Grand Canyon

North America » United States
July 28th 2007

Published: September 14th 2007

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Arkansas Travelers

Sunrise

One of the benefits of camping!

Homolovi Ruins State Park/Little Colorado Scenic Overlook

This morning we saw several jackrabbits, lizards and a roadrunner. We went to the Ruins where a mile walk took us to Homolovi I. These native inhabitants lived here about 1200. We saw lots of pottery pieces, some with beautiful designs and colors.

If this is the Little Colorado…what will the Colorado be?! Looking down on these ‘big rocks’ kind of messes with my equilibrium. It sure was interesting but not really colorful. (Obviously written after I saw the Grand Canyon). It was a nice break.

We arrived at Desert View on the east side of the Canyon. This is a most interesting campground. There are lots of trees--only thing they are all short and squatty. Pinion pine and juniper, rocks and weeds. Got the dining fly up in good time. I don’t think anyone timed it. After lunch and a short nap we head out to actually see the Grand Canyon.

If I thought words failed me before… This is so magnificent so… so… so …GRAND!! Silas was completely wowed!! That is saying something as he has been just ‘oh cool’ about the places so far.

Road Runner

Beep! Beep!

Summits: check paper

Hiking the Canyon
We got a fairly early start (at least for us) for our hike on the Bright Angel Trail. Our goal was the first rest stop a mile and a half down. Everyone seemed to do okay. It was one of my favorite things so far. I guess my exercises have paid off. I was able to climb in and out. I didn’t
quite make it to the 1st rest stop but I had Silas with me and he was getting really weary. We still had to climb out. I think I could have gone the whole way but I wanted to make sure I could get Silas out. We had frequent stops to rest. I meet several interesting people but the most interesting was Petra. Petra was a really a trooper and I would nominate her for some award-an academy award in mountain climbing, or something. She pulled a muscle in her thigh and she limped out. Her very patient husband carried her backpack, offered encouragement and never seemed to be the least put out. Since I was having to stop and catch my wind it took me quite a bit of time

Quick Sand

Watch out!

to walk out also. Mom, Dad and Wade were resting also. They offered to take our picture so we posed and he told us to say something like ‘spaghetti von schnitzel’ (something like that) as they were from Germany. My sweet Nathan son carried some water back down to me. I sent him back to the top and had my kids all clap when Petra walked out. She was pleased but still in terrible pain! They were headed for some ice for that leg!!

Michael meet a man from Munich, Germany. As they exchanged stories it was ironic that this was Michael’s first visit to the Grand Canyon but he had seen the Berlin Wall when it was still standing. The younger German man had only seen the Berlin Wall after it came down and was also seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time.

Late that afternoon we went over to the Watchtower and bought souvenirs. Thank you, Granny and Grandpa!!!! Standing 4 stories above the Canyon was quite a view!

We heard a presentation from a ranger of tribal legends of how the moon and stars came to be. It is interesting to compare them