With a major storm approaching from the Pacific, I have decided to abandon initial plans to  move northwards towards Bryce and instead am making my way east towards Page, AZ. Temperatures remained below freezing all day which actually facilitated hiking to the Toadstool Hoodoos which was my first stop. Most people come here for the star attraction, pictured above, but I found many other gems by exploring some of the more isolated and inaccessible nooks and crannies.

Lake Powell was created by the Glen Canyon Dam which is a most impressive bit of engineering. Equally magnificent is the adjacent bridge which spans the Colorado River.

My second3-milee hike of the day took me down to the river’s edge where I found many beautiful rock formations and total solitude.

My final destination for the day was Horseshoe Bend.  Even though I have been here several times before, I am awestruck each time I step to the cliff’s edge (OK,  I actually crawl on my belly due to my fear of falling).  I am so jealous of all the tourists who simply walk along the edge snapping photos as if on a stroll through their living room. I am amazed that more do not wind up at the bottom of the canyon.  The only way I can take photos here is with my camera mounted on a tripod. From my prone position, I trigger the 10s timer and extend the assembly horizontally over the edge for an unobstructed view of the entire bend. It took a little trial and error, but I am happy with the result.