Canyon X and Secret Canyon

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On Sunday we hiked out about 4 miles into the Arizona desertinto an area known as Buckskin Gulch. This was the first of the slot canyons we would be photographing.  These tight canyons are amazing with theirsmooth, red sandstone walls that have formed over the years from flash floodsrushing through them.  If heavy rains areon the horizon, you don’t go into these canyons as you can be trapped by therising water and not make it out alive. It can be easily be 20 degrees cooler in the canyons so they are fun tobe in.  The photographic possibilitiesseem endless.  People come from all overthe world to see and photograph these canyons.
On Monday we met our guide, Charlie (originally fromGermany), at 7am and headed out for the first of two canyons that are onprivate land that his service has exclusive access to.  We hiked about 100 feet down a rocky cliffarea into a slot canyon knows as Canyon X. We were immediately impressed and knew it was going to be a goodday.  After several hours and lunchinside the canyon it was time to pay the big price and hike back up the rockycliff to his vehicle.
A quick trip back to town to pick up another two guys and itwas off to Secret Canyon.   To get to thecanyon involves transferring into a Hummer H2 and traversing some seriousterrain.  We had to go down and back up a45 degree rock climb and at one point we leaned so far over to the side goingover the rocks that the front right wheel was not on the ground.  Of course, Jason thought this was great.  There was a high speed high bank turn in softsand that got your attention, as well. After experiencing one in its element, I have to say that Hummers areimpressive.  This canyon was even betterthan the first one.  It was a one milehike from where we parked, flat ground but much of it in soft sand.  A real day at the beach.
The sun was setting as we finished up a long day with ourguide.   We were pooped but after dinnerit was time to talk about getting up before sunrise on Tuesday.  Only one of us made it up.  More on Tuesday later.