Grand Canyon - Rim to Rim

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July 26th 2010

Published: July 29th 2010

OK, so it took us 2 years (almost to the day), but Rich and I managed to get another extended hiking trip planned and completed. The trip started as a plan early last year, but busy schedules pushed the trip back to this Summer. Instead of climbing UP a big rock, then back down, we decided to climb DOWN a big hole, them climb back out. For so many different reasons, they are so completely diffe... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

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Bright Angel Creek

Fairly small at this point, but picks up several tributaries before it hits the Colorado River 8 miles from now.

Southern view of Bright Angel Canyon

Still cheating the Sun at certain parts of the Canyon.

Cottonwood Campground

This represents the halfway point to the bottom. A small ranger station, water, and outhouses reside here, along with a dozen or so small campsite. Only ran into one other group here, and no campers.

Continuing South out of Cottonwood Campground

Landscape turned sharply into a more desert like terrain for several more miles.

Narrow Bright Angel Canyon

Bright Angel Footbridge

Trail begins to cross the creek several more times before the bottom.

Bright Angel Canyon - entering more narrows

Canyon started to narrow again, and would continue to be more narrow as we got closer to the river.

Narrow Gorge in Bright Angel Canyon

This area was near an area called "the Box". The trail had us walking under a shear cliff that rose several hundred feet above us. The temperature dropped a good 10 degrees in the short section of the trail - but rose quickly after we exited this stretch.

More footbridges

Because of the narrowing canyon, the trail is forced back and forth over the creek.

Mules at Phantom Ranch

So this is where all the smell is coming from.

More Mules at Phantom Ranch

No, they aren't dead...

Kaibab Trail Suspension Bridge

440 feet long - built in 1928. This would be our exit path out of the bottom. The bridge was actually built during the night with floodlights to avoid the killer heat down here. The suspension cables couldn't be carried on mules, and instead had to be carried down on the shoulders of workers. This Bridge is still solid as a rock...

River Boats at landing area

Two boats arrived while we were in the area. These boats are massive, but look small from the Kaibab Bridge.

Swift Colorado River current

This river is very impressive up close. Views from the rim make the river look so small, but it is clearly a large body of water moving very swiftly.

Measuring Station

We weren't sure what this brick structure was (on the north bank of the river near the bridge), but suspect it may be a water measuring station??

Bright Angel Creek at the Campground

Most people that hiked to this location were soaking in this creek at one point. The refreshing water helped cool the tired feet (and more), and help to cool the sweltering afternoon heat.

Mule train waiting to cross

There's an entire protocol to crossing the bridge. The train held up for 10 minutes before crossing to make sure they had the clear right-of-way.

Kaibab Bridge from tunnel

Yes, it was very nice and cool in the tunnel. But Rich reminded me later "that we were entering Bat Country..."

Mule Warning

This is probably the only part in the world where Mules have more rights than humans. The mule trains really do hold the right-of-way, and they seriously enforce it...

South Kaibab Trail - first climb section

This would be our first section of climb out of the canyon. We would climb it at night, so thought we'd ge a look first - grrrrrr.

Doug at Kaibab Bridge tunnel

30th July 2010

Marge Elliott
non-member comment

Awesome!
Awesome commentary and wonderful pictures!

30th July 2010

CCE
non-member comment

Good write up & Pics
Nice Job!

31st July 2010

Meredith Elliott
non-member comment

Nice!
Sounds like an amazing hike, guys! Well done! Like the photos, too.

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Grand Canyon - Rim to Rim

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