chapter 471

5/29/2017

Grand Canyon

southwest territories pt. 2

Amazed to see snow up on 12,000 ft Mt Humphrey (highest point in Arizona) as we approached Flagstaff out of the desert. In fact we had a dusting of snow the first night at the Canyon as temps went down to 28 degrees. Top of rim is at 7200 feet elevation. Glad we had taken jacket and long pants just in case. Stopped several times before I found this photo opportune spot. Treaded lightly thru the grass looking for rattlesnakes. There are 13 types of animals in Arizona that can kill you (including 13 kinds of rattlesnakes).

We got to the Grand Canyon South Rim around noon which didn't have good lighting for photo depth but the Canyon always looks good in any light from any angle. Colleen a little unsettled going down the steep narrow South Kaibab trail. Left her on this outcropping for a photo from above. I tell her not to raise arms like a tourist, so it's kind of a running joke. Went down to Ooh Aah point and back about two miles. Did not want to over stress hip on first day. All the way to bottom and back is around 14 miles and one mile vertical anyway.

Free shuttle was flawless every 20 minutes to Tusayan a mile away for lodging. Going pre tourist season very quiet with pleasant weather.

On the way down the mule team passed us. They have the right of way and you just go close to the canyon wall and let them pass by quietly. That was fine in some spots but on one occasion I chose the round of a bend for a photo op like you see near the horizon line here. The mule hooves were just inches from stepping on me, but all ended well. Their journey is around 5 hours top to bottom and return. Not my idea of fun and you are trusting your life to the whims of a cross breed. (*Colleen cell phone pic)

Not that mules are the stupidest animal at the Canyon. When Heisenberg was asked if he was in danger from the drug cartel, he replied, "I am the danger." Tourists are their own worst enemies. Thought this was one of the typically careless Chinese tourists until I saw her family of local native American indians. The Canyon averages more than 7 deaths a year over its 100 year history. Suicide, accident, etc. Suicide jumper of a Scottsdale man was in the local news at the dramatic 180 degree Horseshoe Bend that we visited days later. Forgot cam on that outing.

But you don't have to be fool hardy to get in trouble. We saw several conservative hikers slipping on loose rocks. You are just feet from death much of the time, in fact that is part of the fun. With a perimeter of probably over a thousand miles it would be impractical to install guide rails.

When we hiked the perimeter Rim Trail west one morning we had a good view of the Bright Angel Trail we had gone down a few times only part way. Enough to get a feel for the Canyon that you don't get by simply starring from the top. Highly recommended to at least go down a bit that you feel comfortable with.

At this Hopi House within the Grand Canyon Village I met one Hopi saleswoman. Asked about the maker of my Hopi ring but alas, no information as expected. Most of the staff were Navajo as they are the predominate population from the large Navajo Reservation in the northeast corner of Arizona. Colleen insisted we stay past noon our last day there to watch the dancers, who were Navajo and spectacular. This young girl was a blur of activity so I set cam to burst mode and captured a few hundred shots, only to keep this one. The hoop dancer was very good but had a few problems. This video shows an even better performance the intricacies of that dance by the same dancer a few years ago. Did the early original natives do this, I guess maybe.

We spent time talking with a Dutch family while awaiting the dance routine. It was quite enjoyable meeting many people from around the world. We talked to a Canadian tenting couple at morning breakfast then spoke to them on the trail later.

The furthest point to the east 22 miles on the free Grand Canyon shuttle buses is Desert View. A good spot to see the Colorado River at the bottom. We hit it at sundown and Colleen captured this in panorama mode on cell phone. I must admit this mode is effective. One of my cameras does but I only had my jack of all trades pocket cam on this trip. Her phone actually broke down on the trip (so I win). Next chapter lies on the far horizon, the hillside cliffs of Marble Canyon a few miles from Utah.

Best filet mignon ever (grass fed western beef?). We weren't rushed on our trip nor trying to see everything. We set out obtainable goals driving 200 miles every other day to different spots. Cannot cover all the adventures but I must document, however, to understand better what we saw and savor the journey even more.

Deaths at Grand Canyon perspective