The Grand Canyon

Back from a camping trip to the Grand Canyon with Stian and Lily. Was alot of fun, and the canyon is totally spectacular (well, who didn't know that!). Last Monday we hiked down the Kiabab Trail to the Bright Angel Campground - right at the bottom, by the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch. Tuesday we did a day hike along the Clear Creek Trail - unfortunately not making it to the waterfall at the end.....if there is indeed a waterfall, which with how dry it all was is a little dubious. Weds we had a lazy day around the campground and Phantom Ranch - slept in, wrote postcards to be delivered by mule (you post them at the bottom and they are carried by mule to the top and posted), played Uno and Balderdash and generally relaxed. Thursday we headed all the way out (the original plan was to stay at Indian Campground ~1/3 of the way up, but the pull of hamburgers and a shower were too great) up the Bright Angel Trail.

Amazingly, though the day before was a snow/rain storm and we set out on Monday in drizzle, the weather was on our side, we had some spectacular views all time and never once got soaked. It was cold now (ice on top of the tent in the mornings), but really not too cold which was great. To be honest, I couldn't imagine hiking the canyon in mid summer 105F heat with tons of tourists around - I guess my theme of visiting National Parks in the winter is still holding true!

Friday we then had a "fat tourista" day and did the car sights around the South Rim (pulling up in the car, winding down the windows, taking photos, pointing at how beautiful it is, then driving off), stopping in the gift shops and generally having fun. We then headed back to Flagstaff, walked the Art Walk in the evening, and went to bed early for an early start (for Stian and I anyway) for the airport in the AM. Thanks to Lily for being our tour guide!

I'll let the pics tell the story.....

Any feature of this size, the pictures are never going to do justice to, but here it is - the Grand Canyon. Right at the bottom you can see the Colorado River, and thats where we headed.

Headed down the Kaibab Trail, an overcast day, but at least it didn't pour on us!

At the bottom - the Colorado River - and you can just make out on the left the roofs of buildings that are part of Phantom Ranch and the Bright Angel Campground. The Campground and ranch itself and further into a tributary on the left.

A mule team coming into Phantom Ranch......mules, not donkeys....:0)

My cutie all tucked up in the tent on our lazy day.

Lily and Stian standing on one of the bridges over the Colorado River.

On the way up....at the bottom of the Bright Angel Trail it was warm enough to wear a t-shirt to hike......

.......at the top there was snow!