Slot Canyon Quotes

That boulder did what it was there to do. Boulders fall. That’s their nature. It did the only natural thing it could do. It was set up, but it was waiting for you. Without you coming along and pulling it, it would still be stuck where it had been for who knows how long. You did this, Aron. You created it. You chose to come here today; you chose to do this descent into the slot canyon by yourself. You chose not to tell anyone where you were going. You chose to turn away from the women who were there to keep you from getting in this trouble. You created this accident. You wanted it to be like this. You have been heading for this situation for a long time. Look how far you came to find this spot. It’s not that you’re getting what you deserve - you’re getting what you wanted.

It adds up, but I deem it all necessary, even the camera gear. I enjoy photographing the otherworldly colors and shapes presented in the convoluted depths of slot canyons and the prehistoric artwork preserved in their alcoves.

If you’ve never been, I encourage you to visit and tour the sandstone slot canyons in Zion National Park, where the history of Earth is laid out before you, fine layer upon fine layer, like the pages of a book.

When my dog picked up scent he immediately left the main wash and took off up one of the 40’ ravine walls to head cross country. He had been working just ahead of us as we went northerly up the wash. He was not ranging any distance at all before he got scent. When my partner and I followed him and got to the top of the ridge, my dog was already at the bottom of the ravine and starting to climb up the next ridge. He paused to look back and see we were coming and then disappeared out of sight over the next ridge as we were working our way down. He repeated his behavior as we negotiated at least three ravines and ridges in this fashion. When he came again to the main wash he waited only long enough to make eye contact again before entering the narrow slot canyon where the subject was found.” – Susan Williams

Grand Canyon/West Human stories roll across the Landscape, demanding attention, voicing Their energy, responding to my questions; The land only vibrates in the wind. Or not. Rocks and lava, caught in the moment Of fall, of flow, expose fractured Innards and cooled heat, vibrate only rarely. These human voices and the tales they tell Deflect with looks,their gestures, Their act of giving me what it can feel Myself, or at least understand. I can’t Put myself in the pinyon’s place, trembling At the edge, growing at the upper end of a Human sized bowl, the lower end a slot i peer Through to see the river’s ribbon, its white flecked Trail through the deepest cleft of all. I can’t know The pinyon’s mind , though I try.