- layover at Nankoweap -

We were up at 5 am again. Today was a layover day so people split off into their own little groups to do different things.

A Mule Deer forages for food in the early morning light. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large ears. In summer, they chiefly eat herbaceous plants and berries. In winter, they forage on conifers. They rarely travel far from water or food, and tend to bed down within easy walking distance of both.

Some of us hiked up to the granaries in the cliffside. It was a steep but relatively short trail up. The ideal time to go is early morning, before the hot sun has filled the canyon.

The Many-Headed Barrel Cactus can be found on slopes and ledges. Belonging to the genus Ferocactus (meaning 'fierce or wild cactus'), barrel cacti are among the largest of the North American deserts. The flowers always grow at the top of the plant.

It's a long way down.

A view of the camp far below

The trail down

A side granary

Ants work dilligently on some Horsetail (or Poison) Milkweed. The milkweed family name (Asclepiadaceae) is dedicated to the Greek god of healing, Asclepius, because of its many folk-medicinal uses. The Horsetail species, however, is toxic. Milkweeds are also an important nectar source for bees, insects, monarch caterpillars, beetles, moths and bugs who are specialized to feed on the plants despite the chemical defenses.

Reflections in a muddy pool

A view of the campsite

Over time, the beaches have grown smaller and smaller, slowly eroded away.

Flash floods that would at one time scour the inner canyon and deposit fresh sand along the beaches no longer occur due to the Glen Canyon Dam. Furthermore, the water temperature, which used to get as warm as 80 degrees Fahrenheit, is now icy-cold all year and averages around 50 degrees F.

After our hike, we joined the others lounging about the beach. It was hot but acceptable if you were in the shade. Lunch consisted of omelettes and Bloody Marys.

Keeping cool

Flattening cans makes them easier to transport. You have to bring everything back out with you... yes, EVERYTHING.

Dinner is served.

There was some very brief rain and a lovely lightening show in the evening. The temperatures also became much more bearable.

The sun begins to retreat from the canyon.

A colorful sunset

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