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<br /> Thousand Lake Mountain . tain his excitement. You and an amphitheater. There back now," he annQunced,
<br /> to Lake Powell and graphi- don't want to scare the fish, are even paved and gravel tugging on her sleeve. As
<br />'. cally illustrates the way the you know. This was a terrif- aircraft landing strips. And they turned to walk away,
<br /> earth's surface was built up, ic place. Why there were if you want to go on down Scotty stopped and looked
<br /> folded and eroded in this people who lived in houses below the dam, there's' back and thought for a
<br /> region. Near the visitor cen- right on the water and everything from half-day moment before he asked,
<br /> ter, brightly colored, tiered those houses moved all Colorado River float trips "Mommy, is this where God
<br /> cliffs, the book had said, over the lake. to. two-week "exhilarating" lives?"
<br /> rise 1,000 feet above the ' Scotty knew that as the whitewater-rafting adven- Jim already had their days ",'-
<br /> Fremont River. Pre- stin got a little farther up tures that will take you right at Grand Canyon pretty well,
<br /> Columbian Indian petro- , in the sky there would be on through the Grand planned out. Theyhad
<br /> glyphs can be seen on the people on skis -some of Canyon. stopped at the Grand
<br /> surrounding canyon walls. them on just one -skim- And, as a matter of fact, Canyon IMAX The)iter on
<br /> This park, she told them, ming along behind power that's the Johnsons' next their way into the park and
<br /> had campgrounds and per- boats 'cause he had seen stop: the Grand Canyon. enjoyed "Grand Canyon-
<br /> milled swimming in some some yesterday when the the Hidden Secrets" on its
<br /> areas -and fishing, she family had taken a boat GRAND CANYON seven-story screen. He had
<br /> added lowering her voice tour that lasted all day long. NATIONAL PARK given some thought to mak-
<br /> to almost a whisper. And Wow! That Rainbow As she gazed out over the ing overnight reservations at
<br /> unlike any of the other Bridge was some thin' , but, south rim of the canyon, Phantom Ranch on the
<br /> Becky stood in silent awe. "
<br /> national parks, visitors can wouldn't you know, they canyon floor. A .guided mule 'j.-
<br /> pick fruit when in season, won't let a guy climb it. Sunset was quickly trip takes you down one day -j
<br /> she went on to explain. And last uight, just about approaching and a shiver and back up the next. He
<br /> , Apple, cherry, peach and the time the sun was going went down her spine as she decided, though, that might ,
<br /> apricot orchards are located down, he'd seen a big boat absentmindec!ly reached be just a little too much ,
<br /> in the historic Fruita area. go by that had a big paddle- back to pull over her shoul- mule riding. He opted,
<br /> wheelan the back. His ders a sweater she then instead for the one-<lay guid-
<br /> GLEN CANYON mom and sisters were going realized she had not yet ed mule trip to Plateau
<br /> NATIONAL HECHE- to go snorkeling today, but unpacked. Her eyes darted Point and back-that's
<br /> ATION AREA/LAKE he felt sorry for them 'cause from one incredible forma- about the half-way point on
<br /> POWELL he didn't think that sounded tion to another and then the way down: A hike Was a
<br /> Dawn comes quickly to, near as good as fishin'. across the saine 10 miles to must, but no one said ,it had
<br /> the eastern face of the cliffs The rest of the Johnsons' the north rim and back as to be one oftheman'killers.
<br /> surrounding Lake Powell. stay at Lake Powell would she drank in the beauty of He chose, instead, the three- .
<br /> Jagged peaks that loomed include mountain biking one of the world's great and-a"half-mile South Rim
<br /> as massive shadows in the and a little trail exploration. natural wonders. The mas- Nature Trail, a paved trail,
<br /> predawn hours gradually But there is so much to do, sive rock formations some- "better for-children" he
<br /> take on a gray and then no one could possibly take how took on the ambience ratiOnalized, and, besides, it
<br /> ,pink cast. Dad said it advantage of everything. of a cathedral'sheltering the: . gave you an afternoon to'
<br /> wouldn't be very long until The second largest reser' ribbon of water that wove' ,'explore the village's shops
<br /> they were almost as red as voit IIi. North America, the its way'across the canyon artdhotels and '6theMttrllc-'
<br /> that place we'd gone a cou- 186-mile-long lake has an floor more than a mile tions. The oneplacethathe
<br /> pie of years ago, Scotty incredible 2,000 miles of below, truly attesting to the really splurged was on the
<br /> reminded himself. This was twisting and turning, finger- power and sculptural grace Grand Canyon Helicopter
<br /> their third day at Lake shape-laden shoreline. of that water. She knew Tour-50 minutes over the
<br /> Powell and it was his day There is a visitor center that each stratum of rock canyon (30-minute trips are
<br /> to go fishin' with Dad. And adjacent to Glen Canyon in this natural "mural" dis~ also offered). He sincerely
<br /> this time Dad had rented a Dam. There are lodges and tinctly marks a period of hoped it was going to be
<br /> small boat to get them to campgrounds and a trailer the earth's history from worth it. So did Becky.
<br /> the best place. They'd got- village and gift shops and 2 billion years ago to the Another day they would
<br /> ten a real early start like grocery stores. There are most recent formations, a take the shuttle bus along
<br /> you are supposed to do marinas and launch ramps mere 250 million years old. West Rim Drive-which
<br /> when you go fishin'. They'd and fueling docks and more They had arrived late this Jim was assured offered a
<br /> probably be trying to catch kinds of boat rentals and afternoon at Grand Canyon series of incomparable
<br /> bass or bluegill or catfish tours and rentals of things Village and this was the views. Covering approxi-
<br /> today, 'cause Dad said the needed to water ski or third time she'd been back mately 35 miles, they would
<br /> best trout were caught kneeboard or run waves to this same spot. What see Powell Memorial and
<br /> down below the dam in the than most anyone would incredible peace sunset Hopi, Mohave and Pima ,
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<br /> river. He said it was an anticipate. There are coin brings to this enchanted Points on the way to Hermits
<br /> excellent trophy trout habi- laundries and showers and place, she mused. Just then Rest. Then he planned to
<br /> tat.. . whatever that means. fish cleaning stations and Scotty ran up, grabbed her drive to the Watchtower at
<br /> Scotty looked around as gas stations. There are hand and brought her back Desert View, about 24 miles
<br /> they pulled into a secluded sandy beaches and picuic to reality. "Mommy, Dad east of the village. From the
<br /> small canyon, trying to con- shelters and charcoal grills thinks you should come brink of the canyon wall, the
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