Grand Canyon- Thoughts

At some point last year Cappuccino was wondering out loud, what would it be like to go down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I told her about my experience with it, hiking the Arizona Trail back in 2017 (AZT2017), but she wanted to do it herself. So, a plan was hatched to accomplish this.

Of course, nothing is simple and to stay in the Canyon requires a hard to get permit, but we researched the requirements. A lottery is held for permits four months prior to the month you want to hike. Of the tens of thousands of people that want to go down into the Canyon and stay for a night or two, only 750 lottery slots are available per month. Cappuccino, Jolly Rancher, and I decided to go on the trip, so we all applied for a lottery slot and we all lost. But after the lottery winners finish getting their permits, the lottery losers for the month get a first come shot at any remaining slots and Cappuccino got one of those. One night at Bright Angel CG on September 10th. JR had to drop out due to other commitments, so, in the end, it was just Cappy and me.

We knew it would be hard and we knew it would be hot, but we also knew it would be amazing and it was all of these things and more.

On our first day, as tourists, we got our bearings and soaked up a little of the human history of the Canyon and Grand Canyon Village. Then we were treated to a wondrous jaw dropping sunset. The next day we were excited to hike down 4,800 feet to the bottom. Moving from the forested South Rim to the desert below. The temperature change was most apparent, but the change in kinds and varieties of plant life was fascinating, too.

We did pretty well with the heat, but were glad to have a chance to cool off in the creek. Then to have one of the all time greatest lemonade/ice teas of our lives at Phantom Ranch was frosting on the cake. And, although it was hot, it was generally tolerable, if not pleasant, in the shade of our campsite.

Hiking out the next morning started hot, but soon cooled off. Rather than onerous, the hike up Bright Angel Trail turned out to be kind of fun. For instance, as we neared Havasupai Gardens, a young Mule Deer stood 10 feet from us looking back and forth at the two of us for a minute or two before bounding away on spring loaded legs. We were able to chat with a number of hikers along the way. We passed or were passed by German, French, Chinese, Australian, British, Indian, and Canadian hikers. There were hikers our age on down to one little girl who was probably 7 or 8 carrying a backpack. It was an international hike.

Our trip out of the Park yesterday had us stop by one last Grand Canyon landmark, The Desert View Watchtower. Designed by architect, Mary Colter, in the 1930’s it is iconic and offered a great last view of the Canyon for us.

We had an amazing time at the Grand Canyon. We tried to take in all the Canyon had to offer. We tested ourselves and found out we were up to the task. Amazing, wondrous, beautiful, strenuous, colorful, majestic, awe inspiring, there are just no words that can captured the essence of this place.

John Wesley Powell, the famous early explorer of the Grand Canyon, said it well. “The wonders of the Grand Canyon cannot be adequately, represented in symbols of speech, nor by speech itself. The resources of the visual arts are taxed beyond their powers in attempting to portray its phenomenal beauty. Language and illustration combined must fail.”

Safe Travels and Happy Trails!

P.S.- I will return to this blog near the end of the year to outline my plans for next year’s adventures. Until then take care.