Day 51 - Tuesday, March 23

In Zion, we were in a valley and the beautiful mountains rose all around us.
Here at Glen Canyon, we are on top of the Colorado Plateau and the "valley" is below us as canyons carved out by the Colorado River.  So in Zion we climbed to find unusual beauty, here we descend into the canyons.

In valleys, like Zion, sunlight is shortened by the mountains.  The sun has to rise above them in the morning before the warming rays strike, and sets behind the mountains early in the evening cutting off the rays well before actual sunset.  At this time of year out west the air is cold and the sun is needed for comfort.  If you stand still your sun side will bake and the other side will freeze.  What I'm saying is that there is a whole new feeling here in Page at Glen Canyon then we experienced for 17 days in Zion - just 110 miles away.  Here it's the "wide open spaces".  Longer periods of sunlight. I really like it.

Moving on.  Visited the Glen Canyon Dam visitors center today and decided not to take the "tour".  We toured "Hoover Dam" years ago and figured this one could not be much different.  Nice views of the dam from the center, however, and very informative.  We went on to a trailhead 3 miles south of town for a short hike to the canyon rim for views of the deep canyon at "Horseshoe Bend" and the green Colorado River below.  Not a strenuous hike, but well worth the effort for the scenery.  Back into Page for a half dozen shopping stops including a long one at the Safeway grocery store.  Food and beverage prices in Zion are very expensive so we let our supplies really get next to nothing.  Safeway is one of our favorite stops when traveling out west.

Also sought information about a boat trip down river from the Dam and a hike into a "slot" canyon above it.  We are in Native Indian Tribal Territories (Reservations) around here and have to go through them (and pay) to do anything.  We wanted to plan our Wednesday activities today because we may have to board the dogs for a day but we ran out of time.  We'll just have to "wing it" tomorrow.

Pictures, which I am having difficulty getting in proper order, are below.

Here is a video of the girls "going wild" in Lake Powell  GIRLS GONE WILD
And, here is a video of Horseshoe Canyon Overlook  HORSESHOE CANYON

Campground views of Lake Powell

Looking from the campground across Lake Powell to snow covered Navajo Mountain at 10,338 ft. 

We are in Arizona, however, the mountain is in Utah 

Originally the top of the dam was the road across the Colorado River, long ago a bridge was built to bypass traveling over the dam itself.  It's especially important now as a terriost threat is avoided by denying access to the actual dam.  Hoover Dam (or Boulder Dam as it's now called) just outside of Vegas still utilizes the dam itself as the only way to cross the river.  Very high homeland security presence there.  Two years ago we had to pull the RV over, get out, and let them do a security search.  Today there is a bridge being built at Boulder Dam to bypass the actual travel over the Dam.

Pictures at Horseshoe Bend hike just below the Dam

"Chillin' Out"

Below the dam

Another Horseshoe Bend view

Navajo Mtn. view from the campsite over a "finger" of Lake Powell

Sist'a Dea - this is for you.  You have talked about a Lake Powell house boat trip.  These boats are waiting for you!

The view of the Dam from the visitors center

One side of Horseshoe Bend

Two happy travelers at Horseshoe Bend

Start of trail to Horseshoe Bend

Gracie knows where the water is and she want's to go there.  She is very hard to hold back when she knows water is near!

Happy at last!

One more of Navajo Mountain in the background from Lake Powell and our campsite