07/25/2004 to 07/27/2004
Our plan was to hike around the North Rim on Monday, the 26th. Since it's a full day's drive we started out on Sunday, taking our time and enjoying the drop in temperatures as we got above the rim.
Our trip took us through the Navajo Reservation and some beautiful sandstone.
We stopped to the admire the Navajo Bridge, both old and new, that replace the old Ferry.
We took a side trip to Lee's Ferry, or what's left of the fort, viewed the Vermillion Cliffs, and arrived at the Kaibob Lodge around 4:30 that afternoon. This place sits in a beautiful meadow and is undergoing renovation.
The next day we went into The Grand Canyon where we had reserved a "cabin". for the night.
We did a little sight seeing as we went up to the North Rim.
The Navajo Bridge provides a great view of the Colorado River.
Lee's Ferry is a bit of history - it was the only means of crossing from Utah into Arizona for many years.
The road to Lee's Ferry passes these great balancing boulders and skirts along the Vermillion Cliffs.
Originally the only way accross the Colorado was Lee's Ferry. The original Navajo Bridge (on the left) replaced the Ferry
You can't tell from this shot just how high this is, but people by the river look like ants
On the way to Lee's Ferry we passed these great rocks. The base is Moenkopi formaton and the boulder is Shinarump that rolled down from the cliffs
Just another great rock
Yup, these are some huge rocks. Absolutely beautiful
The Paria River runs into the Colorado. A riffle is a disturbance not large enough to call a rapid, or so the sign said
Some surrounding countryside at Lee's Ferry
An enterprising Morman named Lee started the ferry as a means to get business into Arizona. To say the least, he did very well
We stayed the night at Kaibob Lodge. It's being renovated and needs some help, but the setting is beautiful
The lodge was designed by Gilbert S. Underwood, same man who did many of the lodges in our national parks. It was built in 1927-28.
A fire destroyed part of it in 1932. It was rebuilt to a more modern, streamlined form in 1936, eliminating the second story and observation tower.
However much of the original stone was used in the reconstruction so it maintains that lovely forest lodge feel we enjoy so much.
This is the Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim. Beautiful old stone and wood building
Our little home away from home. Actually, it's a duplex. The other half is on the other side
The patio at the Lodge
A shot of the Lodge from the Bright Angel Point Trail
The Lodge Patio - great place for a Iced Mocha
Yup, I'm lovin it
The dining room is beautiful. Remnants of a more elegant time
Folks just come in here to sit and enjoy the view
George took these sunset shots along the Bright Angel Point Trail
A different sunset - notice the rainbow
These next shots are from the Bright Angel Trail Point. It's a nice little walk near the Lodge
Our first day at the North Rim we decided to hike down the North Kaibob Trail. There are 2 destinations. The first is the Supai Tunnel, about 2.5 miles down. Farther down is Roaring Springs at 4.5 miles .
The down's not bad, but the up is a killer, at least for us old folks. I swear the trail up is an 80% incline.
That winding red ribbon is the North Kaibob Trail. It's 2 miles or so down to the tunnel, but feels like 10 miles back up to the rim
Nice little stroll down the trail.
The Supai Tunnel was blasted through the rock. It's a little over 2 miles from the rim
The far side of the Supai Tunnel. We decided to turn back here
Just a gorgeous formation along the trail
We made it back up the trail. All in all we made good time - less than 3 hours total
The second day we did the Uncle Jim Trail.
It's a lot easier, and winds through the woods. Cool, very quiet, and pleasant.
At the half way point is the overlook. You can see the N. Kaibob Trail and a great view of the canyon,
And to prove the world is a very small place we met a man on the trail I had worked with many years ago. Nice to catch up.
We saw deer along the trail. They were not very upset by our presence, but we were quiet and moved slowly
It's only fair I have a picture of George on the trail.
We just thought these looked so pretty
The view from the overlook. Rather splendid isn't it?
You can make out the N. Kaibob Trail accross the Canyon
Driving around the rim provides ample opportunities to stop along the road and enjoy the many views overlooking the canyon.
Yup, An Overlook.
Funny how the language actually says what it is.
This rock was just taking a stroll along the road. Rock & Road?
This is called Angel Window
I'm on the Angel Window overlook.
Look closely and you can see the Colorado River
Another shot of the Colorado River
A shot from the overlook at Cape Royal
Another view from the Cape Royal overlook