A GRAND VIEW

We've been asked many times during our travels..."Haven't you seen everything already?"

"Won't you get bored of traveling?"

I've been on this earth for 50 years now. Yep, 50. And getting pretty darn close to 51.

I still had never seen the Grand Canyon. I wonder how many people actually have seen this one in seven, wonder of the world.

As we walked up to the first view point...and peered over the rim. I was in awe of what lay before me. Absolutely incredible. I'm obviously going to post a bunch of pictures here...but really, there is no picture that gives justice to that view. None. If you've never been there. GO!

I have to step back a bit now.

One of the draws to the canyon for me was the Old Grand Canyon Railroad. I still have very fond memories as a kid riding a train. Of course those were the older ones. Wooden benches, lots of noisy clackity-clack. And super scary spaces between the trains as you ventured from one car to the other. Good times.

So, we of course purchased tickets to ride the old rail into the canyon fro our first visit. I must admit the price was steep $150 per person for first class (complete with complimentary snacks, drinks and entertainment) and the view was pretty much the same the entire trip. But it got me back down memory lane and we enjoyed it very much.

Now back to the canyon. 

This picture taken on the southern rim is so incredibly cool looking, it looks fake. Like a painted backdrop you might get in a studio.

Our first day was spent walking along the rim, taking in the views and visitors centers. We even hiked down a half-mile to the first tunnel. This is the usual tourist turn-around point.

We actually couldn't wait to get back and plan for a real hike into the canyon. We talked to hikers, did some research, and decided we would try for the furthest point down to the second rim. 

 Approximately 12.5 miles.

This would be our biggest hike to date (going back as far as the Olympic Rain Forest when Shelby was only 5 years old).

The arrow above shows our destination "Plateau Point" looking out from the top of the southern rim.

We started out at 8am. Which turned out...TO NOT BE EARLY ENOUGH.

Starting down the canyon wall we encountered many exhausted hikers coming up and out! Really? At 8 in the morning! They had already been out to the garden and back! The "garden" was the recommended day hike - that would be the area along the trail that looks like a line of trees. We were going another 3 miles to the point.

The down slopes into the canyon were at times very steep and rocky, but still pretty easy going. I wasn't realizing yet, how difficult this was going to be coming back up : ) There were checkpoints every few miles to rest.


Pictures along the trail to the "garden". The garden is also a camping opportunity for hikers. It was about mid-day now and getting pretty hot.

We took a short water break here as well.
Our next 3 miles would be out in direct sunlight in the heat of the day.

Onward to the point. Our destination for the day.

Looking down at the Colorado River from plateau point was amazing! Very much worth the hike.

 Then of course there was the coming back part : )

The arrow below shows the top rim point looking up from plateau point....

and we were already pretty tired...looking back up was a little intimidating.

We stopped again at the "garden" on the way back up and took a much longer rest. I will admit the last 2 miles which are straight back up the canyon walls were exhausting. Stopping points were every 5-10 minutes now...legs were shot and it was a lot more difficult to breathe with the elevation change. I would say the canyon "kicked my ass" that day : )

All in all an absolute kick! We had a great time!


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We took the scooter back a week later to visit another section of the park (the east rim). About 150 miles round trip from Williams. Here are a few additional pics from that trip.

I think that wraps up the Grand Canyon Tour!

I'll leave you with this image from inside the east rim tower.

Thanks for reading!