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Last day hike out of Grand Canyon – Part 8

Indian Garden camp Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAmy and Jan Indian Garden Camp
I left camp first, but it wasn’t long before they passed me on this hike out of Grand Canyon. We had 4.6 miles (7.4 km) to hike with a gain of 3100 feet (945 meters).
Morning light on canyon wall Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaMorning light on canyon wall above camp
We met again at 3-mile house.
View north to Plateau Point from Bright Angel trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaView south to Plateau Point from Bright Angel Trail
This trail has been used by people for hundreds of years. Native Americans first made the trail to access the spring fed Indian Garden where they farmed. In the late 1800s the trail was widened for tourists and Ralph Cameron charged $1 for its use. In the 1930s the National Park Service improved the trail.
Bright Angel trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThree-mile house above Jacobs Ladder along Bright Angel Trail
Water and restrooms are provided here and at One-and-a-half mile house.
The steep cliffs of the Redwall Limestone present a major obstacle for trail building.
South Rim from Bright Angel trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSouth Rim at top of fault
However the Bright Angel Fault makes a natural break. The rocks to the west (right) are uplifted 189 feet (58 meters) higher than those to the east.
Tunnel Bright Angel trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSecond tunnel (from the top)
At this point I am standing at the top of the buff-colored Coconino Sandstone seen in the photo of the South Rim above.
Pictographs Bright Angel trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaPictographs
Just before the next tunnel and above the trail is a panel of pictographs.
From here I could tell I was almost to the top because the women coming down had on makeup and smelled like perfume.
Gaelyn, Jan and Amy South Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaGaelyn, Jan and Amy
Amy and Jan topped out of the canyon about one hour before I did. And I broke my own time out by almost half. Guess I’m in better shape after a summer season of hiking than for the spring hike during training after a lazy winter.
Historic house South Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaMaggi’s house on South Rim
Ranger Maggi let us stay at her house that night and she drove us to Sophie’s Mexican Restaurant in Tusyan just south of the park where we bought her dinner.
Jan and Amy El Tovar South Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJan and Amy with Prickly Pear Cactus Lemonade cocktail on El Tovar porch
In the morning we did some South Rim sightseeing and bought a few souvenirs.
Gaelyn El Tovar South Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaGaelyn with same
Then we boarded the TransCanyon Shuttle at noon which returned us to the North Rim about 5pm.

In total we hiked 24 miles (38.62 km) over four days, a mile down and a mile up. It was awesome!
So would anyone like to join me next fall for a bloggers hike across Grand Canyon?

 
Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, National Parks and Monuments , , 13 Comments

Plateau Point Sunset Day 3 – Part 7

Jan and Amy Indian Garden Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJan and Amy
After our hike up from Bright Angel camp and dinner at our Indian Garden Camp we hiked out 1.5 miles (2.4 km) for a Plateau Point sunset.
Plateau Point trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaPlateau Point Trail
I’d seen an amazing sunset from there during my spring hike.
Jan at Plateau Point Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJan at Plateau Point
The end of this relatively flat trail offers spectacular views of the inner canyon gorge, North Rim, Bright Angel Trail and the Colorado River.
(Check out the giant cow shadow walking up Bright Angel Canyon towards the North Rim.)
Colorado River from Plateau Point Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaColorado River
Pipe Springs Rapid at mile 89 is rated a 3 on a 1-10 scale (1 is easiest) and has a 7 foot (2.13 meter) drop. One of the little rapids.
View from Plateau Point Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaEvening light on Cheops Pyramid (left), Brahama and Zoroaster Temples (right)
Canyon geologist Clarence Dutton gave names from Asian religions to some topographic formations during his 1882 survey of Grand Canyon from the North Rim.
Sunset from Plateau Point Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSunset over the Colorado River
Without clouds the sunset was limited to the west.
Last light on temples from Plateau Point Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSunset on Brahama and Zoroaster Temples
But the colors of the canyon sang under the evening light.
Sunset from Plateau Point Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaLast light on Brahama and Zoroaster Temples
South Rim from Bright Angel trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaMorning light on Bright Angel Trail to South Rim
This is the view of the last stretch of our rim to rim hike across the Grand Canyon.
Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, National Parks and Monuments , , , 18 Comments

Rim to Rim Grand Canyon ascent to Indian Garden Day 3 – Part 6

Amy on silver bridge Bright Angel trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAmy on Silver Bridge
We said good bye to new made friends from the trail and Phantom Ranch. Our third day on the trail, we headed for the Silver Suspension Bridge to cross the Colorado River and begin our ascent to Indian Garden camp.
Colorado River Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDownstream Colorado River
Before the completion of the Glen Canyon Dam in 1963 the Spanish named Rio de Colorado carried as much as 380,000 tons (345,000 metric tons) of sediment per day. Today, the river carries only about 40,000 tons (36,300 metric tons) daily. This has caused erosion where deposition should occur.
Colorado River Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaUpstream – Silver and Black Bridges
The Black Bridge was completed in 1928 allowing people, and mules, to easily cross the Colorado River. The Silver Bridge was constructed in the late 1960s to support the pipeline carrying water from Roaring Springs to the South Rim.
Desert Big-horn sheep Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDesert Bighorn Sheep along Colorado River
Only my second sighting of the Bighorn and my first photos! From the South Rim these acrobats are frequently seen jumping from one skimpy ledge to another along the canyon walls. They can scramble up a sheer cliff face at 15mph (24 kmph).
Devils Corkscrew Bright Angel trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDevils Corkscrew along Bright Angel trail
After 1.6 miles (2.4 km) of relatively easy River Trail we began to climb 1360 feet (414 m) over 3.1 miles (5 km) to Indian Garden Camp by way of the appropriately named Devils Corkscrew back through the Vishnu Schist and desert environment.
Vishnu schist Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSchist with granite and quartz intrusions
Once I got a pace going I didn’t stop very often to take photos.
Indian Garden camp Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaIndian Garden Camp
After we’d set up camp at Indian Garden we had time to explore the area.
Johnson Jumper spider Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJohnson Jumper
Several seep springs in the area provide adequate water for the large Cottonwoods.
Jan Garden Creek Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJan along Garden Creek
And the same creek that watered crops for people from the past offered respite for us.
Jan and Amy Plateau Point trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJan and Amy
After we had dinner, prepared by Jan, we took another hike to watch the sunset at Plateau Point. No we aren’t masochists; this was only 3 miles (4.8 km) round trip, almost level and no packs.
Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, Indian Garden Camp, National Parks and Monuments , , , , , 19 Comments

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