Rim to Rim Grand Canyon Day 1 - Part 1

Thought I'd repost this hike for the first day of Mike and I hiking the canyon to Cottonwood on Thursday. Friday I'll be continuing to the Phantom Ranch while Mike hikes back to the top. Will be out of communications for about a week. While I'm on the river. See ya' when I get back.

My pack weigh in 
Packed the night before our hike and I was sure Amy’s pack weighed much more than Jan or mine’s. But they were 24, 25, and 26 pounds. Not too bad. They did seem to get heavier along the way though.

Gaelyn, Amy and Jan
Left about 9:30am and mid 40sF. FabGrandma drove us to the trailhead so we wouldn’t have to leave a car or walk an extra two miles. Thanks Karen!

View into Roaring Springs Canyon from North Kaibab trailhead
The fall colors of Quaking Aspen and Rocky Mountain Maple were still brilliant as we quickly dropped in elevation through the Douglas-fir forest. The ladies were already in awe. They had driven in the night before and hadn’t even looked into the canyon.

North Kaibab trail into Roaring Springs Canyon
Our route began at 8250 feet (2515 meters) and it’s a 3000 foot (930 meters) drop to the intersection of Bright Angel Canyon.

Only 10 miles (16.1 km) across as the Condor flies.

Mule riders on Coconino overlook
It’s .7 miles (1.1 km) to this first great overlook. Many day hikers come this far. The overlook sits at the bottom of the Toroweap limestone deposited some 270 million years ago by an inland sea. The Coconino sandstone was formed by dunes some 275 million years ago.

Fall colors below the Coconino sandstone
Two miles (3.2 km) down it was almost 60F where we removed layers at the Supai Tunnel, blasted into the rock by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930s. Also used the services, compost toilet, and topped off water bottles for the 4 miles (6.4 km) to the Roaring Springs Ranger residence where the next water was available. Unfortunately the water spigot at Roaring Springs only 3 miles (4.8 km) away has been broken most of the summer.

Looking down to the Redwall Bridge
The habitat below the tunnel changes to a pinyon-juniper woodland with cliff rose, broadleaf yucca, Utah serviceberry and rabbitbrush. The stair-stepped red rock of the Supai Group formed between 315 and 285 million years ago.

Still a long way to go ladies.

Fossil of possibly a conifer
The Supai reveals a variety of rock reflecting changes in coastal conditions as sea levels fluctuated.

Calcite crystals

Conglomerate of pebbles

We crossed the Redwall Bridge entering a desert environment.


I'm sure to post more about this hike to the river. And of course I'll be posting the Colorado River trip, probably for weeks if not months.
Will try to catch up when I return.

MWT - Last day hike out of Grand Canyon - Part 8

Amy and Jan Indian Garden CampI left camp first, but it wasn’t long before they passed me...(read more)

Plateau Point Sunset Day 3 - Part 7

Jan and AmyAfter dinner at our Indian Garden Camp we hiked out 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to Plateau Point...(read more)

Rim to Rim Grand Canyon Day 3 - Part 6

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Phantom Ranch Rim to Rim Grand Canyon Day 3 - Part 5

The Canteen at Phantom Ranch
After seven miles hiking through Grand Canyon from Cottonwood camp we were motivated for a cold beer and chocolate.  Read more here...

MWT - The Box - Rim to rim Grand Canyon Day 2 - Part 4

Gopher snake
We left the beautiful Ribbon Falls behind and returned to the canyon’s Sonoran desert. This, the only snake seen along the trail. I would have liked to see the pink rattler found only in the Grand Canyon, from a distance.  Read more here.

Ribbon Falls diversion - Rim to Rim Grand Canyon - Day 2 - Part 3

Good morning Amy
Cottonwood Camp at 4080 feet (1244 meters) was established in the 1920s as a layover for mule parties coming down from the North Rim. We human mules only carried 25 pound packs...(read more)

Scenic Sunday - Fall colors along North Kaibab Trail Grand Canyon

The fall colors were almost gone on the North Rim when Amy, Jan and I started down the North Kaibab trail over a week ago.

Gambel Oak
But within 1400 feet (445 meters) down we entered Indian Summer.

To see other beautiful scenes from around the world, or to share your own, go to Scenic Sunday by clicking here.

Rim to Rim Grand Canyon Day 1 - Part 2

Amy and Jan
The Redwall Bridge crosses a chasm in Roaring Springs Canyon.   as we decended into Grand Canyon on the North Kaibab Trail.  Follow us deeper into the canyon on the North Kaibab trail here.

The BIG Climb - Grand Canyon NP Rim to Rim hike

Today we’ll be climbing up the Bright Angel Trail 4.6 miles (7.4 km) from Indian Garden campground to the South Rim, 3060 feet (933 meters). The dark green patch way down in the bottom is Indian Garden. The switch back part of the trail is called Jacob’s Ladder. Wish us luck!

MWT - Grand Canyon Rim to Rim

North Kaibab Trail
Tuesday morning I’ll head down the North Kaibab Trail with a friend for rim to rim hike... (read more)

My World Tuesday - Hiking the Grand Canyon

Part 1 - Because it's a long hike

Roaring Springs canyon to Bright Angle canyon


My first season as a Park Ranger at Grand Canyon National Park training included hiking rim-to-rim.  Read more about hiking in the Grand Canyon...