Glencanyon Dam and HorseShoe Bend, Page, AZ

The story of this trip is that we always try to squeeze in a hike or something at the end of the day when we arrive, or in the morning before we leave. This is how we reached a total hiking distance of 50km or so.   But... you have to be conscious of the amount of daylight left when you estimate a distance.   Going on a holiday in the spring did mean somewhat shorter days than  during the summer, but the temperatures for hiking were sublime!!  I can deal with a toque and gloves in the morning and evening, and layering down to a tshirt by noon.  

Page is NorthEast of the Grand Canyon.  Lovely and sandy. We were hoping to find a nice little hike and headed out of town toward the Glencanyon dam which is responsible for creating Lake Powell, another large reservoir.  And I thought that bush looked like a pile of chicken wire!  The hike near the dam was too long for the amount of daylight left, but a lovely Canadian family hiking out gave us great directions to the Horseshoe bend....we made it to the trail head, headed over the dune and followed the trail.   I am amazed at how something as large as a 1000ft deep canyon can be virtually invisible in a horizontal landscape.  Until you get to the edge that is!

I don't mind heights but I don't like the edge.   And...I don't really like other people being close to the edge either!

Next stop: Antelope and Water Holes Canyons, Page, AZ

Grandview and Desertview, East end GC

The Grand Canyon lies in the Kaibab National Forest.  In this area, you are constantly driving in some National Forest or another.  Grandview and Desertview lie about 25 miles East of GC and Tusayan. 

The Grandview trail was a hike that both of us were looking forward to.  It was not a mule trail and we anticipated that it would be a bit more rugged.   A few minutes into the hike I realized that I like a much wider trail...  (check the 3rd and 4th photo!  They weren't kidding when they noted on the map that some scouting might be required.)  It made me think later that I like life to be that way too.  While I like the adventure and thrill of the road less traveled, I do like a broad path and some idea of how I will reach the destination.  I was surprised to feel a fear that squelched my excitement and sense of adventure. I so disappointed about that. Maybe, deep down inside, I don't like risk as much as I say I do. I don't think it was always like that.

And so you realize that you have changed and it lingers in your mind...what are you going to do about it?

I didn't want to hike to end for my beloved and we agreed that he would continue for another half hour.  While hiking alone is not recommended, I was happy that I wasn't holding him back from something he really wanted to do. A group had gone done just before us and another one was coming down behind us.  I knew I would be quite happy taking photos back at the top of the rim.  I spotted the Watchtower at the Desertview lookout and knew we soon would be there, taking our last looks of the Grand Canyon.

This is always bitter sweet.  Over the years I've learned that I like beginnings and first glimpses much more than endings and last glances. 

The last two photos are taken from the Desert View lookout and beyond.  The colors in the landscape are amazing. That meandering river is the Colorado.  There were rafts going down the river.  This would have been a fun adventure if we had more time, but we spent more time hiking...it was a great decision!


Next stop, Page Arizona!

AND....there is a steel post in front of the Kaibab National Forest sign, so you can all be in the photo with Smokey the Bear.  Another thing off the bucket list! 

A Day on Bright Angel Trail, GC

How fun! When it's your blog, you can write about your vacation as long as you want!  Yeay me!

Today we head out ont the Bright Angel Trail, which is really well known. Probably the most hiked trail in the park, likely because it is right in GC village.  It is also a mule trail and takes you down to Bright Angel Campground at the bottom of the canyon. And Bright Angel Lodge is right on the rim beside it.  After this post...you'll never forget that name.  When we set out....we planned to hike just past 1 1/2 Mile Rest House.

Operative word....planned....

On our way down a man with a heavy pack and a big tent on top was heading up. We quietly scoffed at his giant army issue pack and monster sized Coleman tent when he was out of earshot.  We continued on our way down.  When we were on our way up we saw that he had stopped at the 911 call box.  We waited until he was finished on the phone to see if we could do anything to help.  "Ted" had been camping with a family group and his daughter sprained her ankle as they were heading back out to the rim.   Help was on its way and we offered to carry his pack and tent up. Ted went back down. We combined our day-packs and my beloved carried the big pack and I carried the tent. And people quietly scoffed at our load!  I remember saying "It's not mine!!" to a group of young fellows all decked out in ultra-lite gear.  In the end, it was nice to be able to help a little with what was a big ordeal for someone else. Kind of makes for a good kind of exhausting. Sometimes I wonder if we realize how easy it is to help someone?

There is a neat time lapse video on the Grand Canyon Facebook page today of Bright Angel Trail, of clouds passing over the canyon, and teeny tiny people hiking in and out.

We also saw a California Condor...a fairly rare sighting...yes, it's the blue photo with the speck on it :)

One of my favourite pieces of gear is my camera bag. "I got my holsters around my side", (a line from needtobreathe's "The Outsiders").  It's on my hip and is so much easier than having to take my backpack off every-time I wanted the camera.  I simply unclip, reach in, take the lens cap off, flick the camera on, click! With one hand!

Still... the phrase most often out of my mouth was, "Argh wrong lens!!!"  My standard lens 18-55mm and my telephoto 55-250mm. I love them both!

Next stop, our last day at the Grand Canyon, Grandview and Desertview.

 
PS -Note to potential visitors: The Grand Canyon Village is across the road the Bright Angel Trailhead.  WE stayed 10 minutes outside the Grand Canyon, in Tusayan, which is basically a strip of hotels and restaurants, but not nearly as congested as the Village.  The shuttle service inside the park is fantastic. Bring a day pack, park at the visitor's centre and just ride the shuttle all day.  Visiting during the first week of March was ideal, since March Break guests had not arrived yet, but all the park facilities were opening up for the season. Bring refillable water containers since there are spring fed water refill stations at the visitor's centre and most main trail heads!