We got up early for our 8 am start time, me still feeling apprehensive and nervous about this hike. Hopefully we make it in and out in one piece, and hopefully I get up and down the ladder without panicking. Was this a crazy idea?
The lot was empty and we were the first guests to arrive. The other 4 didn’t arrive until 8 and what a relief, they were not 30 somethings but were gray haired couples. We introduced ourselves and they said they were from Texas! I thought, “oh my, better watch what I say!” We wore masks in the tranport car but no one else did. As we got to talking, Monica said they were Canadians and she volunteers for the Democratic committee and that it is so hard living in Dallas. The other couple, all friends, were originally from India and also not Republicans. What a relief!!
That was the start to our amazing day. They turned out to be great people to hike with, about the same hiking level as us. We were told 800 people went through the regular Antelope Canyons yesterday but this hike was just 6 plus 2 guides from 8-2pm and we could spend as much time in each area as we liked as noone would be coming through. Sweet!
You enter down a sandy trail followed by a rope ladder and wooden slats down a steep 400 ft sandy hill. It was way easier than half dome! Falling is a very soft landing and we all made it down without a problem.
We walked 5-10 min into the slot canyon and everyone gasped with delight at the sight before us and this was only the entrance. The 10 ft ladder was next. Unlike the photos, this ladder is secured to the wall, has handrails and metal treads. It is very secure and my fears were unfounded.
From there you enter the chambers, 8 in all but the middle ones are the best. I spent almost 2 1/2 hours photographing there practically alone as the rest of them looked and left to go visit outside and eat lunch. I was in my element and could have stayed all week. The swirls of smooth rock was mesmerizing and so beautiful. Around every bend was a new shot and with the light changing every 15 minutes, the color of the walls and shadows were never the same. The patterns and swirls captivated me. I skipped eating lunch and made the most of every minute until noon.
We then proceeded to the narrows, the part of the canyon not yet carved out, with some passages just wide enough for us to pass through sideways. The guides told us this canyon is down from where the water flows and water can get 50 ft high in a flash flood. The combination of water and wind is what creates these rock formations. One couple chose to go further up the ledges and into a small chamber. The rest of us stayed behind. That was more than I could handle- know your limitations!
At 1:30 it was time for the climb out, up the sandy slope and rope ladder we had come down on. We had pictured it being much more difficult. Half dome was a lot harder. We all made it out, huffing and puffing up the trail but feeling pretty good that at our ages, we completed the hike and had a great time.
Cardiac Canyon was only recently opened and only a few hundred people have gone through so we felt very fortunate to have seen it in such serene and exclusive conditions. With the popularity of Antelope Canyon growing through social media, it won’t be long before crowds find this tour. I am sure they will be bringing more than 6 people a day in here.
We went back to the campground for showers then out to Big John’s for bbq and headed over to Horse Shoe Bend.my my were there a lot of people, some posing way to close to the edge in my opinion. We got some nice iconic shots with the iPhone which did better than my camera, arms can reach much further out than tripods.
We watched the sunset then the moonrise on this the Moon Festival . It was the perfect ending to a lovely day.