Dale Leman
Each year the SaddleBrooke Hiking Club Trip Committee organizes one or more destination hiking trips. This year Page, Ariz., was chosen for a spring trip. The hiking days were April 16-18. In total, 86 SaddleBrooke residents went on the trip.
The keys to these Hiking Club trips are the actual hikes themselves. The club has a large number of trained hiking guide volunteers. Under the leadership of Ruth Caldwell, 15 volunteer guides researched the Page area, planned the hikes, and led participants to some spectacular sights in this Northern Arizona/Southern Utah section of the country. The club offered 12 different hikes with some interesting names, such as Buck Tank Draw, Birthday Arch, Wiregrass Canyon, Wahweap Hoodoos, Buckskin Gulch, and Toadstools, to name a few.
The Page area offers many opportunities for hiking, sightseeing, or just relaxing. The scenery around this section of our state, a short distance from the Utah state line, inspires awe. The city borders Lake Powell, and the Grand Canyon is nearby.
Many from the group visited Antelope Canyon. This feature is one of the most photographed areas in Arizona and just adjacent to the City of Page. During the spring and summer, light shafts illuminate the sandstone walls in gold, pink, and orange. The canyons sit within the Navajo Nation and require the services of a local guide to see them. They offer rare sights for viewers when in the area.
On these trips, club members often schedule an optional group dinner. On this trip, they met at Navajo-owned and operated Red Heritage. This restaurant featured a Native American dinner theater, which showcased Native American dancing, live drumming/singing, flute playing, and Navajo-inspired food (including Navajo tacos). After a day of exercising and sightseeing, this experience capped an enjoyable day.