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Category: Grand Canyon National Park North Rim

Arizona Trail

01 AZ trail NR GRCA NP AZ (768x1024)

I have now walked two short parts of the Arizona trail with Mike and another on my own to the North Rim Lookout Tower. So far the trail has been old two-track road.

02 Mike's backpack weighing 31 lbs NR GRCA NP AZ (768x1024)

Mike wanted to test out his backpack for a future canyon hike. I was concerned about weight.

03 Brachiopod fossil AZ trail NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x768)

Brachiopod

We always find fossils.

04 Mike fossil sponge bowling AZ trail NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x768)

Mike invented fossil sponge bowling along the trail. Hey, maybe it will catch on.

05 Unknown mushroom with gridded tracks AZ trail NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x746)

Of course we saw some mushrooms. Looks like this one met a truck boot.

06 Bolete mushroom AZ trail NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x768)

And this is another view of Papa Smurf’s house.

07 Picnic food (1024x966)

Mike packed a delightful picnic.

08 Tree tops agains blue sky at picnic spot off AZ trail NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x768)

And we enjoyed the forest around us.

09 Crooked Aspen at picnic spot off AZ trail NR GRCA NP AZ 1of2 (768x1024)

How I love the dancing Aspens.

Arizona, Arizona Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim 10 Comments

Hiking the Transept trail

Transept trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

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

Widforss Plateau from Transept trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

The view crosses Transept canyon looking west at Widforss Plateau.  The entire trail from the Grand Lodge to the campground covers 1.5 miles of forested rim.

Transept trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Keep your eyes open for sweet little side trails…

Mike on rock outcrop & Widforss Plateau from Transept trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

…to almost secret rocky overlooks.

Pinedrops along Transept trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Pinedrops

Plus colorful treasures in the forest.

Mike sitting on edge along Transept trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Mike has really overcome his fear of edges. Maybe a little too much.

Gaelyn on rock outcrop off Transept trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Possibly he learned that from me.

Sponge fossil along Transept trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Our discoveries are many including this huge sponge fossil.

Limestone stratigraphy from rock outcrop off Transept trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

And I love the sculptures of eroded limestone stacked like ancient building blocks.

Mike on rock outcrop overlooking Widforss Point & temples from off Transept trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Geologist Clarence Dutton named the Transept Canyon in 1882 because of the way it crosses the north-south Bright Angel Canyon at an east-west angle like the arms of a cruciform church. He remarked that it was “one of the finest and perhaps most picturesque gorges in the whole Kaibab front.”

Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, National Parks and Monuments , , , 22 Comments

Lijit

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