The excitement of discovery is what draws us to wander. Our travels have taken us to the far corners of our home state of Texas as well as the diversity of the fascinating states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Florida and Massachusetts.
Join us here as we share some of the special moments we have encountered through our photos and essays.
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Glen Canyon
Lake Powell
The dam backs up Lake Powell named after the same explorer Major John Wesley Powell. This second largest man-made reservoir in the United States extends 186 miles from Arizona far into Utah. The lake’s main purposes are water storage, power generation and recreation. The incredible 1,960 miles of shoreline‚ more than the entire pacific coast of the United States attract visitors from all over the world. They arrive in huge numbers to play on the surface or shores of one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. In the warm summer months the lake buzzes with speed boats and water skiers as jet skis jockey for position. Houseboats slowly make their way up the main channel navigating their way to anchor at a picturesque cove for the night. An occasional kayaker is apotted hugging the shoreline under the bath tub ring‚ keeping a sharp eye out for eagles or the Great California Condor recently re-introduced to the area. Lake Powell’s bath tub ring‚ caused by mineral deposits is quite noticeable due to low water levels occurring during several years of drought. When you come to visit Glen Canyon National Recreation Area you will be drawn to the deep clear blue waters. If you don’t bring your own water craft
Lake Powell Resort and Marina
Lake Powell Resort & Marina, managed and run by the concessionair Aramark is the place to head for the rental boat of your choice. Six miles from the dam, the marina is also the point of departure for boat tours on the lake. The lodge here is the only lake side accommodation in this area. The Rainbow Room restaurant offers you a meal with a view. We frequented the lobby for a free WIFI connection and a cup of java. Far below the lodge lie several sandy swimming beaches in an area called the Coves. Kayaks are available for rental right on the beach.
Water Safety
Park Ranger Laurel Sellers led a program for kids on kayak safety in July. As volunteers we had a great time getting wet and helping out.
Page, Arizona
Page Arizona, two miles from the dam, is your small town in Canyon Country. At almost 4,300 feet elevation, 8,000 full time residents enjoy the mild year round climate.
The town was named after John C. Page, a commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. Page was founded in 1957 as a construction camp to support the workers at the dam. An agreement was made with the Navajo Nation to transfer 16.7 square miles of Manson Mesa to the Bureau of Reclamation in exchange for other lands in southeastern Utah. The John Wesley Powell Museum in the center of town chronicles the history of the city of Page as well as the life of the famous explorer. Page embodies the spirit of Glen Canyon, Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam. The more than two dozen hotels and motels take a back seat to the expansive views of Lake Powell from this mesa location. As a resident, seasonal worker or volunteer with the National Park Service, Page is where you will shop, socialize and take care of business. Water is central to the life of Page. When will it will rain? How much will it rain? And the ever present waters of Lake Powell always beckoning and enticing the adventurer and modern day explorer.
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Located in southeast Utah at the foot of Navajo Mountain, at a height of 290 feet and a span of 275 feet, Rainbow Bridge is the largest natural bridge in the world. The top of the bridge is 42 feet thick and 32 feet wide. The upper part of the bridge is Navajo Sandstone while the base is the much harder Kayenta Sandstone. Many Native Americans consider the bridge sacred and request visitors not approach the bridge, but view it from the viewing area the National Park Service has established.
Navajo Mountain
Located in Utah close to the Arizona border, Navajo Mountain is very high at 10,000 feet and a landmark visible from almost anywhere in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
If you are temporarily lost or disoriented in Glen Canyon just look for Navajo Mountain as your anchor.
You may contract a member of the Navajo Nation as a guide for your hike to this lacollith (a volcano that never erupted) which formed 30-50 million years ago.
Tower Butte
Tower Butte is another landmark standing watch, as though a lookout tower, over Lake Powell. Butte comes from a French word meaning "small hill" or "mound." A narrow flat topped rock with steep sides it may once have been a mesa. Mesa (table in Spanish) is a larger rock formation and wider at the top. Mesas were originally parts of plateaus which are still larger rock formations here in the SouthWest.
Castle Rock
Castle Rock rises from the depths of Lake Powell like a giant sandstone fortress. At times of high water the lake surrounds Castle Rock and a cut is open for boat traffic traveling up-lake. Years of drought however have led to low water levels and closed this short cut forcing all traffic to follow the main channel.
Inscription Site
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area was a buzz with the find of an inscription carved into the sandstone of a canyon wall "Paso por aqui" in Spanish, translated to "passed by here." The date 1776 is inscribed as well. It is thought there may be a link to The Dominguez-Escalante exploration expedition of 1776 that did pass through this area that year in search of a northerly route from what is now Santa Fe, New Mexico to Monterrey, California. We accompanied a group up lake to the site as they worked on the authentication process. The inscription was discovered by the Graffiti Removal and Intervention Team (GRIT) as they entered the canyon in their normal course of duties. The location of the inscription is not being disclosed at this time to protect the site from further vandalism.