SOMEDAY I'm actually going to get fast enough at manipulating my camera settings to adapt to the harsh sun-and-shade environment of slot canyons! As it is, I can barely remember enough to compose my shots in time to keep up with my fast-moving children. And there is an exposure setting (which also caused all kinds of focus issues with the camera) that Sam only belatedly discovered hidden deep in one of the menus after I begged him for help. But, at any rate, we went to the tiniest slot canyon in the world (perhaps not literally…I don't know), which is right in St. George, and which I'd never known about. It was great! Pretty and interesting and dramatic without any of the effort. :) I don't think I could have squeezed all the way through it myself—I didn't want to even attempt it—but the children had a great time doing so, and then climbing on the rocks afterward.
Ziggy and Sam only went a little way into the canyon. You can see how narrow it is!
The surrounding rocks are (even more, in my opinion) fun to climb on, with interesting little caverns and holes for hiding in.
Ziggy was leery of getting into this "little-boy cave" at first. But he warmed up to it.
Apartments!
Teddy said to me in a sad voice, "I wish I had a different shadow."
"Like what?" I said, perplexed.
"I dunno, just like a rock shadow, or something."
Then I made him pose for this picture because I think his little-boy shadow is the cutest shadow there is!
Is Goldie a girl or a groundhog?
Looking out of the narrows. Such pretty colors!
Here is another hike we did at Snow Canyon: the hike to the lava tubes. We had decided to bring our baby hiking backpack—then decided not to—then decided to again—and then accidentally left it at home. So we set off on this hike fully intending to turn back after just a few minutes. We even put Zig in the stroller because we just wanted to stroll down the path for a short way. Then we ended up continuing "just a bit farther" until we actually got to the lava tubes after all. (Abe and Sam sort of bumped/carried the stroller over the rocky parts, but I wouldn't recommend it!) It wasn't a hard hike at all, just HOT, but we were still glad we did it.
We liked the spiky black lava rocks all along the trail.
The third lava tube was easy enough for everyone to climb down into, so we did. Sam carried Ziggy.
It's a short little cave, but you definitely need a light of some kind—there are so many rocks to stumble over, and it's amazing how quickly it gets dark! I was glad we had multiple older kids to hold the little ones' hands. Or try to, anyway.
Zig yelled "Buh-bye, yava tube!" at the top of his lungs as we walked out. And then repeated it in a barely-audible whisper.
Looking up out of the lava tube
On our way back, Seb took a quick detour to climb this little rocky hill. Do you see him? In this picture, he's to the right of the highest point.
And here are a few more Snow Canyon pictures, from various days and overlooks. The light was so pretty on this particular evening—like a painting.
Aaaand a bonus picture of Teddy, by the Pine Valley chapel that my great-great-great grandfather Robert Gardner, Jr. helped to build.
How clever of you to find a convenient mini slot canyon! (But goodness! I have trouble breathing just looking at that narrow passage!)
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