Grand Canyon
June 2015
After almost nine years we, Mayra and I are revisiting the Grand Canyon in Arizona, 446 km long, up to 29 km wide and a depth of over 1,857 meters. The Colorado River cut this channel through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted. The first European known to have viewed the Grand Canyon was García López de Cárdenas from Spain, who arrived in 1540. As of today we, Mayra and I along with a few other people are the latest, not the last. Bla Bla Bla. We left Downey May 31st at 9:00 6:30 am and are looking forward to a few days of fun, relaxing sight seeing. On the second day of our visit to the Grand Canyon, I decided to take a hike down off the rim and explore. Getting below the rim was the way to truly see the magical colors, depth and splendors of the Grand Canyon. our previous trips tp the Grand Canyon comprised of driving to the lookout points and walking to the well paved viewing areas, all on the rim of the Canyon.
Although I’ve seen some families with children hiking below the rim, I personally did not feel comfortable taking the trail down, it’s incredibly steep, no handrail protection. One slip and down you go. I decided to do a short 1.8 mile hike on the South Kaibab trail to the OOH AHH Lookout Point none the less. Mayra and I took the shuttle to the Kaibab point where we started our descent into the canyon. If the start of the hike was an indication, the hike was going to be difficult, steep and slippery. Mayra decided to wait at the rim, I went ahead amd found that after about tem minutes it started leveling off somewat, anyway it seemed easier, I was aware however that the 700 ft track back to the rim was going to be difficult, I was undeterred. the trip down is beautiful and I kept stopping to take pictures. I soon realized that this is a fantastic way to see the Grand Canyon the position of the sun and clouds make for a constant chane to the scenary. I’m only sorry that I’m not in shape to take the entire trail to the bottom of the canyon. I was proud to have made it as far as I did but I did not realize how exhausted I must have looked on the way up until a coule of girls, on the way down, asked if I was ok and if I wanted something to drink. I made it back up wher Mayra was waiting while chatting with a couple of visitors. I do plan to return maybe for another hike, same lenght or shorter.