Road Trip - Still Going

On the final day of our trip, we made the decision to venture into the canyon and try to get as far as we could down the Bright Angel Trail. We had a deadline to get into Las Vegas before dark (around 8pm) so unfortunately our time was limited.  We set out around 10 am with the turn around time of noon I believe.  We knew it would take significantly longer to get out then to go down, so we were trying to be conservative with our estimate.  We also knew that even though the canyon rim was around 40 degree's when we left, the high for the day was the low 60's while forecasts for phantom ranch were in the low 80's.  Boo ya!  so, it was going to be a warm hike as well.  However, the first mile or so of switchbacks lays in the shade, and still had a significant amount of snow and ice build-up on it, so it was a little difficult to get down and we took our time.  As we progressed down the canyon, we were constantly reminded to "look up" at the beauty that surrounded us.  The day grew hotter, and we were both happy that we had brought a bit of layers and water... and of course cookies.  Finally around noon we made it to 3 mile hut, which is 3 miles down the canyon trail.  It took us longer then we had expected, but since we were at our turn around time, we had to go back.  We took pictures, ate cookies and drank more water before turning around and heading back.  We got to the trailhead at 2pm.  Still a mystery how we got up as fast as we went down... but now we know for next time.

It was sad to leave the Grand Canyon, as we both wished we had more time and the knowledge we now had on future trip ideas.  Just another reason to go back.  We picked Wyatt up at the Grand Canyon dog kennel, where he had made quite a few new and good friends and then off to Vegas we went.

For both of us, it was our first time to Vegas.  I'm 31 and my dad is 68.  I'm just going to simply say that neither of us felt compelled to stay, and we were both eager to leave the strip by midnight and go back to the hotel and go to bed.  Death Valley was our goal for the next day.

 Upon leaving the Grand Canyon, we stopped at a car wash.  Wyatt's first car wash experience

Start of the hike down

Snow!

beautiful views

pointing toward the future - of the trail we have to hike back up

vegas bound

All cleaned up and out on the strip!

Road Trip - Continued

My dad, Wyatt & I spent the next two days exploring the Grand Canyon.  Unfortunately, Wyatt was only able to join us on the first day, as dogs are not allowed to enter the canyon... so we made due, and explored the S. Rim trail for a 10 mile walk the first day.   It was so amazing to walk along the rim and get quick views of the river below, and even see rafts float on by, or be tied up at Phantom Ranch.  It brought back a lot of great memories, but we were also able to create new ones.  We started off the morning with an amazing breakfast at El Tovar restaurant on the South Rim.  We then set out on our walk, where they have an interpretive path called the "walk of time" or something like that.  They take rock samples from each of the different layers in the canyon and display it in relative geologic time along this path.  It's pretty amazing and lends to tell the geologic story of the canyon well.  We spent the better part of the day on the rim trail to finally return to the car so I could eat cheese, and my dad could drink a beer.  We put Wyatt in the car for a late afternoon nap, and we took the bus out towards Hermits rest in order to catch a different view of the canyon as well as some sunset views.  We ended our day with a cocktail by the fire at El Tovar while making plans to hike down the Bright Angel Trail into the canyon the following day.

Coffee & an amazing breakfast with dad at El Tovar

Snow dog and dad on the rim

!!!

Views down below

encounters of the horse kind

scoping the hiking trail out for the next day... while drinking coffee

sunset over the canyon

final views before a sky filled with stars

Road Trip

Over a year ago, a group of us floated down the Grand Canyon for 20 some days.  During that trip I had huge goals of venturing up toward the rim.  Simply put, I wanted to see what it looked like from "up there."  Everyone typically made fun of me, and on two separate trips trying to hike out of the canyon, I experienced the beauty that the different plateaus have to offer... but still never made it to the rim.  Since that trip, it has remained a goal of mine to return to the Grand Canyon and this time, look down on the river from either the North or South rim.

So, around graduation, my dad came out with the intent that the day after graduation, we would go on a road trip.  We had been planning this since December, and the trip itself had taken many different forms including a road trip to the grand canyon via flights in/out of Las Vegas, a drive up to Banff National Park or a trip down the Oregon Coast ending in the Red Woods.  When it was time to finally leave, none of these options were working.  This was due to inclement weather that was approaching or really expensive airfare.  So, we changed our plans, again, loaded everything into the car and headed South.

The first day we drove to Utah with the goal of making it to Salt Lake.  Unfortunately, we got stuck in a snow storm, and made it to Ogden.  But that was close enough.  The second day, we made the drive to the South Rim via some side roads through Utah.  My dream was finally being realized.  That evening, I would watch the sunset from the Watchtower on the Grand Canyon as the colors lit the canyon walls as I stared at the canyon where the Little Colorado met with the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River.  It was a great evening and the start to an amazing road trip.

Wyatt enjoying first sun in the canyons of Utah

Arizona!

Glen Canyon Dam - with the Colorado River behind

Wyatt vs. Dinosaur prints

Sunset over the canyon

Canyon dog!

Watchtower

Catching up

Photos and trip info from the past two months to come.