Without a doubt the highlight of our vacation was the helicopter ride out over the Grand Canyon. I was a little apprehensive at first (fear of heights), but soon became engrossed by the view. This area is so different from Arkansas; it almost looked like the surface of some other planet. I am still trying to figure out how anyone could live in this area or even travel through it. It is so barren.
Does my initial fear show? I had come this far and was not going to chicken out now. Let's go!
Debbie had no problem with the heights even though this was the first time either of us have flown in a helicopter. Of course, she loves riding roller coaster and anything else that goes fast and high.
We lifted off from the Boulder City Airport which was about 30 minutes from our hotel, but they ran a shuttle from our hotel in Las Vegas to the airport. Best thing about Boulder City. . . NO GAMBLING and NO DRINKING!
Above is the Muddy River, which is one of three rivers that now empty into Lake Mead; the Virgin River and Colorado River are the other two rivers. Before Hoover Dam made Lake Mead, the Muddy River ran into the Virgin River before emptying into the Colorado.
The texture of the mountains and hills were constantly changing. Here is a section that is laid on its side relative to the Grand Canyon. This area must be a geologists dream come true. All I can say was there were some major forces at work (wind, water, earth, etc.) here.
Now I know and can envision what is meant by the "painted" desert. The colors from the different minerals in the soil are just amazing.
Roads looked like they went to nowhere. I will ask it again, how did people survive the trip to California? How did they make it across places like this especially without GPS, Google Earth, or even a detailed map?
Does my initial fear show? I had come this far and was not going to chicken out now. Let's go!
Debbie had no problem with the heights even though this was the first time either of us have flown in a helicopter. Of course, she loves riding roller coaster and anything else that goes fast and high. 
We lifted off from the Boulder City Airport which was about 30 minutes from our hotel, but they ran a shuttle from our hotel in Las Vegas to the airport. Best thing about Boulder City. . . NO GAMBLING and NO DRINKING! 
Above is the Muddy River, which is one of three rivers that now empty into Lake Mead; the Virgin River and Colorado River are the other two rivers. Before Hoover Dam made Lake Mead, the Muddy River ran into the Virgin River before emptying into the Colorado.
The texture of the mountains and hills were constantly changing. Here is a section that is laid on its side relative to the Grand Canyon. This area must be a geologists dream come true. All I can say was there were some major forces at work (wind, water, earth, etc.) here. 
Now I know and can envision what is meant by the "painted" desert. The colors from the different minerals in the soil are just amazing.
Roads looked like they went to nowhere. I will ask it again, how did people survive the trip to California? How did they make it across places like this especially without GPS, Google Earth, or even a detailed map? 
Boulder City on the left. The town started as dormitories for the hundreds of workers who were constructing the dam. Now it is a very clean, well-maintained town of mostly artists who have shops up and down main street.
This small landing strip was used in WWII as a training field for Navy pilots who were learning how to land on air craft carriers at sea. 
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