A Canyon So Grand

I've been to the Grand Canyon many times, but it's still a sight to behold. We came in from the east entrance and had one night at the Desert View Campground. One of the things I find so interesting about GC is that you generally drive uphill (quite a bit uphill) to the rim. The uplift of this area, combined with the path of the Colorado River to slice into that uplifted area, is a fascinating combination. One theory is a rift in the uplift allowed the river to go through, instead of around. In west Texas, you drive on flat plains until suddenly an eroded canyon appears. The GC is a different profile.

We walked out to the Desert View Tower around sunset to enjoy the view. It was windy, and getting windier. We were under high wind warnings of stead 20-30 mph winds with gusts to 50mph. More than once, my hat strap kept my hat from departing. Overnight, I woke up a couple of times when the wind shook the van, but all was well.

Sunset from Desert View, Grand Canyon

It was down to 61 in the van early the next morning, and I decided to turn on the heat for a bit, but got an error code on the propane. I checked all the obvious things, and I suspect my regulator is bad. We were planning to be in Mather Campground the next two nights and the low was supposed to be in the 20's. Mather doesn't have electricity, and using our electric heat would have drained our battery quickly, so I devised an alternate plan. Adjacent to Mather is the RV Village campground, with electric at each site. I logged on and found one site available for our 2nd night, so I grabbed it. A little later, I logged in again and, miraculously, a site opened up for our first night. They don't assign sites until you show up, so I was able to get the same site for 2 nights with the two separate reservation numbers - and I got a great corner lot. The attendant told me I should purchase a lottery ticket, because I was on a winning streak. The bathroom at the campground was guarded by several large elk, but they were very docile.

Various stops along Grand Canyon Desert View Drive

That evening we met our friends who were staying at the nearby Yavapai Lodge, and we did a sunset rim walk together. We ended at Hopi Point and had a great view of the setting sun, and the post sunset magical light in the canyon.

Sunset from Grand Canyon Hopi Point

The next morning, we saw even more elk strolling through the campground near our van, including one large bugling male. 

Guardian of the bathrooms - None Shall Pass!

 We hiked with our friends on the Kaibab Trail down to Cedar Ridge. It was a perfect day - sunny, in the 50's, with light winds. We did about 3.3 miles round trip with a 1,150 climb back up to the rim.

Paul & Elena at Ohh-Ahh Point

On the Kaibab Trail (South Rim)

Ten years ago, we took an 8-day raft trip through the entire Grand Canyon. I wrote a poem about the experience:

Eight days in the canyon so grand.
Two hundred and seventy seven miles by river in a raft.
Thousands of stars dot the night sky.
Rocks over a billion years old.
But who's counting.

There is no politics in the canyon.
No religion or war.
Different people brought together — who work together,
For a shared experience so grand.

 A river that's caused death can bring you to life.
The simple things matter again.
Sunrise, sunset, stars.
Bats at dusk and dawn.

 Rapids and ripples in the river.
Cold water splashes.
The sun warms you quickly.
Hot and cold, then hot again.

Powerful forces built the canyon,
Yet there is so much peace here.
One moment in time,
Of an ever-changing planet.

Plate tectonics and uplift.
A mighty river flowing.
Erosion and weathering.
What a grand canyon indeed.

Eight days in the canyon,
but back to the surface now.
Man's architecture pales in comparison.
Mother nature rocks!

Paul Westbrook
May 2013

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- Paul