Spring Break...Leg 5 ...Hiking Uptop the Vermillion Cliffs

After seeing the Navajo bridge, Scott took me to a remote camping spot to hike up one of the 2 trails leading to the top of the Vermillion Cliffs...yes, the top of the top.
Sunscreen? Check. Hat? Check. Water? Check. Energy? HOPEFULLY!
Here are a series of pics in the order of going up - take a look at the gorgeous terrain.
The trail began as an old jeep trail.
Changed shortly thereafter. Here's Scott and Gus scouting it out, as it is hard to see at times. Lots of loose rocks and dirt.
And steepness.
First break, looking out. It was about 50 degrees out.
It was too early for the northern desert to be in bloom, but I found some gems once in a while!
We had 2 long stretches of slogging through deep sand. One foot up equals 6 inches backwards!
Uh, yeah, I took a few more breaks than Scott did.
Once past the sand, we had rocks...
and rocks...
and rocks to sit on to take our 2nd break. This is the same direction as the previous shot. In the far distance you see the San Francisco Peaks. The dark line running horizontally across is the beginning of Grand Canyon.

Varnish rock. I think it is the most beautiful rock of the Arizona desert.
More steepage.
Beautiful enough to show us artwork for thousands and thousands of years.
Takin' a look.
Almost to the top! Solid rock and trees.
Just a few more steps! We walked up 1.8 miles, 1500 vertical feet. One of the toughest (because of the rocks and sand) hikes I've ever done.
And most rewarding.
So beautiful, some do whatever it takes to survive.

Spring Break - 4th Leg...Antelope Canyon

Slot canyon - basically just a "slot" through a rock worn predominately by water. Antelope Canyon is one of the largest slot canyons (1/4 mile through) and is on the Navajo reservation. So we hired a guide (the only way to see it) and enjoyed the red rock. Here are many, many pictures, a couple will explain, otherwise just look at how cool the patterns are in this cave-like place. (It's about 100 feet tall, the wind was still blowing, and sand was "raining" upon us most of the time.

We climbed into the back of these big ol' trucks...these tires were necessary as we traveled 20 minutes down a sandy dry river bed.
SQUISHED! We had to share seat belts.
Our guide was good at explaining the rock and how it was formed. When we passed other guides, they would speak to each other in their own native tongue, which I loved hearing!







You can see how high the water gets during a flood! As we continued, the walls got higher and it was darker.
Here is a sand fall. I was glad to have my rain jacket, as it kept the sand from falling all over me.
Here's the other end...
This giant mound of sand was left after the last flood, 2 years prior.
I love this shot.
And back through, loading up.

Yet another gorgeous place in the Arizona Strip!

One of those silly apps from Face Book!

Ellie Creek

Play With Your Name
ELLIE MICHELLE CREEK

1: E - has gorgeous eyes

2: L - is a very good kisser

3: L - is a very good kisser

4: I - is really sweet & romantic

5: E - has gorgeous eyes

6:

7: M - Makes dating fun

8: I - is really sweet & romantic

9: C - selfish

10: H - stick to one

11: E - has gorgeous eyes

12: L - is a very good kisser

13: L - is a very good kisser

14: E - has gorgeous eyes

15:

16: C - selfish

17: R - funny

18: E - has gorgeous eyes

19: E - has gorgeous eyes

20: K - hot

Spring Break...Navaho Bridge and Glen Canyon Dam

Standing on the old bridge, looking at the new bridge...

THe little black dots in the middle of the rock are condors.

Looking down on the Colorado River.

Amazing river canyon walls.

Looking out at Lake Powell, made when they dammed up the Colorado River.

Glen Canyon Dam.



The green down there is lawn...the little black speck is a riding lawn mower!




The blue things floating on the other side of the river, under the bridge, are the large river rafts they use to float from here to Lees Ferry.
Looking back at the damn dam.

It was very windy...took a few tries to get a good shot, lol.