SSS2-Climbing the rock

Shadow photography while climbing a rock must be practiced with caution.

Our World–New Year’s Day hike OR Life’s a balancing act

Enjoying a hike into the Weaver Mountains where the rocks piled high remind me that life's a balancing act.  Second new year for...

Hiking to the river

After hiking 7 miles down the North Kaibab trail and staying at Cottonwood campground my hiking companion had to hike back up 4170 feet while I headed another 7 miles down to Phantom Ranch and the Colorado River where my rafting adventure would being...

Hike to Cottonwood

In order to get to the Colorado River rafting trip I had to hike 14 miles down the North Kaibab trail. Mike joined me for the first 7 miles to Cottonwood campground. Nice to have company and break up the long hike.

During the heat of August isn’t my preferred time to hike into Grand Canyon so we left shortly after sunrise.

Although I’d hiked this section of the rim-to-rim corridor trail before, Mike had only hiked to the Redwall bridge, 2.6 miles down.

It’s a long and winding trail into Roaring Springs Canyon…

…and 4.7 miles to Roaring Springs where a huge waterfall pours out of the canyon walls.

Then only a mile further a welcome rest stop at the Roaring Springs Ranger residence sitting along Bright Angel Creek.

After a cool down and water refill we crossed the creek.

Walked through the ancient Tapeats sandstone deposited about 525 million years ago near a receding western shoreline.

And enjoyed dipping our toes into Bright Angel Creek most of the hot afternoon at Cottonwood campground.

MWT – Cape Final hike

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Along with a colorful wildflower show.

 

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

 

Then briefly winds back into the forest.

 

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

 

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

  

Yes!

 

Mike put out a delicious picnic lunch.

 

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.

 

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

 

Why did we listen?

 

It was time to fly home.

 

To tour more of the world go to My World Tuesday by clicking here.

Hitting a wall

On this most recent hike into the Grand Canyon I learned a few new things about my body and spirit. When I hit a wall, I can tunnel through and overcome physical obstacles as I soar.

MWT - Getting ready for “the hike”

Got the permit almost two months ago. Mike’s never hiked to the bottom of Grand Canyon before. We drive to the South Rim on Black Friday and have a reservation at Trailer Village for the nights before and after the hike.

Early Saturday morning we hit the South Kaibab trail down, which I’ve never hiked before, 7 miles to Bright Angel campground near the river and Phantom Ranch where we’ll camp two nights. The plan for Sunday is to hike a little ways up the box and to the Clear Creek overlook. Monday we’ll hike 4.5 miles up Bright Angel trail to Indian Garden for the night and then Tuesday the other 4.5 miles back to the South Rim.

Of course, being the end of November, who knows what the weather could throw at us. There could be snow at the rim while we’re sunbathing at the bottom. So, we bought slide stoppers and boot chains just in case. Sure hate to carry the extra weight, but that beats sliding off the trail.

Almost have everything we need: tent, sleeping pads and bags, plenty of water, first aid kit, headlamp, a few clothes, trekking poles, cameras, electrolytes and most of the food.

If it was up to Mike he’d be carrying Way too many pounds and bringing the cast iron fry pan. He’s even offered to carry me which I’ll keep in mind for the trip back up. Teehee.

To see what others from around the world are up to go to My World Tuesday by clicking here.

Hiking the Transept trail

Staying home on a quiet weekend often finds me hiking the Transept trail along the west rim of the North Rim's developed area located less than .25 mile from my RV home...(read more)

Hiking Havasu Canyon Mooney Falls Day 2 Part 3

The trail to Mooney Falls winds across steep sandstone walls and is not for the faint hearted.

Parts of the trail feel like caving past travertine formations left behind by a different waterfall from the geologic past.

Mooney Falls pours over 200 feet (60.96 meters) of rock less than .5 mile (.8 km) beyond the Havasu campground. It suffered the least change when a significant flash food swept through the canyon during August 2008, but the pool was filled with silt.

Workers digging out silt

A sandbag wall has been put in place and already it is being calcified and covered by travertine. The pools will regain their previous shapes, as the process repeats itself like it has been doing for millennia.

Reservation dog & Jake, note natural arch

The overlook where we took pictures from…

…provided great views of the falls and down canyon.

Yet the continuing trail to the base of the falls requires climbing rock steps through the travertine, holding chain while negotiating slippery rocks and climbing two ladders.

Workers coming up from pool

Cloudy sky with possible rain in the forecast plus the treacherous looking climb to the base of the falls put us off for the day.

Did we return?

Hiking Widforss Trail at Grand Canyon National Park

Maggi ran away from the South Rim for some crowd-recovery time. The North Rim gets only 10 percent of the 5,000,000 annual visitors to Grand Canyon National Park.

Trancept Canyon
So we went hiking this morning on the Widforss Trail, named after artist Gunnar Widforss who lived and painted at the Grand Canyon in the 1930s.

Pinedrop from the Wintergreen Family
We chatted along the way and discovered more than just canyon.

Oregon Grape, Barberry or Mahonia
I was surprised to see the red leaves and berries so early. Later in the fall the berries are quite tasty and make good jelly.

Bug trails
I want to make rubbings of these wonderful natural patterns. But I always forget the pencil and paper.

Almost at the head of Trancept Canyon looking southeast
We made it 2.5 miles (4 km) along the forested rim trail, that’s about half way. And this was our lunch break view before turning back.