Grand Canyon-Getting There
Cappuccino and I started out about 6 AM, stopped by Starbucks for coffee and a sandwich, and got on Interstate 40 headed west. It would be five hours heading through western New Mexico and eastern Arizona until we got just outside of Flagstaff. From there we angle up on 180 and then Highway 64 to the little town of Tusayan just outside Grand Canyon National Park. We grabbed a bite and then went to our motel to see if we could check in early. Fortunately we could and we did.
From there, we drove into the park. There was almost a no traffic and very few people around. We drop by the Backcountry Ranger Station, but they were out to lunch so we walked around to get the lay of Grand Canyon Village. This park service town has all of the motels and hotels along the south rim as well as all of the staff and employees of the Park Service that are needed to run it. We were able to find the trail that we will finish on as well as establish where we could pick up the bus in the morning.
Then we went back to the Ranger Station and talked with the backcountry ranger about a few questions that we had. He told us the water was on at all the locations, the Silver Bridge was operational across the Colorado, and how we could get on the bus in the morning.
After we left the station we were free to be tourist and Ooo and Ahh with everyone else. We ended up hiking over 5 miles, riding two buses, and generally seeing all the sights and historic structures around the village. But the star of the show was obviously the Grand Canyon itself.
Every time I visit this place, I come away more awestruck than the last time. I will not bore you with descriptions. I do not have the words, but the few photos in this post will have be my meager attempt to show you what we saw.
Eventually we got dinner back in Tusayan then returned to the canyon for a stunning sunset.
Tomorrow we get up at 5AM, get breakfast at MacD’s, and drive to the Canyon to catch first bus to the Trailhead at 6AM. I will write a blog post tomorrow, but may not be able to send it from the bottom. So it may be delayed a day.
Until tomorrow-Happy Trails!
Good morning. Great to hear water will be readably available. Love that you hiked for five miles on the day before your descent to the Colorado River. Just what I would have wanted to do. That you checked into your motel early, does that suggest that there are not quite so many park visitors? Breakfast at McDonald’s! Reminds me of meeting you two plus years ago at the McDonald’s in Lee, MA. As always, love the journey.
Hey Dan- doing the tourist thing on the South Rim prior to the trip down was exactly the right thing to do for us. And Yes! Apparently it is still too hot for there to be much of any crowds at the Canyon. MacD’s breakfast does remind me of our meeting in Lee, too