near Page, Arizona
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Lower Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona |
April 15, 2011
Upper Antelope Canyon is well-known to photographers everywhere. Although the section available to the public via a tour is only about 100 yards long, some consider it the most photogenic slot canyon in the world.
Been there and done that. Today I will visit Lower Antelope Canyon,
which drains northward from SR-98 into Lake Powell. It isn't really
so much a hike as a tour, which will cost me an exorbitant 26 dollars.
After checking that everyone in the group has reasonable footwear, our guide
shows us a plaque commemorating the deaths of eleven climbers here in 1997 due
to a flash flood (despite the fact that those folk perished partially of their
own folly; for it had been raining heavily upstream).
Group orientation
Also nearby are a few dinosaur footprints. They always are fun to find.
The canyon itself has an unlikely-looking entrance. The woman in orange says, "I hope I don't get stuck". It is a tight squeeze at that.
Immediately it becomes clear that, without canyoneering equipment, negotiating this slot would be impossible except for the mechanical aids installed by the Navajo concessionaire.
The stairs are steep, but not difficult
Another tight squeeze
Continuing with camera in hand, I soon get a real opportunity to use it.
Although the tours run every half-hour throughout the day, I knew from research and a prior visit to the upper canyon that there is a special reason for being here around midday. This is it:
There is a short window of opportunity for sunlight to enter
the skinny slot
The best plan seems to be simply to shoot everything in sight, so I do that. There is a photographer's option for an extra fee, that lets a person mess around in his own time frame; such a permit is required of anyone carrying a tripod. I seem to be doing okay though, by hanging out at the tail end of the tour group.
It might look pretty, but it's raven poop
A nice little window
Now the scenery begins to become interesting! It's pretty amazing what running water and some abrasive materials can accomplish over time.
Could there be a more photogenic natural formation? ⇔
Showing off for the camera
The next section takes my breath away:
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⇔
The same area viewed from above
This stone was left behind
The famous "Hole in the Rock"
I'll admit to having edited a couple of minor 'blemishes' from the following tapestry:
Exquisite textures ⇔
Somehow I feel that the best stuff is behind me, but it's not over yet.
Incredible ⇔
Suddenly the party comes to an end as the slot disappears at a high dropoff. The final set of stairs represents the only upward climb of the tour.
Exiting the slot
The canyon continues northward toward Lake Powell. I head southward toward the parking lot.
Lower Antelope Canyon
The nearby coal-fired power plant is an environmental abomination, one of several in the region that are corrupting the atmosphere for hundreds of miles around. The Page area and Lake Powell have been visually decimated. And don't even think about visiting Monument Valley to the east on a smoggy day; your tears will not result purely from disappointment. On the bright side, a knowledgeable friend says that this particular plant will be shut down in eight years. Hooray!
This is not why I go hiking
§: Was it worth the twenty-six bucks to visit one of the world's
most beautiful places? You betcha. Either section of Antelope
Canyon is a photographer's dream at any time of day. Grit your teeth,
pay the fee, and take magnificent pictures. If you want the tranquility
available in most slot canyons, go somewhere else.
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| Solitude |  |
