Once Upon A Time in Page, AZ

Some believe Vegas tends to bring out the worst in people, but for us it’s the landing pad for adventure. Of course, the shows, roulette, pool parties, and weird Elvis impersonators make Vegas tolerable and sometimes quite enjoyable. When Jamie and a few friends went to Vegas for a CES conference, we devised a plan to see Canyonland. This was our first time traveling with our new friends Mina and Siavash.
“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” - Mark Twain
Luckily, to our delight, we still like them and we look forward to many more adventures together.

We drove from Vegas to Page, Arizona. The town is small, with great food, donuts, and a huge brewery. Surrounded by Indian Reservations, Marble Canyon, and Lake Powell (what remains of it), it is truly a gem not far from the more popular Mount Zion. We took a tour into Antelope Canyon, and in discovering that we were to have it all to ourselves, frolicked in the narrow, winding passage with an enthusiasm that only raw nature can inspire. Imagining the power of water and Earth to create such stunning walls over time, you start to understanding the power it holds. The desert always holds a source of magic that buzzes within you when you step onto its depths. The curves of the canyon were feminine to me, as if Mother Nature bent and jutted out her hip at every turn. Our guide was of Navajo descent, and he told stories of traditions they hold onto with the land and family.

After an hour in the Canyon with only sandstone and blue skies around us, we ventured to Horseshoe Bend. This particular drop off was terrifying, but if you looked hard enough, you could see fishing men on their boats the size of safety pins in the beautiful curves of the river.

On our way back to Vegas to return home, we stopped at the Toadstool Hoodoo Trailhead and spent time getting lost in what felt like a city of white and red fissures of land. We discovered ridge lines and basins, and marveled at the toadstool hoodoo formations that seemed unnaturally placed. Along the New Wave Trail we got to witness the beginnings of wave canyon formations, and enjoyed the deceptive caves it produced.

We ventured into sand caves and almost died laughing as we struggled to climb to the top. And as we ran through the caves with joy and excitement we passed a very old women, then laughed even harder at our struggles to ascend and descend. Good times!!