Slots-A-Fun

When I was a teenager my Grandpa Lacy used to take me and my brother to Las Vegas for a week at a time. We always stayed at Circus Circus. He would play poker all day, my grandma would either shop or watch T.V. in the hotel room, and my brother and I would be turned loose to wander The Strip. I can't imagine doing that with my kids today, but that's what we did back then and it was a fun experience.

At least once a trip, Grandpa would take us to a small casino near Circus Circus called Slots-A-Fun. This was back when Vegas had all the good meal deals. There we would order foot-long hot dogs for $1. There was nothing fancy about them, but they were a good deal. Thinking back on it brings nostalgia.

Since then I have went to Slots-A-Fun with my own kids and have been disappointed to learn that they no longer sell foot-long hot dogs. Instead, there is a Subway. Definitely not as fun!

Now I have found a new Slots-A-Fun. These are found in the canyons of the Colorado Plateau and have been carved by Mother Nature over millions of years. Some of these draw thousands of visitors, while others are seldom known. They are beautiful to the eye, but lethal if caught in them at the wrong time.

These photos are of a recent hike with my daughter. They are in a "secret" canyon that is unfortunately known to way too many people. ♠

 

Paria Canyon (album)

 

Snake & Slot

We began our hike down the creek just an hour after sunrise. A small stream flowed down the middle and fall colors were reaching their apex. The walls of the canyon slowly began to rise and we found ourselves in an idyllic autumn location. 

Near the confluence of another creek we found two different ancient glyphs. One of them was etched on a high rock wall behind a growth of trees. The other was a snake, painted with a blue pigment. It is the first blue petroglyph I have ever seen. 

 

The walls of the canyon became sheer and wide, giving few opportunities for exit. The little stream that once flowed along the bottom had now dried up. We hiked for two hours along a meandering route. Although we walked alone today, there was no doubt that in days past, many a cowboy rode this same corridor.

 

At noon we arrived at the confluence of the creek and the gorge. The entrance to the gorge was narrow and inconspicuous. One would never guess how long and impressive it was. 

The gorge was a beautiful canyon. It was narrower than the creek and the colors of the trees were more vibrant. The walls of the canyon now became a white slickrock. We walked along the bottom of a dry stream bed, stopping occasionally to snack. The canyon sat silent. The only noise being that of our feet crunching over sticks and leaves, and a small rustling of wind through the trees along the bed.

 

The canyon eventually narrows into a slot. Some places are so close you can touch both sides. Some sections are much darker, while in others the light reflects softly on the sandstone. Fallen logs have washed over the cliffs, getting lodged across the span of the slot. Sometimes the canyon floor steps up a level, forcing us to pull our way over the fall. At the narrowest part of the canyon, one can barely see the sky. The tall cliffs seem to curve inward at the top. 

 

It is in one of these narrow sections that include the wreckage of an old truck that rolled off the edge in the 1950's. The wreckage is best seen from the bottom. The truck is wedged in the narrow walls of the slot canyon. It creates a solemn feeling. Three men lost their lives here. 

 

We finally climbed out of the canyon at 3:45, arriving at the parking area. We had a 4-mile walk back to our vehicle, but luckily we were quickly offered a ride in the back of a truck. I sat on a small pile of split logs. The ride was dusty and bumpy, but all the more adventuresome! ♠