Lower Antelope Canyon and Heat Stroke at Horseshoe Bend

So a couple of more pics of Monument Valley before we move on. This is the same Hogan Arch thing, but is a panoramic view.


And this was Ear of the Gods Arch, or something like that, and I am not good at selfie sticks.


Sunrise from our room, which was around 5:15 AM, but they're 2 hours behind Mobile, so this was a piece of cake.


And now introducing Lower Antelope Canyon! You walk a mile out into the desert then go down 5 flights of very steep stairs into a canyon - gorgeous. I'll just be quiet and enjoy the pictures.


This was an illegal selfie, which they ask you not to do because of the number of people who have to move through, but I don't take the proper time to do any pictures, so it was quick.

The guide showed everybody how to adjust their cameras to get these colors, and he took lots of family photos for everybody.


This is referred to as a Rocky Mountain Sunset because of the colors, for some reason, and is actually at the same spot as the Windows 7 screensaver; I just left out the wave part.


And this is a cool sunbeam, which the Canyon is famous for.


This was our second big event of the day after lunch, which is Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ. Now if you google that, it will not look like this, because apparently all other photographers are daredevils who get close enough to the edge to get the whole loop of river. I am a scairdy-cat, so couldn't do it.


This is my weak attempt using a selfie stick, and I cut off the top part, but I think you can appreciate that it is a steep dropoff here, so I did my best. This was a 0.8 mile hike with no shade, and a huge amount of uphill, so we left quickly after failed photo attempts, passing another group who had a hiker down with heat stroke, apparently. On our way in they were calling the Park Service, and on our way back they had an ambulance and Park Service rangers giving her IV fluids and oxygen. That was scary, but we were proud we had hydrated well and were wearing hats and sunglasses, which a ton of people were not. I even wore my "sleevies" from Hangoutfest that cover your arms and you pour water on them to keep yourself freezing cold. We found out later that Page set a heat record of 100 degrees, and we were hiking at 1 PM - yikes! That Tough Mudder training really did me right, since I used to pass out when overheated.


And this was our first peek at the Grand Canyon, approaching from the Southeastern side. This is Desert View lookout from the Watchtower (I forgot the actual name, but Mary Cutler or something like that had it built), where the boys and I climbed to the 4th floor to get the shot.

And I don't think this is the same place...may be Mather Point.


More to follow!