Description

I own no land, instead I have wheelestate. I’ve been a full time RVer since 1997. Working summers as a Park Ranger takes me to many beautiful places and playing during the winter takes me to many more. This blog is simply the story of my life's adventures.

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Monday, August 8, 2011

MWT – Cape Final hike

 01 cape-final-trail-map (725x548)

Stretching our legs for this weeks hike on the North Kaibab trail. Mike will hike down seven miles with me to Cottonwood campground Thursday. Then Friday he hikes back up almost 4,000 feet and I continue down seven more miles to Phantom Ranch. Saturday to Tuesday I’ll be on the Colorado River then fly back to Kanab, Utah where someone will pick me up along with another employee/river runner.

02 Mike on Cape Final trail & sign NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x768) 

Oh yea, so what does that have to do with hiking to Cape Final? Just a little warm up hike. And Mike testing out his new backpack.

 03 Ponderosa pine shows lightning strike Cape Final trail NR GRCA NP AZ pano (391x1024)

At two gentle miles each way, this is an awesome hike through a healthy Ponderosa Pine forest. Healthy because of fire. I read somewhere that one out of ten mature ponderosa pines on the North Rim have been struck by lightning and the evidence surrounded us.

04 Wildflowers along Cape Final trail NR GRCA NP AZ collage (1024x768) 

Along with a colorful wildflower show.

05 Canyon view NNE with LCR mouth along Cape Final trail NR GRCA NP AZ pano (1024x389) 

The trail approaches the rim as if from out of nowhere.

 06 Ponderosa pine forest along Cape Final trail NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x760)

Then briefly winds back into the forest.

07 Canyon view S from Cape Final NR GRCA NP AZ pano (1024x517) 

With a dip and a climb we were back to the rim. 

08 Gaelyn looking into canyon from Cape Final NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x758) 

I wanted to see the river. Was it still flowing like chocolate?

 09a Colorado River at Unkar Delta from Cape Final NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x761)09b Colorado River at Unkar Delta from Cape Final trail NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x766) 

Yes!

 10 Mike setting out picnic at Cape Final NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x768)

Mike put out a delicious picnic lunch.

 11 Mike at Cape Final & smoke from SR fire NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x767)

Then we walked to the tip of Cape Final to enjoy the views. And saw smoke from the New Water fire on the South Rim.

 12 Raven in ponderosa pine along Cape Final trail NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x768)

All too soon it was time to head back. How did we know? The Raven told us so.

 13 Y-shaped ponderosa pine along Cape Final trail NR GRCA NP AZ (765x1024)

Why did we listen?

 14 Birds nest on snag along Cape Final trail NR GRCA NP AZ (768x1024)

It was time to fly home.

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