Blogs from Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States, North America - page 9

Advertisement


For this year's birthday, I decided to go to Arizona. I originally wanted to head out to Monument Valley and look for Peyote along the way, but then I figure I might as well check out The Grand Canyon, while I'm there.... read more
Museum
IMG_1610
Pizzaria Bianca. Fire!!


Temp: -2 degrees Call time to bus, 8am. We decided to go to breakfast at around 7.30. Then we were off to the Airport for our helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon. When we arrived we were told we were on a weather hold, and we wouldnt know if we could fly till 10am. so back to the camp site we went. Then next few hours were just basacally killing time till we found out. Monty our tour guide found us at 10 am and told us we were booked in to fly at 2 and 3pm. So at 1.30 we made our way back to the airport. After weigh in and a bit of waiting around we were split into groups based on weight and were ushered to our helicopter! Katherine was lucky enought to ... read more
031
033
035


Temp: -2 Degree Bags to coach 7:45am, but we wanted to get up early and write our blogs from the past two days and try and get to Maccas to use the WIFI to upload them. After our 6am start it soon was time to leave Vagas. The town proved a little too much for some people & we didn't ended up leaving until a little before 8:30am. As we were leaving Vegas you could see the snow on the Mountainsthat was causing the air to be so icy. Todays drive to the Grand canyon should have been only about 6-7 hours but becuase we left late and the weather it took close to 10 hours. Our first stop for the day was a few hours in for lunch, and we got to visit our very ... read more
108568224 732982526 n[1]
In N' Oun Double Double Animal Style
13-12-12 116


After 2 days at Zion we hit the road once more down to Grand Canyon South rim village. I had seen the Grand Canyon before but it was Jamie’s first time and he was definitely impressed. We arrived in time for sunset and we were treated to a great show. The only minor gripe was there was a fire nearby which resulted in a very hazy view as the smoke settled in the canyon. As we were contemplating life, we discussed the possibility of hiking down to Plateau Point, which is a 20km return trip into the canyon, and descends 3,000 feet. This still isn’t all the way to the Colorado river. That hike is much further and not to be attempted in a single day. We pretty much made up our minds to hike to ... read more
The site of volcanic activity
Meteor Crater
A recreation lucky dip?


The day we left Vegas, we made it almost all the way to the Grand Canyon. Instead of going in during the evening time, we stopped at a pretty much scary motel about an hour outside the park. The town where Motel Route 66 was located was pretty cute- like something out of an old Western. Except that it had a Starbucks. However, the motel itself was to date the sketchiest place we had stayed. Upon arrival, around 5pm, Rob went to sleep and didn’t wake up until the morning. Little guy was just tuckered out. The room was teeny-tiny-tony, with a bathroom the size of that on an airplane. Every time I went in there, I felt like Chris Farley in Tommy Boy trying to maneuver around unsuccessfully. Additionally, the room was actually 2 rooms, ... read more
Grand Canyon
Livin' on the edge
General Silliness


Not only is Sweetie still alive but out of the bed for a Sunrise Walk in the Canyon. We head to Mather Point - the far east part of the Southern Rim where we're staying. Light truly dictates the view at the Canyon. Had to head back to the room for a short while - the cold air was killing Sweetie's head. After a couple of hours, it was time to head out for breakfast. We decided to skip the cafeteria style and head to Bright Angel Lodge at the rim. We both scored big with a great meal for a change. Sweetie had a Huevos Rancheros Skillet with blue corn tortillias, refried beans, green chiles, scattered hash browns, cheese and eggs over hard. I had a country fried steak skillet with country fried steak, scattered ... read more
The Sun Making it over the Trees
Sun Washing the Canyon
Elk Cows Having Breakfast


Today not starting out so well as Sweetie woke up with full fledged crud. Hot and cold, sweats, body aches, but she is fighting it with Dayquil and Nyquil. I doctor her the best I can, but we agree that the best thing for her today is stay in bed. With her blessing, I head out and pick up the Trail of Time where we left off yesterday. You can see the trail that leads down into the canyon from this point, with several hikers hiking down. I pick up the pace and hike up to Trailview Overlook, with several observations along the way. Next up is Maricopa Point, with a 400 ft. elevation gain since I began. The vistas from here are awesome - way beyond belief. Pictures with our little camera and cell phone ... read more
Definition of Vastness
Grand Canyon Solo Trip


This morning we rose and discovered some one of nature's real beauties, the Grand Canyon. The first time we viewed this monstous crack in the earth, it was awe-inspiring. We viewed Mather Point first with many photo opportunities. It's located on the east side of the viewing rim near the Visitors Center. While there, we listened to a park ranger's discussion of wildlife in the park, at the Mather Point Amphitheater. Most of the talk was on Big Horn Sheep (not Mountain Goats as Sweetie originally thought!) and their ability to adapt to this rough terrain. We then viewed a 30 minute film on the history of the Grand Canyon, with narration by Peter Coyote. Truly amazing how this canyon has transformed over 2 billion years. We also learned about the history of eight (8) different ... read more
Thank you for Railings!
Pictures can't do it Justice
Railings, Schmailings - No Hands!


It's time to get the Traveling Traverse rolling again. We leave Las Vegas and head to the Grand Canyon, with a stop at the Hoover Dam. The Hoover Dam is one of the world's largest dams that controls floods, generates electricity and provides water. It was built during the Great Depression at a cost of $49 million and completed in 1935. The size and vastness of it just reinforces the size and vastness of our travels in this part of the country. We continue on through the desert and some real ugly landscape. After we pass through Kingman, the terrain starts to green up and look better. We make our first stop on Route 66 in the small town of Seligman. It still has artifacts of a bygone era (Route 66), but you can tell it ... read more
Hoover Dam Reservoir
Bridge over Hoover Dam
Base of the Hoover Dam


Another big driving day for us as we travelled from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon. After a last go at the The Orleans Breakfast Buffet, and another quick stop at the outlet mall (where Brett and I had a turn shopping) we headed off, stopping at The Hoover Dam on the way. A pretty amazing feat of engineering, though I think Brett as an ex-surveyor appreciated the finer details more than the female members of the Hjorth clan. We have decided that Americans do everything big - from dams, to valleys and national parks, meals and vehicles, and as we found out today, canyons. We have all seen pictures of the Grand Canyon before but absolutely nothing can prepare you for your first glimpse over the rim. Absolutely breath-taking, and words nor photos can do it ... read more
View from Mather Point with Condor
Hover Dam
View from Mather Point




Tot: 0.148s; Tpl: 0.009s; cc: 3; qc: 84; dbt: 0.0839s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.2mb