North Rim to South Rim, Grand Canyon

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Friday, October 10, 2008

BIG wind in the North Rim camp ground shook the camper and made the Ponderosa Pines whine overhead overnight. Next to the washroom a dead Pine came down on the hood of car, missing the family’s tent by only 10 metres. Later we saw the owners at the pay phones, probably calling their insurance agent. Park workers bucked the prone tree and had it stacked for firewood in short order.

We showered and started out on the 220 mile drive between the two Rims, which are only 10 miles apart as the crow flies. What a great day for seeing geology! We left North Rim at almost 9000 feet, descended to the Colorado at Navajo Bridge at 3900 feet and re climbed to the South Rim at 8000 feet. In between there was an ever changing landscape to enjoy.

First we drove 40 miles north to Jacob Lake through a Ponderosa Pine and Aspen forest in full yellow fall colours. Then we descended to the Marble Plateau and passed the Vermilion Cliffs. This is a red cliff face about 1000 feet high along a very straight desert highway. The summit of these cliffs is capped with a blocky rock layer. Truck camper sized boulders have eroded from these cliffs and rolled down the slope to come to rest next to the highway at the town of, you guessed it, Vermillion Cliffs.

We crossed the Navajo Bridge over a blue-green Colorado River and started ascending towards the Kaibab Plateau of the South Rim. Here Highway 89A south passes next to the Echo Cliffs, cousins of the Vermilion Cliffs and through Navajo land. For miles between Gap and Cameron the arid moonscape was whipped into sand clouds by the continuing BIG winds. Small Navajo communities next to the highway looked very dry and dusty. Wherever there was a bare bit of land, a sand storm was in full force. At Cameron we turned west and stopped at the Little Colorado Canyon to gawk and tour the Navajo crafts. Kayla made several purchases. Richard prevented a large hand made vase from falling off a table that the wind tried to topple. Did we say the wind was BIG?

The road climbed into the Kaibab Plateau of the South Rim and we made one stop at Desert View to see the Grand Canyon from its south aspect. BIG winds didn’t prevent the bus loads of like minded sight seers from jostling with us for the best photo locations. As it was getting late and vey cool, we postponed the other view points and hurried on to our camp ground.

A review of the park literature revealed the Arizona Room at the Bright Angle Lodge for supper. Lots of other visitors had the same idea and so we waited in line over an hour for our table. The meal was delicious and so ended another great geology and road trip day.

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Photos

Fall Aspens Near North Rim
The gold colours were spectacular

Road to Nowhere
Actually there was some cattle herding going on a bit further west, with ATV's. Vermillion Cliffs in the background.

Vermillion Cliffs
Desert landscape in the foreground. Hot, dry and dusty that day, with ferocious winds continuing.

Road to Navajo Bridge
Vermillion Clifs on the right, Echo Cliffs on the left.

Pedestrian Crossing, Navajo Bridge
Vermillion Cliffs in background

Navajo Bridge
Vermillion Cliffs in background

Colordao River from Navajo Bridge
Vermillion Cliffs in background

Desert View Overlook
South Rim, Grand Canyon

Desert View, South Rim
Grand Canyon

Desert View
South Rim, Grand Canyon

Late Afternoon, Desert View
South Rim, Grand Canyon

Late Afternoon, Desert View
South Rim, Grand Canyon

Late Afternoon, Desert View
South Rim, Grand Canyon

Late Afternoon
South Rim, Grand Canyon

Silhouette of Grand Canyon, South Rim
From Desert View