America's Second Largest Canyon

While we were in Taos, we met a nice old guy that took an interest in mapping out our remaining time on the road with us. His #1 suggestion was that we stop at Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo, Texas. We're certainly glad that he insisted we stop because it really is something to see.

We spent two nights down in the Canyon. It is the 2nd largest canyon in the U.S. and is formed by the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. And it is in such an unlikely place because the area around Amarillo is seemingly completely flat. We camped here two nights and on our last morning here we took the six mile long trail up to the "lighthouse". Pictured below, it is a

Who-do. Who-do's are formations where hard rock on top remains after the softer shale beneath it has eroded away. That was some hike and I can't imagine hiking it in any weather warmer than that which we experienced.

The six mile hike took a bit of a toll on Sam since he continuously ran 100 yards ahead of us and then 100 yards behind us back and forth. He probably ran 12 miles to our six. Plus, the canyon is the international headquarters of the Prickly Pear Cactus and Sammy found that out the hard way. Cindy spent the next several days getting all the Cactus stickers out of his legs.