61.10 Arizona: Page: A Second Introductory Peek into Nature's Rock (non-musical) Heaven.

A very brief view of a further half-dozen plus-1 hiking experiences through pictures in paradise and some text in case the coloring is too dull. Complete blogs will follow when we return from 'heaven' unless we get lost and never find our way back to Earth. We can hope. 

Hike 5: The section above Antelope Canyon, obviously the part that has water flowing below: 

 Breakfast at Tiffany's couldn't compete with the views. We reached the end of the flow (above the water on the cliffs a few hundred yards left, before brunch and then returned to the position below). Last year we reached that point by kayak.
Beats riding a horse with these 'shoes'.
Hike 6: A hike into the interior to seek the Colorado River via cross-country travel: 

We discovered a 'wave' in Page...actually there are many of these tucked-away gems.
A typical day of climbing and descending and much in-between. It is our favorite activity 'besides' many others.

It was a reminder of being at the Grand Canyon except we missed all the people that usually visit the world's wonder. (Heck, one can't have everything.) It was an amazing experience that surprised us beyond belief.

Hike 7: Commenced from Hanging Garden Trail and made our way across the land without any plan: 

The barrier probably annoys some, but we loved the view, the sight. To the left is Glen Canyon Dam.
Some interesting sights along the edge of the lake/river; plus Jenni's occasional outbursts about caution.
The essay aspect (below) deals with climbing large boulders and hills. Here's Jen after a steep but short ascent.
Wow! That's impressive. She worries about some of my climbs; perhaps she'll view this picture and think about it. Love it, Jen!
Hike 8: Return to high point above Glen Canyon Dam: 

Jen turns her back on Lake Powell...now that's attitude.
Jenni in the distance. A face-off imminent.
The desert colors are invigorating.
Ipso facto.

In the distance, one of the local icons, Tower Butte, a.k.a. Voortrekker Monument, South Africa. (Using an extreme lense.)
  From time-to-time (well, often), I might mention or think of a favorite hike, an ideal location in which to live or a politician who’s not dishonest or a hypocrite. I’ve given up on the latter as they are extinct. As Jen would say, it happens too frequently in the former instances—I’m a little excitable and impulsive. Sometimes she omits ‘a little’ when she is impatient. She’s correct and as we are in Page again, I mentioned this could be my favorite place in the world. Understandably, that’s a bold statement to make as the world is large, filled with glorious places and I’m fixated with this little town and its magnificent outdoors. 

  The other day, we met Marc on the Spencer Trail, see previous blog. He and another separate group of three from Wyoming were the only people we had come across directly on the Red Rocks. We have had the region to ourselves, giving us time to try to digest Antelope Canyon, the non-tourist part above the Colorado River. In addition, we have reveled in Lake Powell and its amazing colors and shapes, of course, Glen Canyon Dam and it’s damn wall (could be a spelling error, I’ll check). There are many unbelievable facets of the river and its bold fissures, various horseshoes shaping the Colorado, the mountain backdrops of wonderful forms, the distinctive number of square miles of scattered hues of yellow and red rocks providing incredible opportunities for hiking, climbing and general adventure, not to forget the aesthetics. These features keep our eyes focused while our bodies struggle to maintain a degree of nimbleness. 

  Talking of Marc, he told us he was 60, that he spent a month each year outside Lees Ferry where he absorbed the wonders of the region. We understood. When we asked about staying in Page, a half-hour east of the hike, he said he liked to get away from the traffic and crime of the big towns. We suppose it’s all relative. He nearly changed our whole perspective of paradise. Then he asked of our ages, he being a youngster at sixty. Reminded us of ourselves twelve years before when we too looked at the older generation inquiringly.  

  We love the cross-country hiking in which we perform two main aspects: Firstly, we cross the land by walking up the low rocky mountains while looking for ways down on any another side as we head to a target, sometimes such target may not even exist. At all times, the views not only engage us but confront us with sheer beauty. The second aspect of the adventure on the rocks, boulders and hills is that we climb these shortish walls with the goal of reaching the top so we can go down on another side, without purpose but to keep safe and have a most enjoyable time, if not exhilarating. We don’t hold out to be intelligent, for the record. 

  These hikes and climbs also allow us to visit sites we’ve never heard of but enjoy sights that are amazing and would be unseen otherwise. Of course, with the movement of clouds, the change of lighting and the natural wondrous coloring, we wander about in wonder. And that’s not because we get lost but rather, that we are being exposed, in our our opinion, to daily miracles. 

  We also find, besides Antelope Canyon and perhaps Lake Powell, most people know very little about the town or even that it exists. In fact, it was discovered in the early 1950’s, a time when my Mom was giving birth to me. There’s no prize for guessing who or which is more beautiful, colorful and a useful contribution to Arizona, the United States and the Planet. 

  Over the last fourteen years, people have hinted, some have been far more outspoken in criticizing us for spending our time climbing up-and-down mountains, over rocks and boulders, in deserts, along rivers and lakes, and many other outdoor functions including camping and trekking, in many parts of the world. We suppose mostly, living ‘on the road’ without a fixed abode. A storage unit and post office box do not signify that we are stable, it is submitted. Effectively, two people who lived fairly formal lives previously but for a few periods during our lives when we did not, are not following traditional and societal norms. Maybe! 

  However, one thing stands in the way of our reaching such joint conclusion. In fact, there are many aspects forming the basis of and comprising our lifestyle. A satisfactory reply in this respect would amount to an essay. Therefore, just one answer of many we might provide should we not be able to live this way any longer: We’d become two very unhappy and disgruntled people. 

Hike 9: Across the way from Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam. 

Jen climbed up, traversed the hill and decided to play hide-and-go-seek. I wasn't in the mood, so I took a picture to show the grandchildren what Gaga gets up to when they're not watching.
On the way down from the top, you can sense the cautious stance.
Castle Rock, Lake Powell and Wahweap. (This is the last place we'd weep, Argentina.)
Hike 10: And then it snowed: 

We went to bed after it began to snow. The following morning, we awoke to a very different environment.
It was a new experience for us; we needed snow-tyres (tires).
Hike 11: Scrambling through the wilds toward- and return- from Wahweap. 

A person reaches a cliff after committing higher up and thereafter, there's no turning back.
A second approach to Wahweap.
Full individual blogs to follow soon. 

Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey