Sliding in the Phenomenally Stunning Grand Canyon!
Trip Start
Aug 22, 2011
1
47
54
Trip End
Feb 13, 2012
Where I stayed
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
After a few beverages around the log fires of the swanky ‘Grand Hotel’ across the road and a good nights sleep we set out to the ‘Grand Canyon Village,’ located near the South Rim of the Canyon. Once we had parked and been advised on walking conditions in the Visitors Centre we caught our first glimpse of the breathtaking Canyon at ‘Mather Point.’
Nothing can quite prepare you for the vastness of it and no photograph can quite do it justice nor take in it’s magnitude. At 446km long, up to 29km wide, and over a mile in depth, it truly is beyond the grasp of any imagination.
We had decided to do the ‘South Kaibab Trailhead,’ past ’Ooh Aah Point,’ as far as ‘Cedar Point’ - a 3-mile round trip. After catching a free shuttle bus to ‘Yaki Point’ we set out on our expedition armed with a picnic and great anticipation. The trail followed an exposed ridge line and descended 1000-ft into the Canyon along a north facing wall in zigzags. The views were beyond phenomenal, an endless expanse of different coloured and shaped rock faces. Layer upon layer of exposed rock cut by the 'Colorado River' over millions of years.
The walking conditions were treacherous in the snowy, icy, and slushy conditions, and we really didn’t have the correct attire (Ugg Boots & old trainers…) Typical! It was difficult descending as much of the track was frozen and it was more a case of gliding down rather than walking! Definitely made it more entertaining, especially as a certain someone fell down a couple of times, and it wasn’t me for a change!
After the long-steep descent the conditions became a little easier and the consistently stupendous views of the Canyon more than made up for it. We hiked through successive different landscapes and topography of the 7000-ft South Rim, each with different and incomprehensible panorama. It really is hard to imagine a bad view of the Grand Canyon.
Once we had reached the stunning ’Cedar Point’ and had lunch we began our ascent. Well, we thought it was difficult getting down but it was twice as hard getting back up! Due to the views of the landscape it’s easy to overlook how far you’ve descended, and ascending 1000-ft in snow and ice was taxing to say the least!
But we made it! And it was such a sense of achievement.
We caught the shuttle bus to a couple of the other viewing points around the South Rim before the drive back and numerous celebratory drinks. What a day… we had just been for a hike around the GRAND CANYON. It’s still hard to comprehend.
No time to grasp it now though as it’s the morning after and we are on route to… VEGAS BABY!
