While the focus of our journey is the Mitten-on-Mitten trophy photo, there is so much more to see here. This morning we embarked on a three hour sunrise tour of the valley.

The main attraction here is a 15 mile loop drive through the valley with spectacular views of the buttes and mesas. You can drive it yourself, but be forewarned it is a moderately difficult (hard Class 1 or mild class 2) road that is steep, bumpy, rutted, and sandy. They say any car can make it when you pay the $15 entrance fee. I would try it in a four wheel drive high clearance vehicle, but not with a passenger car.

Anyway, the better alternative is to hire a Navajo driver/tour guide with the right kind of truck. Oh, but not all tours are created equally, so do your due diligence. The most basic tour is an open air truck that drives the same loop as everyone else. You can also get an extended tour that goes off the 15 mile loop drive into the back country to see formations in the park’s restricted areas. Finally, you can take sunrise and sunset photography tours that can have a few people up to 8-10 people, as prices vary for length of time and number of participants.

Our tour commenced at 6 AM with a bone jarring 45 minute drive out to the Totem Pole which is a highly eroded remnant of an ancient butte. This was the highlight of the morning as we watched the light change for 45 minutes as the sun rose.

Next was Code Talker Point, formerly known as Artist Point. A few minutes later we were at the picturesque North Window. We finished with a very shot stay at Ford’s Point.

My guide kept making faces at me when I kept insisting we go to Ford’s Point. As we arrived, I could see why. Ford’s Point is the first stop for people driving into the valley and for many, it is also their last stop. It had been Disneyified since the last time we were here in 2011. There was, literally, a restaurant/snack bar there now. It was already full of people grabbing stray cats for selfies. We made a photo or two and skedaddled.

After breakfast we made the dubious decision to hike 4.8 miles around the West Mitten on the Wildcat Trail in 85 degree heat with no shade. Two hours later, we made it back alive to enjoy the air conditioning in our cabin.