5-26-14

Martin: Too good to work inside today.

Me: Recap of Lower Antelope Canyon - Page AZ. May 23, 2014.

Standing at ground level in the gap of lower Antelope Canyon. Below us is another world.

Our tour group climbed down some metal stairs/ladders to walk in one of the most famous and beautiful slot canyons.

Artistic rock formations were accented with glowing light from above.

I think this darker rock looks like an eagle head.

April zig-zagging through the narrow tunnel.

We have a funny story to tell about our tour guide. In short, he was a nice guy but possibly the worst guide ever. The 3 of us tried to bear the tour but along with a few others we escaped to meander the slot canyon on our own. Ahh, so much better!

We took photos.

A lot of photos!

April.

Bob.

Me.

It was a really cool trek!

PS: Slot canyons aren't to be messed with during rainy days. Forceful rivers created these gorgeous places but can be very dangerous. You may have heard of the 11 hikers from France who were on a tour of this same lower Antelope Canyon when a flash flood killed them all but one. It was not raining on them while they were in the canyon but about 20 miles away a heavy rain had fallen. The water traveled and funneled down Antelope Canyon and there was nothing they could do. The only chance to survive flash flooding in a slot is to get to higher ground quickly. Since that tragic accident in 1997 they have emergency ladders they can drop down and they also have contacts that watch the weather from a far.