Wes has planned a trek that will that involves going down Queens Chambers and at the bottom going over to Peek-a-Boo loop and returning on the Navajo Loop to the rim. The total distance is about 6 miles and the total elevation drop accumulates to about 1800 feet. The difference in that we will be dropping down about 500 feet only but will be going up and down.
The Queen’s Chambers is so unbelievable that I am not sure I will do justice in description or in pictures. This is really fairyland of columns that spread out in front of you with bright colors of red, white, tans and greys. With your imagination you could really believe the Navajo story that each column is a person turned to stone. There are narrow ridges with spikes, tall columns with balanced stone on top looking like a hat on the column, narrow passages, holes that are like windows in the side of a ridge. We walked in awe and I can only suggest that this is a unique experience that many should try to enjoy at some time.
At the bottom of the trail we were looking for the connector to Peek A Boo loop but the signs indicated that the trail we wanted to take would take us to the Navajo Loop which is where we planned to end the hike. We started down this trail for a bit felt we missed a turn so went back. As we stood at the intersection we started to talk to a gentleman from Colorado who was looking for the same route as us. He had never been on this trail before but had been to the park many times. We studied the maps and discussed it to finally decide that we were on the right track and headed off again.
What we learned as we proceeded was that the trail we were on, which was where we should have been, is called the Queen’s Connector trail and it connects to the Navajo Loop and from the Navajo Loop junction is another connector that takes you over to the Peek A Boo loop. This part was poorly signed but we were able to figure it out. The bonus was that we had a hiking partner for most of the trip around the Peek A Boo loop since he was actually cutting off on a side trail to Bryce Point about 2/3 of the way around the 3 mile loop.
Again this trail, which is also the horse trail, wound up, down and around the read columns, ridges, rocks, etc. - providing incredible views. It seemed that every time we turned a corner out came the camera. I am not sure what will be on this blog but it will only be a fraction of the pictures I took today. We made very good time since the trails are well maintained, smooth and wide. We did meet 2 groups of horses (mules actually) and had to step aside to let them by. I will admit that the trails were very dusty ... very fine dust that cakes the shoes, socks and legs etc.
As we trekked we kept one eye on the sky wondering if we would be caught in a rain storm down in the canyon. I am not concerned about any danger of flooding since this is a very large canyon, but realize that any water falling would not be soaked into the ground and that it would accumulate and run down the trails making them wet and slippery. I did not need to worry. The clouds came and went as did the sun. Weather was perfect for hiking with not too hot and a slight breeze.
We finished the Peek A Boo loop just before noon by returning to where we started at the intersection of Navajo Loop. At this time we had been on the trail for about 3 hours. We headed up the Navajo Loop which would return us to the Rim Trail eventually. Each one of these trails have similar scenery, but they also seem to have unique features. The unique feature of the Navajo Loop was the last ½ mile that went into a narrow ravine (sometimes only 4 feet wide) with HIGH walls (hundreds of feet up) of red rock on either side. This is called Wall Street. At a few places we found huge trees that have been able to get started in the ravine and reached towards the sun above and stood straight up with a trunk size of several feet in diameter. As we travelled through this ravine at the end we started up switch backs that were short in length between turning back but very steep to take up to the rim. Again I feel inadequate to try to explain the incredible beauty of the red reflective glow from the rock as you slowly climb up the trail.
Just as we reached the Rim Trail, it started to rain so timing was perfect. We grabbed our ponchos from our backpacks and got them on just in time for the rain to lesson, and stop. That is how the rest of the afternoon went. Rain hard, then stop and sunshine, then thunder and rain again. It was ok since we had finished our planned hikes for the day. We had to return to the store to find an ATM (no credit cards for registration at the campsite) so we stopped in at the Visitor’s Center to watch the video on the park which was ok, but not exciting. However, we did learn about how Mr. Bryce (the one who has the canyon named after because his property backed to the rim) felt about the canyon. When asked he replied “Its a hell of a place to lose a cow!”
We returned to the Park General store to see about taking a shower. You cannot believe how dusty you feel after traipsing around in the fine dust from the clay cliffs and rock. Showers done, we had to sit in the tent for a bit so that meant me working on the blog and Wes taking a nap. After finishing the blog work, I also laid down for a short nap – and we woke up at 6. Guess we were a bit tired.
I am finishing this blog after we got up from the nap, cooked dinner, went to the Park Ranger’s presentation and returned to the tent ready for bed again. It is 9 degrees outside and I think fall has arrived here but for the next couple of days it is suppose to be sunny and about 20 so we are hanging here for 2 more days. Tomorrow Wes has another hike planned called the Fairyland Loop. Night.
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