Navajo nation – Kabab, Utah, July 8, 2022

It’s funny just when you think the last thing you saw cannot possibly be topped, there’s more.  The western US in general is incredible but today we had a chance to tour Antelope Canyon.  This is merely by chance, since based on our last-minute booking style, we got the last two tickets for a 9:45am tour and joined a family from Belgium.  Our tour guide was Elijah, who was a native Navajo. 

I know it seems like we do a lot of cave & canyon tours but this one was so different, it is a “slot canyon” and unlike anything else we had ever seen.  The landscape around seemed to be getting rounder & smoother compared to the mountains and the Grand Canyon and they are called spiraling rocks.  It was a mixture of sandstone, limestone, and had a bit of sparkle.  The difference between the Upper and Lower canyons it the Upper is an “A” shape and the lower a “V” shape.  Our guide had photos of when it was closed this past week due to flash floods and they must go in and clean out the canyon.  The water was up to their knees, and he said they spent several days working to get it reopen. 

I guess I didn’t realize when we toured the Grand Canyon that the US National Park only preserves about half of it.  The rest is looked after by Navajo Nation, who also owns and runs all the spiraling canyon tours.  Riding through Navajo Nation was interesting.  There were no farms, no livestock, lots of run-down trailers & RV’s (as their homes), and aside from the few trading posts (gas stations & jewelry stands), I had a hard time seeing how they made a living.  Navajo Nation is a Sovereign Nation which has more acreage that the state of West Virginia and crosses three states including New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah.  Although they are sovereign in nature, the US does own them, and their laws are approved by the department of Interior.  They are considered Wards of the Federal Government and not required to follow state laws where their reservations reside. 

We toured some pretty amazing things here today including Glen Canyon Dam which makes the Powell Lake Reservoir.  It is used as a major source for hydropower and regulates the water equitably across the western states.

Then we HAD to go see horseshoe bend, I mean come on – we were right here!  So even though it was a 20-minute walk and 95 degrees, Ron agreed to let me drag him here.  It was worth it and after our iconic view we drove a bit to settle for the night in Kabab, Utah.  It might be time for a day off soon!