Arizona - Grand Canyon, Bright Angel Trail

 

The first section was listed as "easy" and I would agree, mostly a gentle downward slope.

Easy going to get to the first tunnel/hole in the rock.

After that it was listed as "difficult", a bit steeper, stone and wood steps and rough rock slopes.

We could see mules making their way up

and a sign had told us what to do.

We waited at a wide section and let them come past. Very hot sweaty mules but they looked very healthy. From there on we saw (and smelled) a lot of mule poop on the trail.

Further down, at the next tunnel, we took a break for some chocolate, to give Mike and River a break and to take off some of our layers of clothing.

We met people who were just finishing 3 days of hiking...rim to rim. They started on the other side of the canyon, hiked down, camped in the canyon (must have somehow crossed the Colorado River) and were now hiking back up this side.

Time for a family photo. Maya had just slipped and landed on her bottom, that's why the sad face. I had decided that I was turning around at this point as I knew the hike back up would be tough. We had been hiking for 22 minutes and knew the return trip would be twice as long. The kids decided to return with me and there wasn't much debate until it was decided that we were all heading back up.

I had bought a walking stick with me (that folded up small enough to fit in my carry on luggage) and I found I really needed it.

I stopped now and then to bring my heart rate back down

and on one of the rest stops we turned and saw this....

Big Horn Sheep keep their HORNS forever, and every year they grow larger, sometimes reaching 40 pounds. The big horn sheep are quite remarkable animals, adapted to canyon life in many ways. They have soft padded hooves that cling to the rocks as they jump from one rock to the next without even thinking about the danger of falling. And what about the lack of water in the canyon cliffs? A big horn sheep can lose 30% of its body weight with no problem and then drink that same amount of water the next time down to the river! Isn’t that incredible? from explorethecanyon.com

Kept an eye on us

and then headed down to join another one.

Aimee and Maya went on ahead, while Mike, Avery and River kept me company.

The clouds made constantly changing shadows and we were,luckily, hiking in the shade.

It took me over an hour to make the return trip. The plan had been to go to the third dot on this map but we turned around at the 2nd dot and it took an hour and a half in total.

We headed back to the visitor centre via the shuttle bus.

Arizona - Sedona to Grand Canyon Village

Up and out of the cottages by 8am. First stop, Flagstaff, Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. Photo by Chris

 

The road from Sedona to Flagstaff was beautiful, along a steep river valley with red rock buttes and cliffs. Then onto a grass plateau followed by some national forest areas. We were at the Grand Canyon entrance by 11am.

A lineup to get into the park but plenty of parking and open spaces to accommodate visitors once we were in.

There is a paved path that goes for miles and miles along the rim but also a very efficient and comfortable shuttle system.

Getting ourselves organized for our excursions.

Our first glimpse. It takes your breath away. It doesn't matter how many pictures you've seen, how much drone footage, it is still hard to believe it is real. It is so massive. 300 miles long, 1 mile deep, 10 miles wide.

This was the trail we had decided to do. The original plan was 1hr down and 2hrs up. That wouldn't have even accomplished a third of the trail.

This was who was going. Chris, Jason and Cigi were staying on the rim walk. River was along for the ride.

 

That's as far as I am going with today's blog. It is after 10pm, I am exhausted and I took about 100 photos today that I have to sort through before choosing which to post. So this is "too be continued....."

Arizona -- Mesa to Sedona

 

Thursday was actually cloudy and occasionally drizzly. Chris, Jason and Cigi went to the Natural History Museum and the rest of us

just chilled at the house and in the pool.

Today, Friday, we went through the chaos of packing up the 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom house which of course we had spread out in. On the road shortly after 10am, first through foothills covered with scrub and cactus and then up onto flat mesas (broad flat topped mountains) of grassland.

We stopped for our picnic lunch near Prescott at this man made lake

with strange rock formations.

The Granite Dells is a geological feature north of Prescott, Arizona. The Dells consist of exposed bedrock and large boulders of granite that have eroded into an unusual lumpy, rippled appearance. from Wikipedia.

We had been climbing since leaving Mesa and the sun was warm but the breeze had a hint of a chill. Leaves were changing colour. The kids played on some equipment, we ate,

Maya showed off her cartwheeling skills

and we headed down to the lake

where there were rocks to be climbed,

fish to be spotted,

along with ducks,

squirrels and

water snakes (I still say it looks like a feather, Chris)

Back to the car and the next section

was a steep, winding road through pine forest

with peeks at the topography to come.

Dark eyed Junko (They also have yellow eyed ones here)

We are at Sedona Pines Resort for the next 3 nights.

We have 3, 1 bedroom

cottages. Each

about the size of a large RV.

We checked in, walked around and then rushed to try and catch the sunset from the airport lookout

as I snapped pictures out the car windows as the formations glowed red in the setting sun.

We had just missed it but enjoyed some cloud colours,

views over Sedona

and some fiddle music.

Meanwhile, back in Port Dover, this is Ricks most recent photo. I am not sure if this is the Andromeda Galaxy or an emissions nebula. Either way, very cool.