The Grand Falls of the Little Breathtaking views of water- Agathla Peak — widely known Colorado River resembles flowing filled canyons are among the as “El Capitan” — stands like a chocolate during spring thaws wonders visible from the air at the sentinel at the southern entrance and summer flash floods. Colorado-San Juan Confluence. to Monument Valley. News, Stories, Photos, and Special Offers from Flying M Air, LLC Exploring 3Arizona 4 by Helicopter6 www.FlyingMAir.com February 2010 Editor’s Note As the economy improves and the Arizona’s Powell. If you plan to visit this area by car, you’re winter season goes into full swing, Flying M out of luck; it’s only accessible by air or water. Air is getting busy with Phoenix area tours In “Monument Valley’s Sentinel,” we give you a and day trips. We’re also preparing for our multi- close look at Agathla Peak, the remnants of an day excursion schedule,Exploring which begins Arizona next by month. Helicopter ancient volcano standing tall at the southern In this month’s issue of entrance to Monument Valley. , we offer a look at some of the less As usual, this month’s issue also includes special known places we visit in Northern Arizona on offers available to newsletter readers and sub- our Southwest Circle Helicopter Adventure. All scribers to our e-mail notifications list. of these destinations can be found on the vast Navajo Reservation. We’re also looking for first person accounts with photographs from current and past clients. Have In “The Chocolate Falls,” we tell you what you can something to share with our readers? Use the expect — or not expect — during an overflight ContactOn the Form Cover... on our Web site to let me know. of the Grand Falls of the Little Colorado River. As you’ll learn, they’re not always “grand.” In “The Meeting of the Rivers,” we show you some Flying M Air’s helicopter waits for passengers of the magnificent scenery in the area where on the helipad at Goulding’s Lodge in Monument the Colorado and San Juan Rivers meet on Lake Valley in this photo by Maria Langer. Flying M Air News Exploring Arizona by Helicopter Now Contracting for Cherry Drying in California, Oregon, and Washington is a publicationEditor: of Flying M Air, LLC Design & Production: Maria Langer Flying M Air,Flying LLC M Productions Flying M Air spends its summers in Central Wash- ington State, offering cherry drying and related standby services. Last year, we served orchardists 928/231-0196 • 602/633-HELI in Quincy and Wenatchee, WA for a total of nine www.FlyingMAir.com weeks, providing coverage for approximately 200 ©2010 Flying M Air, LLC. All rights reserved. acres. Many of the photos that appear in this publication are available for sale on the Flying M Photos Web site, This year, in an effort to extend the early part www.FlyingMPhotos.com. of our season, we’re looking for contracts as far south as California. We offer reasonable rates and Subscribe to the printed version of this newsletter reliable service with an experienced pilot. We can to get eight issues per year by mail for just $28. also bring up to four helicopters on site to handle Go to www.FlyingMAir.com/info/newsletter the requirements of large orchards. to sign up. Subscriptions available for addresses in the United States and Canada only. Don’t wait until the last minute to protect your crop! Call us now at 928/231-0196 to sign up for We are accepting a limited number of advertise- thisFlying season. M Air Upgrades ments per issue for products and services that Onsite Living Quarters complement Flying M Air’s services. Do you offer ground transportation in Sedona? Tours at the Grand Canyon? Cultural experiences at Monument In preparation for its work in the northwest, Fly- Valley? This is your chance to reach travelers who are looking for the services you offer. Call us at ing M Air has upgraded its mobile living quarters. 928/231-0196 to learn more. Our new fifth wheel RV can be parked at an orchard or other facility to keep our pilot close Want a newsletter like this for your business? to the aircraft, reducing response time to better Contact Flying M Productions at 928/231-0196 serve clients. Exploring Arizona by Helicopter • www.FlyingMAir.com • February 2010 2 Feature Story The Chocolate Falls Where the Little Colorado River cuts through the desert floor. Although only 30 miles from the city of The Grand Falls is an interesting feature in that Flagstaff, AZ, the Grand Falls of the Little its appearance varies greatly depending on the Colorado River remains one of the least amount of water flowing from upstream along visited natural wonders in the state. Part of the the Little Colorado River. The river, which flows reason for this is its remote location in the south- northwest from St. Johns, AZ, drains an immense west corner of the vast Navajo Reservation. You’ll area of high desert. After a heavy rain or during drive miles on unpaved and unmarked roads to spring snow melts, the river’s flow is heavy, car- find the falls, which seldom appear on road maps. rying dark reddish-brown silt. It’s the color that gives the falls their nickname: “Chocolate Falls.” During an extremely heavy flow, the falls are visible from the air from 10 or more miles out, as mist rising above the flat desert floor. But when water is scarce the falls merely trickle down the lowest point on the far eastern end—or are bone dry. Overlooks along the south side of the canyon downstream from the falls offer a good look at the falls from the ground. The view from the air, however, is far superior. The Little Colorado River’s meandering path cuts deep gorges in the Colorado Plateau west of the falls. The quarter mile deep Little Colorado River Gorge is the last of these before the river reaches the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, just downstream from Marble Canyon. Flying M Air overflies the Left: The Grand Grand Falls on its Southwest Falls of the Little Circle Helicopter Adventure Colorado River multi-day excursion. When after a rainfall upstream on there’s a good chance that the Colorado the falls will be running, we’ll Plateau. detour to overfly them as part of our Meteor Crater/La Posada Day Trip. February 2010 • www.FlyingMAir.com • Exploring Arizona by Helicopter 3 Feature Story The Meeting of the Rivers Mind-boggling beauty at the confluence of the Colorado and San Juan. Lake Powell is, by far, our favorite destina- Over the years, Flying M Air tion. This man-made wonder of water in the has had many opportunities to desert boasts the longest shoreline of any explore all of Lake Powell, from lake in the United States. Clear blue water meets the Glen Canyon Dam at Page red rock cliffs under a bright desert sun. which holds back its waters to the marina at Hite and beyond. While several tour operators offer airplane tours Few views are as magnificent of the lake from the airport at Page, AZ, none of as those around the Confluence the lake tour operators venture farther upriver of the Colorado River and San than Rainbow Bridge. Yet only 10 or so miles Juan River. It’s here that the river farther upsteam, are aerial views that can take narrowed and flowed in deep yourExploring breath away. Lake Powell canyons. Now water-filled, these and its Tributaries Below: The San canyons wind back and forth, Juan River zigs forming narrow waterways for and zags through pleasureA Favorite boats Destination to explore. deep canyons to Three rivers flow into the Colorado at Lake Pow- for Photographers join the Colo- ell. The Dirty Devil comes in from the north near rado. The City of Page is out Hite at the top end of the lake. The Escalante also comes in from the north, about halfway between of sight in this The photos here show two of the photo, beyond Page and Hite. The San Juan joins the Colorado most requested destinations for the horizon. halfway between the Escalante and Rainbow aerial photographers flying over Bridge, about sixty river miles uplake from Page. Lake Powell.: v The final few miles of the San Juan River’s flow is a series of sweeping arcs that meander through the rock between Nasja and Wilson Mesas. For each straight line mile, a boat can travel five miles or more by v water here. Reflection Canyon is one of dozens of named canyons along the length of Lake Powell. Its curves, swirls, and islands make it a must-visit destination for aerial photog- raphers exploring the lake. Reflections in the clear blue water are a major goal of pho- Exploring Arizona by Helicopter • www.FlyingMAir.com • February 2010 4 tographers visiting the area. On a cool day, when ible from an overlook you can reach by car as well winds are calm, the smooth lake water is mirror- asFly from the the San air. Juan with Us like, reflecting canyon walls and clouds overhead. The lake is magnificent in this area from any A flight along the San Juan from Shiprock, NM altitude. Down low, you can see the details of rock to its confluence with the Colorado is a study in formations and boaters waving geology, with views of volcanic formations, shift- up at the helicopter. From higher ing tectonic plates, tall cliffs, and eroded canyons.