-
- We all want to peer into the beauty
-
- Our first look
-
- It was thrilling!
-
- Twisted juniper
-
- It’s casual
-
- Little squirrel with a grand view
-
- Using the only pay phone left in the USA before we hiked into the canyon… it’s casual
-
- What do you think Crampons are?
-
- In love forever…
-
- The hike down Kaibab trail
-
- Looking up while going down
-
- And for you Nancy and Jim, a composting toilet 3 miles down.
-
- Cheese’n it up down the trail…like my sweet hiking outfit?
-
- The flowers started about 5 miles down…stunning!
-
- We used these to boogie down and get back up again…
-
- Another 5 miles to the bottom…
-
- A teenager has been here…
Having rebooted our selves in The Land of Enchantment we headed towards Arizona and The Grand Canyon. We made it to Flagstaff, AR. where we spent the nigh in the frigid mountain climate in our favorite place, a hotel parking lot. We awoke bright-eyed and bushy-tailed ready for our adventure in the grandest of canyons. But first we hit up the most tasty breakfast where they served a heaping helping of beans, rice and a ha-uge cheese and egg burrito. Sooo good. For anyone in Flagstaff, hit up MartAnne’s breakfast spot…super tasty and very reasonably priced. We were only able to finish half of the food, but were excited to gobble up the rest later.
We met the loveliest waitress at the restaurant wearing a beautiful purple apron with embroidered flowers who gave us advice on where to take a shower. She told us, in a quite a conspiriatory voice, that we could probably go down to the aquatic Center on first and walk right in to the locker room. We all had a good giggle talking about looking casual and getting in for free, but she gave us some good advice and we headed down the main street to the center.
Flagstaff is a great town, with lots of yummy places to eat, a stunning setting and plenty of hip, young peeps cruising around. Both Natalie and I loved it and want to go back. A cool tidbit about the town is that it was built along the railroad tracks that run along the south side of the town. As the town expanded it stayed mostly along the north side of the tracks as it is today, creating a long, extended town that is strange but compelling. The town has of course expanded across the tracks, but majority of it still lies along the North side.
After we had a great shower at the super cool aquatic center, an indoor water park and gym, we hopped in the Tuna and drove up to The Grand Canyon, which was a quick 50 miles east and then north of the I-40. As we approached the park the traffic was a bit overwhelming. It was about 10 am when we got there but the lines were already twelve to twenty cars long. We took a deep breath and jumped in. After paying the fee, which wasn’t so bad, we weaved about the crowded parking lots to find a spot. There were so many people, all of whom waned to get there first, or fast or both. Staying calm was key.
We found a spot (good job Natalie) and packed our back packs full of water and salty snacks then headed out to the canyon. The first thought I had when I peered into the vast, colorful wonder of the world was, “I had no idea!” Because really, no matter how many pictures you see or stories you hear about this magical place they can not prepare for the real thing. It is amazing, mind blowing and so very special to see The Grand Canyon with your own eyes. And once you see it you realize that there is more then enough canyon for everyone. All of the stress of the tourists (that’s us too) and the lines and the hurrying just fades away and is replaced by the vastness of what lays before you. It’s just so dang big!
After walking around the paved walkway where most people first discover the canyon we decided we would strike out and walk the Rim Trail which fallows the rim of the canyon for 12 miles. It was a great walk and we found that just a few miles in most of the other people faded away and we had the trail to ourselves. It’s hard to gauge, but I think we walked about 5 to 8 miles, talking about this and that and admiring the view to our left as much as possible. Each time I looked up from the path I was surprised to see that endlessly deep, vividly colored canyon. Pictures, of course, cannot capture the vastness, but I took them anyway…
We were so beat after our flat land walk that we found a vista point that was also a bus stop and hopped on a bus back to the parking lots. We didn’t want to over do it the first day. One of the other passengers on the bus was a long distance runner visiting the canyon with his family and had just completed a 37 mile run from the top of the canyon down into it and out again. Can you imagine! 37 miles in the hot, dry unforgiving landscape! He looked a little tired, but for the most part fine.
We spent the night in the “town” outside of the park, in a hotel parking lot (surprise surprise) where I suffered first a bout of not being able “to go” so I ate like 20 dried apricots, and then soon after suffered a bout of going to much. Although it was not fun, having no bathroom of my own, Natalie and I laughed quit a bit that night as I came and went and many, many too many times! Thank goodness there was a forest around us…
The next day we headed back to the park and went directly to one of the trailhead’s that heads down into the canyon. We struck out with vigour. The way down was all fun and games, with amazing views the whole way and words of encouragement to those heading back up. We hiked about 5 miles in, stopping for salty snacks and water breaks, and stopped at what we were told was about the halfway point to the bottom. From there we could see the river and just make out the lodge by the river side. The hike back up was much, much harder and we both got sunburns but smiles were always present.
Well, I think that is enough of that, but seriously everyone has to go! Loves and hogs!!
Pics to come later….
