Valley Of The Gods~Monument Valley~Antelope Canyon

In 1962 many of the roads in Southern Utah were graded or hard packed sand. Such was the case of Route 261, which runs south from Natural Bridges National Monument to Mexican Hat Utah. While driving south on this road that October day, the world suddenly dropped away. The wire fence we were facing was the single thing standing between us and the magnificent Valley Of The Gods, which was at least a thousand feet straight down. And what a sight it was. Pyramid after pyramid of deep red Moenkopi. Below lay spirals, hobgoblins of all shapes, sizes and heights, as far as the eye could see. We had to see these up close! And that required us to negotiate a steep narrow gravel road full of switchbacks so sharp that you could only complete them by backing up and making a second turn. After the thousand foot descent, we now had to take an even less appealing trail to see the Valley. But our desire to see this "Valley Of The Gods" up close was so great that we decided to risk it all, and slowly traversed this valley of the pyramids and hobgoblins of all forms for seventeen miles. It was exciting and worth the worry. Today, the majority of the roads in Southern Utah are paved, but the "Valley of The Gods" road is little changed from 1962.

The Advertising Machine: MONUMENT VALLEY

It would seem there cannot be anyone in the United States, and probably few in the world, who have not seen at least one picture of Monument Valley. More advertisements and TV commercials are shot in Monument Valley than anyplace else on earth. Everyone must be familiar with the The Totem Pole, the Left and Right Mittens as well as Gray Whiskers Butte. Of course the list could go on and on; you have probably seem most of them. That is as it should be; Monument Valley is a beautiful place and needs to be shared with the world. I know my heart races a little each time I see a commercial showing the Yei-bi-chei dancers, even if they have hearts of stone. It's impossible to look at the Mittens and not think of John Wayne. It's a dusty twenty mile drive going through the heart of Monument Valley, but I feel it is well worth eating a little red dust.

What one needs for Monument Valley are more pictures and fewer words; that's just what I'm going to give you. But I must say that I've always loved the contrast of the snow on the deep red rock of the Totem Pole. This photo was taken the only time I was lucky enough to be in Monument Valley when there was snow on the ground; that was back in the 1970s.

The photo on the far left was taken of the grandkids at Monument Valley in the spring of '98. The photo in the center is of the Mittens. Can you see John Wayne? That may be him on his horse just coming out from behind the far mitten.

Nature's Masterpiece: ANTELOPE CANYON

Until the summer of 1997, very few people had ever heard of a slot canyon. Then one August afternoon a group of eleven foreign tourist were exploring one with an American tour guide. Slot canyons can be deadly because they are prone to extremely rapid flash flooding. That is exactly what happened to these eleven foreign tourist on that August afternoon in 1997. All eleven were drowned and most were washed out to Lake Powell. The tour guide was able to climb high enough to save his life. The slot canyon they were in is Antelope Canyon, certainly one, if not the most beautiful of all slot canyons. There are two sections to Antelope Canyon. The upper and lower sections are separated by Arizona Route 98, where it crosses Antelope Creek about three miles southeast of Page Arizona.

Both sections lie on the Navajo Reservation, and therefore require Navajo permission to enter. The upper section is the easiest and safest to enter. The entrance is about three miles up Antelope Creek. This section of the slot is just over a hundred yards long. But the beauty within this section is absolutely breathtaking, if anything was ever breathtaking. It is an extremely easy walk through this slot with the floor being level and of packed sand. The beauty of the slot is very dependent on both the type and time of day. The colors are the most brilliant on cloudless days. For the most striking effects you need to be there when the sun is directly overhead. In the summer this is 12:30 P.M. Mountain Standard Time. If you plan on taking photos, you must take a tripod. Exposure times will be between one and thirty seconds. It is well worth the effort as you will probably take some of the most beautiful photos of your life.

After the accident in 1997 the lower section of Antelope was closed to tourist until late June, 1998. This section is more difficult to enter. It requires climbing down rope ladders. The lower end on this section enters Lake Powell several miles from the dam. Although the two sections are somewhat different, both sections are equally beautiful The flutes and curves of the walls are astounding. The surfaces have been scoured smooth by millions of flash floods. There is only one thing to say about a slot's colors on a bright day: UNBELIEVABLE!

If you have the opportunity to visit one of these slot canyons, do not pass it up. The longest one of all is called Buckskin Gulch. It is located fifty miles west of Antelope Canyon, on a gravel road that leaves Highway 89 just after it passes through the Cockscomb in Utah. Buckskin runs east for fifteen miles from Rock House Road until it connects with the Paria River, very deep in the Paria River Canyon, which is also a Wilderness Area. Another beautiful slot canyon is called Little Wild Horse, located serveral hundred miles north of the Paria Wilderness. You will find the beginning of this canyon on the gravel road that leaves Utah 24 (Capitol Reef Highway) going to Goblin Valley. Instead of making a left at the turn off to Goblin Valley, continue on the gravel road for just over five miles and the entrance to Little Wild Horse is on your right.