Pushed on by rain, we drove into the night leaving the Panted Desert in our rear-view. We had a few choices in directions to go, should we head toward the Grand Canyon, or are we off for Antelope Canyon? Antelope Canyon is a small canyon located on Navajo land in the small town of Page, AZ.
With the sunrise, we made a decision for Antelope Canyon; we called ahead and booked one of their mandatory guided tours through the Canyon. We arrived, hopped in the back of our pickup bed with bench seats and with others were driven down into the entrance of the Canyon.  Gerald, our young, educated Navajo tour guide was extremely helpful. He would point out the best photo opportunities, and tell stories of his youth running through the Canyons with his brother.

We made quick friends with Gerald and he recommended a few spots for us to stay the night and places to discover and adventure through the next day. We claimed a spot in the sand at Lake Powell in Utah for the night, just a hop and skip away from Page, AZ. “Friendship is what makes the world go around”, said Gerald and with that we were lucky enough to climb through Water Holes Canyon on a personal tour with Gerald Secody, our new Page, AZ Navajo friend.

After rising from the sand-swept, water carved Canyons we went off for lunch, but only to gain energy for the next adventure Arizona would treat us to. With our belly’s heavy and the sun strong we found ourselves standing over a cliff in Lake Powell, Utah. You make a quick decision; you run, jump and feel the freedom of cliff jumping coarse through your body. Ahhh the adventure.

With a decision to leave Page, we head toward the North Rim if the Grand Canyon. Here you we found a smaller tourist population along with a beautiful lodge where we could eat or view the depths of the Canyon from. We took off on brutally vertical decent towards the base of the Canyon, but had no intentions on the to follow the 28 mile round trip to the Colorado River.

Defeated by the rain and thunder noises which filled the Canyon with echos, we ascended early, caught our breath and looked on with the comfort of shelter. Oh how Grand it was.

Written By: Steve Funk