Grand Canyon Pictorial

 If you've been reading this blog for a while you probably already know how I feel about the Grand Canyon.  It is my home, my happy place, my stress relief.  I have many friends who refer to it as "the big hole in the ground", I respectfully disagree.  When I step foot on the trails and travel below the rim I am transported to a different place.  I am awed and amazed by the sights and sounds of the canyon, which to me, is very much alive.  It speaks to me.  To a place deep within my soul and fills a longing and a need.

After Ironman Texas, my best girlfriend and I planned a weekend hiking trip.  I met her in Flagstaff on Friday afternoon and we drove up to the South Rim.  On Saturday we hiked the Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point and back (roughly 12 miles).  On Sunday we hiked South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton point and back (about 6 miles).  The following is a pictorial of our weekend in paradise.  Enjoy!

We've arrived!!  Our first view of the canyon on Friday.

Feeding the Body:  Bright Angel Trail

The Bright Angel Trail is the most popular of the corridor trails.  It is the most accessible and the easiest to climb out from.  There are multiple rest houses along the trail with access to water and restrooms.

Starting Bright Angel hike!

Views as we descend the Bright Angel Trail.

Bright Angel Trail

Layers on the wall.  

Cactus blooms.

From Indian Garden, Plateau Point Trail branches west and then diverges out onto a Plateau while the Tonto Trail continues west.  The Plateau Point Trail is relatively flat and affords amazing views of the Colorado River not seen from the Bright Angel Trail.

Plateau Point Trail.

Looking back at the South Rim from the Plateau Point.

Looking west at the Colorado River from Plateau Point.

Looking east from the Plateau Point, Bright Angel Trail switchbacks below Indian Garden.

Enjoying a rest at Plateau Point.

A storm blew in from the South as we were taking a break.  Within minutes we were soaked from the thunderstorm and being pelted with hail.

We hustled back to the Bright Angel Trail as the storm hung a little longer over the Colorado River, obscuring the view of the North Rim.

Hiking out... Switchbacks!!!

After our hike, we had a quick lunch and then took a little siesta.  Later in the afternoon we decided to drive out toward the East Entrance and visit the Desert View Watchtower and stop at some of the overlooks on the way back.

View from the Watchtower.

Desert View Watchtower.

Climbing the spiral staircase.

Artwork adorning the walls.

Feeding the Soul:  South Kaibab Trail
The South Kaibab is by far my favorite trail.  On the South Kaibab Trail, the hiker is exposed and not protected in the valley.  The colors and the views are more vivid and more brilliant.  The trail is more rugged and in places, very steep.  We elected to hike halfway down to Skeleton Point at sunrise.  We were rewarded over and over along the way as the sun lit up the canyon.

Looking up at the moon over the South Rim.

The pre-sunrise view of what lies ahead on our hike.

Our first stop along the sunrise hike!  Ooh Aah Point... for obvious reasons.

Stopping to appreciate the views at Ooh Aah Point.

Ooh Aah Point.

The rugged beauty of the South Kaibab.

What goes down, must go back up!

One of my favorites.  It looks like the trail literally drops off.

Cedar Ridge, the second checkpoint on the way down.

Sunrise casting shadows and colors throughout the canyon.

My shadow following me!

Skeleton Point!  About 3 miles down the South Kaibab Trail.

Enjoying the views before the hike out.

Suns rays over the canyon.

Below Skeleton Point, the South Kaibab enters a maze of switchbacks.

View from just below Skeleton Point.

Cannot beat the colors at sunrise!

Hiking out on the South Kaibab.

We enjoyed a good laugh at the warning sign at the top of the trail.  Not that it's really funny... you should see the number of unprepared hikers that descend the trails every day.  #touristas