Grand Canyon

North America » United States » Arizona » Grand Canyon National Park
April 21st 2007

Published: April 21st 2007

Edit Blog Post

Phileas

$2million helicopters

Onward the next day, after two lovely sunny days the day I was to reach my destination it was cold windy and cloudy (the Rainmaker lurking again ) Finally got there and the weather not the best in the world overcast windy and really cold (In Nevada at night it got really cold ) I thought Arizona was a warm state all those movies you see of brilliant sunshine and spectacular scenery .

What really attracted me was a trip by helicopter over and along the canyon .too good to miss so booked that and headed back to the local airport about 2klms down the road. I was booked on the 14-00 flight got there as the 13-00 flight left ten mins later told the 14-00 flight had been suspended till 15-00 because of the weather and would be reviewed at 13-45 .I thought of all the days the weather on this trip that have interfered this was the worst! Waited till 13-45 and it was still iffy I couldn’t come the following day as I had to deliver the car back to Las Vegas Airport by 14-00pm the following day so it was go or cancel, very frustrating.

The Fleet

well the pilot said will go, and access the weather on route to see which trip he would do ,I had elected to do the longer loop but that may change once up there.
We all climbed aboard and off we went being buffeted by the wind a bit but being assured by the Pilot (Scott ) a veteran of Vietnam and a commercial pilot in Alaska with a 25year unblemished career.I was really looking forward to my first glimpse of the Canyon

The $2 million helicopters were state of the art and very safe and stable. Some 10mins later you come to the rim of the canyon then you are over it .Wow!! It's spectacular the size of it is staggering, Pictures cannot show the immensity of this amazing natural wonder. Created by the Colorado river and land movement over millions of years .It has been calculated that before the Hoover Dam turned the river into a trickle in comparison the raging torrents of water that gushed through the Canyon lowered it by 6inches every 1000years it now a mile deep and millions of tons of silt was washed down to create very fertile land down river

Arriving at the South rim

.It just so difficult to describe, the shear size and it extends for over 250 miles .The rock formations are incredible, the colours are outstanding it’s just staggering .We were lucky over the Canyon the weather was much better and we managed the full 50-min tour .I wouldn’t of missed for the world as they say a truly amazing experience.

We returned to the airport. I the went into the national park which is the Grand Canyon and followed the directions for some 5 klms and eventually came to a mirador site got out the car and was nearly blown away it was freezingt as well, not very pleasant at all but I just had to see the canyon from Terra Firma. Back to the car and further along the canyon for more views ,by his time getting pretty late and I was frozen even with the heater going full blast being in and out the car taking more pics. . Returned to the National Geographic centre to watch the Imax film made about the Canyon (Imax boasts a 20x20 metre screen and you are in the picture a bit like the old 3 Dimensional films 3D) very impressive

Over we go WOW !

It's just amazing ,the vastness one mile deep !!

but not what I expected but was enjoyable. By this time it was about 19-30 and I needed to get on my way as Las Vegas is some 250klms away. I wanted to get some way that night and headed for Kingman about an hours drive.

Phileas

Additional photos below

Photos: 27, Displayed: 24