Day 15 7/7 -- Canyon Adventures!

We made our rendezvous with a pre arranged Canyon adventure today. Up with the sun and bussed to the bottom of Glen Canyon Dam (which creates 187 mile long Lake Powell from the Colorado River), we boarded motorized rafts for an exciting scenic cruise.

The water was calm and the canyon quiet enough to hear birds singing and cicadas chirping. The still water reflected the 700 foot high walls of red sandstone like a mirror.  For wildlife we saw ducks and ducklings, osprey, herons, vultures, ravens, and fly fishermen.

The air was 90 and the water from under the dam was 47 degrees!  Nevertheless Jarad bounded in the river and dove under -- then repeated his daring feat four more times!  Claimed it got easier...?

We arrived back about noon and had just enough time for lunch before heading out on canyon phase two -- a Hummer ride out to Secret Canyon, a slot cave on Navajo territory. The ride itself was a blast!  Up and down steep sandstone ridges, and spinning half circles in pink sand.

The slot caves are only open to the sky about four feet across the top, far above the thirty to eighty foot high walls. These incredible narrow passages through the orange and pink sandstone are carved by flash floods into swirls and graceful arches, fins, and fantastical shapes. The light and images change as you walk.  It's cool inside, an exhilarating break from the 100 degrees outside. Our guide Matt was exceptional, teaching us the geology and helping us get good photos.

Finished our day with an authentic Mexican feast. Wow are we tired out!  

Tomorrow, we head for the Grand Canyon!

Goodnight!
-JW & SW