A Slot Canyon

On a recent trip to the Southwestern USA I saw many of the natural wonders that make the west so great! Wide open spaces, big blue sky with puffy white clouds and some wildlife. Each year I take at least one memorable trip believing that the only thing we take with us as we transverse this realm to another are our memories.

So this year my trip actually was inspired by an author who has already passed to that realm...Mr. Tony Hillerman. I found his work way too late-I would have enjoyed bringing him with me along on my journey through space and time. I love the way he wrote a mystery story like a tightly woven Navajo Rug. Speaking of Navajo, his love of the Navajo culture and lore and the people of the Dine′ I found to be so genuine and foaming with interest, that I wanted to see it for myself, so that's where I headed on this trip, to Navajo-land. So Tony got me hooked on the Dine′-which is a Navajo term for the people and Dine′tah is their homeland. I wanted to visit Navajo-land and see for myself why Mr. Hillerman cared so much about them.

So with a rental car and my sis as my co-pilot we headed southwest out of the beautiful state of Colorado to the Canyon Country of Utah and many attractions in that region. Today Im going to skip over the awesome wonder of Bryce Canyon and Kanab and skip right up to Page Arizona and the trip we took of the Upper Antelope Slot Canyon and the Chief Tsosie Navajo tour guides. Antelope canyon is on Navajo land so the only way to go in is with a guide. The land is considered to be holy and reverent by the Dine′. The guide we had was Blaine Yazzie, a very patient young Navajo man.

We gathered in the small shop with all the other tourists who came from all over the world and even a few Americans were throw in. The cost for the viewing tour is $32 each and that includes the $6 to be paid at the slot entrance. The drive in was through deep moving red sand...a four wheel drive is a must! It was an adventure just getting there. Mr. Yazzie handled the vehicle like a pro and soon we arrived at the mouth of the slot.

Whats a slot canyon you ask? The Antelope Slot was created by years of flash flooding and the floods continue today...you would not want to be caught in one during a rain storm as the slots which are actually canyons sitting on top of the ground, can flood quickly and up to 11 feet of water can fill the slot in minutes. Since the slots are sandstone, the water can make change very quickly. The magic of the slots is revealed when sunlight pops through the open roof of the slot and dances on the sandstone walls. Photographers of any level can enjoy the beauty of the slot. Our guide was able to point out some very interesting spots we may have overlooked. He was quite an accomplished photographer and took photos of each of us using our own cameras...I found that to be very special!

As we walked the deep sandy bottom of the slot Mr. Yazzie told stories of his childhood roaming the slots by horseback and enjoying the freedom that being a Navajo child brought to him, he explained his family lineage by the proper introduction in Navajo fashion by repeating the clan is born for and to, his mothers and then his fathers clans and then the clans of his grandparents. His Navajo name which in English is "One Who Will Not Listen".

Mr. Yazzie, Blaine, points out the many formations in the slot that take on the likeness of famous people such as G. Washington and A. Lincoln and he was right if you stand at just the right spot its amazing. The light is also amazing as it sets the layers of red sandstone on fire. Later as an amazing red light dimly illuminated the slot Blaine pulled out his native Flute and played for us. It was a very magical moment and each of us, 8 in all, were mesmerized as the snake the charmer.

The slot is an amazing spot to see and explore and photograph, just remember the Navajo are a very quiet and spiritual group and they speak softly and don't interrupt when someone is speaking so be polite and pleasant and you will have an awesome memory along with some Awesome photos to take home. Our trip through the canyon took about one hour and the drive out took about 20-25 minutes. So allow about 2 hours for your tour. Take along some water and a camera, and you want to remove your shoes as the sand is quite deep. The best time to tour is between May - September for the best light for photos. Chief Tsosie also offers photography tours which take a bit longer and the guides help to set you up for the best light as they know the slot very well...listen to them!

I would highly recommend the Chief Tsosie tours but there are other tour operators in the Page, AZ area right on Lake Powell Blvd. The tours begin at 10 am and run to 5 pm Mon-Sat, closed on Sundays. The Photography tour is longer and more expensive and there is a seasonal Star Gazers Tour in Cathedral Canyon. You will want to call about this one, 928-645-5594.