper Antelope Canyon was the only organized tour of the trip. It’s the only way to explore the canyon as it lies on a reservation. So we booked the first trip out in the morning and were picked up in vans. Our Native American guide was amazing; he had a lot to talk about on the 45 minute shuttle ride up a dirt road to the site. I got to sit shotgun thank goodness, as I was a bit hung, made for all the more erie of an experience.
Once we parked, it was a short walk into the slot canyon that had an array of ribbon like rock features. It’s not physically exhausting but just a beautiful place to wander around, 1 direction through the canyon. If I could have had my way we’d cut back the tour group to about half to avoid a million random people in site. However, we were very lucky the trip still ran, as it was almost cancelled due to the weather and cloudiness; we still captured some solid material!
pt. II
HORSESHOE BEND
May 19, 2019: Horseshoe Bend | Page, AZ • 👟
After returning to Page and jumping in the van it was time to travel. Next stop was Horseshoe Bend, a feature on the Colorado River below Glenn Canyon Dam which is essentially the starting point of the Grand Canyon from that direction. You can park and hike maybe a quarter mile to the canyon overlook. I was in awe; I’ve seen photos of the bend but think I must have mentally looped it in with the Grand Canyon. Another place added last minute on the way to the GC. It was PACKED with people even though we got some weather - it started hailing and was windy as ever; I almost lost my hat! The views were epic, I’m so glad we stopped.
Grand Canyon.. attempt #1
May 19, 2019: The Grandest Canyon National Park, AZ • 👟
After Horseshoe, the plan was to camp at the Grand Canyon.. get a quick scenic hike in and rest up for the next day of the South Rim Trail. Welp, 2019 was a wet spring in the high desert country and after buying a crapload of firewood, taking a peek at a whole lot of snow covered rock and catching some snowflakes, we opted to head south to Sedona hoping to catch The Grand Canyon on our way back north toward Salt Lake. After a day of those views, I was totally ok with that. and stoked to explore even more famous MTB routes I’d heard so much about!