The colors are vivid and changing as the light changes, and the sand stirred up by visitors' feet allows you to capture shafts of sunbeam light as seen below..
The second activity was a raft trip from the base of Glen Canyon Dam down to Lees Ferry, the only 15 miles remaining of the magnificent Glen Canyon which almost in its entirety has been under Lake Powell for 50 years.
After a bus ride through the two mile tunnel which had allowed dam builders and machinery to travel from the rim to the canyon floor, we boarded the Colorado River Discovery company's rafts. The dam and bridge can be seen in the background behind our superlative guide, Jennifer...
A rest stop 1/3 of the way down the canyon offered petroglyphs for us to enjoy...
The scenery was spectacular as we rafted the canyon, with the cliffs soaring from 700 feet to over 1400 feet above us until we reached our take-out at Lees Ferry, which is also the put-in where rafters were preparing their craft for the 260 mile trip through the Grand Canyon.
The final activity was a visit to Glen Canyon Dam which creates the large reservoir called Lake Powell, the second largest man-made reservoir in the United States after Lake Mead at the other end of the Grand Canyon.
The tour featured a 50 story elevator ride down to the bottom where we got a peek through glass windows into the generator room with its eight huge turbines which generate an average of 451 megawatts representing 6% of the total electricity generated in Arizona and 13% of the electricity generated in Utah. Four units were producing power during our tour.
Below is a "runner" recently removed from service in a turbine when replaced by a newer, more efficient model. The runners are what rotate as the water surges through them, causing the turbines to generate electricity. Notice the Glen Canyon bridge high above in the background.
Here's another view of the bridge overhead, taken from the generator level. It was interesting to learn that the bridge was built first. Otherwise, workers and equipment would have had to drive over 200 miles to get to the other side. The bridge was fully constructed in California, then disassembled, and half driven to each side of the canyon for re-assembly.
The program's final night was a special treat as our superb coordinator, Joanna Joseph, played guitar and sang for us and led us in a sing-a-long.
And here are the singing/hiking/rafting Road Scholars enjoying the "concert" by Joanna...
As a bonus -- If you have time, I suggest you take the tour of Lower Antelope Canyon by yourself for only $20. It is completely different from the upper canyon.
We were a bit surprised when the guide indicated we'd be entering the narrow crack seen in this photo.
Unlike Upper Antelope Canyon where you walk directly into the slot canyon, you must descend a number of ladders or stairs during your tour of Lower Antelope Canyon, which is why it isn't recommended for people with walking disabilities or height issues or claustrophobia.
,In this photo you can see how far the people are below me. Stifle any tendency you might have to walk as you take photos or gawk at the vivid colors and ethereal shapes, because of the possibility that there might be a ladder ahead to be negotiated...
Our guide used our cameras to photograph us under the one arch on the tour...
Sunlight created constant wondrous sights for us...
Be aware that the elevation you lost descending into the canyon must be regained by climbing 4 or 5 flights of stairs at the end of the 1/3 mile long canyon, and then you walk up a dirt road back to the parking area.
Here's a video of our Road Scholar program including Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, rafting Glen Canyon, touring the dam, and the concert by our leader, Joanna...
More of my photos of Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons are available here.
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