Daddy's Christmas Angel

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

"A" is for Antelope Canyon on Navaho Nation Land

"Antelope Canyon" pastel and watercolor ©Mary Montague Sikes
Although my theme for the A to Z Blog Challenge is mostly National Parks, my choice for "A" is Antelope Canyon which is on Navaho Nation Land and is not a National Park.

In 2012, we were visiting Sedona, Arizona and having breakfast in a little restaurant there. The couple seated next to us was talking with the waitress about Antelope Canyon, their destination for the day. We had never heard of the slot canyons, located near Page, Arizona, but they sounded fascinating. Although it was a 3-hour trip, we decided to go there the next day.

The drive from Sedona to Page was beautiful. We stopped along the way for lunch at a restaurant operated by the Navaho. At the entrance to Lower Antelope Canyon, we paid the fee and waited for the next guide to take us down. Although information says the tour is easy, it actually requires climbing up and down ladders at several points. Also, it might be difficult for someone heavy to pass through several very narrow passages in the canyon. As an artist, I loved it. The colors are glorious and surreal.

The canyon gained its name because long ago pronghorn goats roamed there. Now it can be dangerous when flash flooding sends water rushing through the tight passageways. A few years ago, a group of tourists died in the Lower Canyon during an unexpected flash flood.

We did not have time to go to the Upper Antelope Canyon two years ago. Hopefully, we can return someday and discover what we missed there.

20 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Monti .. I love the sound of this - Antelope Canyon and the striations of coloured rocks .. beautiful painting ..

I hope you get to go back and what a great overheard conversation! Cheers Hilary

Unknown said...

Hi dropping in from the A-Z blog challenge. You have a nice theme going here. I like to travel, so I am pretty sure I would pick up a few spots before April is over.
Check out my blog at:
www.1hw.in

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Mary, that is absolutely stunning!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I've been there - you captured it well!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

So beautiful! I want a blanket that looks like this :)

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Hilary, the canyon is unbelievably beautiful. Art does not do it justice! Things happen for a reason. Thanks for the visit.

Ayush, thanks for stopping by. Hope you get to visit some of these places. I stopped by your blog but couldn't find a place to leave a comment.

Thanks, Diane!

Alex, you know how wonderful this place is then.

Karen, thank you. Hope you find your blanket.

Anonymous said...

beautiful! I always love the colors of the west! I miss it so! Thanks for sharing!

Jamie Dement (LadyJai)
My A to Z
Caring for My Veteran

Darla Sue Dollman said...

I have been there, too! It is lovely! I enjoyed your painting, as well. You captured the magical feel of the land.

Julie Flanders said...

I visited Sedona some years ago and that whole area was one of the most gorgeous places I've ever seen. Your watercolor is beautiful!

Ros Haywood said...

Sounds a truly beautiful place.

Marian Allen said...

Beautiful art, Monti! I've never been there, but I've been to the Badlands, and I know photographs can't do them justice. I have a notion that your art comes much closer to the actual experience. :)

Marian Allen, Author Lady
Fantasies, mysteries, comedies, recipes

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Jamie, thank you for visiting.

Darla, there is indeed a magic feel to the land. Thank you.

Julie, Sedona is indeed special. Thank you.

Ros, it's a fantastic place to visit.

Thank you, Marian. Actually I think it is difficult to duplicate the natural beauty of Antelope Canyon in a painting.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

gorgeous! I'd love to visit one day.

Sabrina Garie said...

Hi Triberr peep, I'm participating on the the A to Z challenge as well. I love your theme. It's a fantastic photo, thought provoking and calming at the same time.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Thanks, Lynda. Thanks, Sabrina. So much fun to meet new folks!

Gwen Gardner said...

It sounds wonderful. I love Sedona, too! They says it's a very spiritual place. From A-Z http://untetheredrealms.blogspot.com

Charity Bradford said...

Beautiful! No one does color like Mother Nature.

Anonymous said...

Wow, sounds like an amazing place! Thanks for sharing this via the A to Z Challenge. :)

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Thanks for visiting, SD Neeve! Good luck with your writing!

River Glynn said...

Monti, this is my part of the world. Love your descriptions of Antelope and Bryce--fave places for us! A great series. Traveling to all of them is on my bucket list! Thanks for this beautiful focus for A-Z 2014.