Lower Antelope Canyon August 12

We woke up early this morning in anticipation of seeing the slot canyon. I’ve waited over 30 years since I saw my first photo and have been dying to make some great pictures. We were told to be there at 8 am for the best light so we were at the gate at 7:50! It was still locked but there were already a couple of cars ahead of us waiting to get in. The guy with the keys arrived at 8:07 and we all drove in. After paying our $26 each we were given a photographers pass that allowed us to stay in the canyon for 4 hours. That is the hot tip! If you tell them you are a photographer, you forgo the one hour tour and can go on your own. There was a tour at 8:30 so we jumped ahead and a guide took us to the opening. I doubt that we could have found it on our own as it is just a narrow crack in the earth. You can see the photo of Bob entering the crack at the surface. We followed the crack into a larger space where there were sets of ladders/stairs to get you deeper into the canyon. Before they built the ladders, adventurers must have had to repel down. The walls of the canyon are Navajo sandstone that have been carved by water and debris into gorgeous shapes with narrow passages of as little as 18” to larger “rooms”. We were forced to turn sideways in many passages just to get through. Everywhere we turned there was another beautiful view to photograph! The canyon did not disappoint even after 30 years of anticipation.

We left the canyon at 11:00 and had a notable stop at the Express Stop where they have the best rest rooms of any gas station ever…definitely 5 star! After one more stop at a view point of Lake Powell we were back on the road. Lunch was at the Three Bears Café and Creamery in Kanab. A cute little place with delicious homemade soup. We stopped for the night in Fillmore,UT (named after Millard Fillmore by Brigham Young)and ate a pretty good dinner at The Garden of Eatin’. I’m not making this up.