The Colorful Chasms of Arizona's Northern Frontier

[@wideawaketotruth5301]

Well-done.👍

[@AdamCarlson-br6dp]

very nice👍

[@surfdetective]

Interesting video. Thanks

[@roamingbenji]

Thanks for watching!

[@bhg123ful]

Awesome video! I've camped at Lee's Ferry twice. It really is a great place to go, if one wants to get a little taste of what Northern Arizona has to offer. If you want to go deep into the Grand Canyon, it's obviously not ideal, but Lee's Ferry is about two hours to the South Rim entrance, which gives enough time for a day trip to stop at several places along the rim, and do a short hike into the canyon and back. You're less than two hours from Page, AZ for a guided tour of Antelope Canyon and a stop at Horseshoe Bend. You can even take a day trip to Monument Valley. I have done all these while camping at Lee's Ferry. Sure it gets hot in the summer, and it the campground can definitely get a little windy, but you are a short walk down to the river to cool off! Good on you for pointing out that despite the clear, cold water of the river . . . its like that not because of mother nature, but because they release the deeper colder water at the bottom, but without the sediment. Both times I have camped at Lee's Ferry the campground was less than 25% occupied. Its mostly used for rafting outfitters to use a base to begin their trips. There are only bathrooms and no showers, but there are public showers not too far away at Marble Canyon. And yes, the historic sites of Lee's Ferry and the Dell ranch are pretty interesting too. One time I was there, I saw a kit fox in the headlights while driving back to the campground at night. And I've heard that the Navajo Bridge at Marble Canyon is a good place to spot recently released California condors.

[@davdandji]

Nice vid! What camera you using?

[@roamingbenji]

Thanks! I just use my phone - iPhone 13 Pro!

[@RonnaHarlow]

Another wonderful video. Thanks for letting us join you on your journeys!! Also - do you know what was planted or in those wire cages after you finished wading in the very cold water to those rocks? about the same time you were showing us the helicopter. Just curious!

[@roamingbenji]

Looks like it was Fremont cottonwood and Gooding's willow! Protected from beavers with those cages. The willow and cottonwood will improve habitat for the southwestern willow flycatcher - an endangered bird that relies on dense riparian vegetation near surface water or saturated soils. After Glen Canyon Dam was built, the Colorado River downstream flooded much less frequently, harming the willow and cottonwood galleries that rely on occasional flooding. Less flooding also allowed invasive species to take root on the undisturbed sandbars. I'm guessing Park Service people first cleared the beach of invasives and then planted these natives. The "High Flow Experiment" I mention at some point in the video is supposed to simulate the historically natural floods.