.jpg "Redwall Bridge N Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Amy and JanOnly 2.6 miles down on this fall 2009 rim to rim we crossed this chasm on the Redwall Bridge built across Roaring Springs Canyon and fault after a major flood in 1966 wiped out much of the North Kaibab Trail.
We were constantly in awe.
From here the surroundings were pure desert…
.jpg "N Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Amy below seeps
…except where ground water from the rim has percolated through the rock layers to an impervious layer and seeps out to form micro environments with ferns. The Redwall Limestone was deposited 340 million years ago when a sea covered this area and it’s really not red at all. It’s a typical beige limestone stained by iron oxides from several layers up. The white streaks are salt deposits from the water.
.jpg "Eye of the Needle N Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Eye of the Needle
This narrow section of trail was blasted through the Redwall Limestone.
As we hiked we stopped to chat with a few other hikers asking and answering the same basic questions: Where you from, where did you start hiking, where are you headed, is this your first canyon hike? We ran into a few people again in camps along the way.
.jpg "N Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Temple Butte Formation
Sandwiched under the Redwall Limestone, small and isolated lens-shaped channel deposits show where the fingers of estuaries reached into the sea some 365 million years ago.
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Brachiopod fossil in Muave Limestone
Most prominently seen below the Redwall Limestone, the Tonto Group reveals a transgressive sequence of the gradual invasion of seas moving in across the land some 500 million years ago. The Muave Limestone was deposited in quiet waters with limy sediments and is the youngest of this group.
.jpg "Roaring Springs N Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Roaring Springs
When percolating surface water reaches the Muave Limestone it can form a water table that drains through caverns and emerges into waterfalls like Roaring Springs. This water source supplies all needs for both the North and South Rims.
A side trail takes you to the base of the falls and a spigot for drinking water. But this is the spigot that has been broken most of the summer, so water from the falls must be filtered. We opted to forgo the side trip and get water a mile further on.
.jpg "N Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Bright Angel Shale
The next oldest deposit in the Tonto Group represents an accumulation of muds from delta like deposits. Amy looked for Trilobite fossils here, but no luck.
.jpg "N Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Stopped to fill water bottles at the Roaring Springs Ranger Residence and spotted this sapsucker. Mostly we heard Cactus Wrens barely catching sight of them swiftly flitting across the trail.
.jpg "N Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Bright Angel Creek
Saw a few American Dippers in the creek, but they were too fast for me to photograph.
.jpg "N Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Tapeats Sandstone
Third, and oldest, layer of the Tonto Group reveals a beach or shoreline environment.
.jpg "N Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Tapeats Sandstone up close
The Tonto Group represents at least 50 million years of deposits starting with the beach (Tapeats Sandstone), mud delta (Bright Angel Shale) and shallow sea (Muave Limestone).
Below the Tonto lies the oldest revealed rock in Grand Canyon. You’ll have to come back to see that sparkly stuff because we saw it on day two of the hike.
.jpg "N Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Approaching Cottonwood campground in Bright Angel Canyon
It was a long day of hiking down 4170 feet in 6.8 miles (1271 m in 10.9 km) to our first camp and we all felt a good kind of tired.
.jpg "N Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Lichen Moth Lycomorpha fulgens
Amy took charge and set up her tent, a two person that three of us spooned into. Then she cooked a delicious organic Mac and Cheese with tuna dinner. Little mice ran all around our feet and even nibbled on Amy’s toes. Jan and I cleaned up afterwards.
.jpg "Cottonwood camp GRCA NP AZ")
Cottonwood camp, Jan & Amy
During our cocoa toddy we saw the lights come on at the North Rim Lodge, watched the stars including a few shooters, and listened to the creek. It was an early to bed night as we had a 7 mile (11.3 km) hike, plus a side trip, the next day to Phantom Ranch and beyond to Bright Angel campground.
Amy below seeps…except where ground water from the rim has percolated through the rock layers to an impervious layer and seeps out to form micro environments with ferns. The Redwall Limestone was deposited 340 million years ago when a sea covered this area and it’s really not red at all. It’s a typical beige limestone stained by iron oxides from several layers up. The white streaks are salt deposits from the water.
Eye of the NeedleThis narrow section of trail was blasted through the Redwall Limestone.
As we hiked we stopped to chat with a few other hikers asking and answering the same basic questions: Where you from, where did you start hiking, where are you headed, is this your first canyon hike? We ran into a few people again in camps along the way.
Temple Butte FormationSandwiched under the Redwall Limestone, small and isolated lens-shaped channel deposits show where the fingers of estuaries reached into the sea some 365 million years ago.
Brachiopod fossil in Muave LimestoneMost prominently seen below the Redwall Limestone, the Tonto Group reveals a transgressive sequence of the gradual invasion of seas moving in across the land some 500 million years ago. The Muave Limestone was deposited in quiet waters with limy sediments and is the youngest of this group.
Roaring SpringsWhen percolating surface water reaches the Muave Limestone it can form a water table that drains through caverns and emerges into waterfalls like Roaring Springs. This water source supplies all needs for both the North and South Rims.
A side trail takes you to the base of the falls and a spigot for drinking water. But this is the spigot that has been broken most of the summer, so water from the falls must be filtered. We opted to forgo the side trip and get water a mile further on.
Bright Angel ShaleThe next oldest deposit in the Tonto Group represents an accumulation of muds from delta like deposits. Amy looked for Trilobite fossils here, but no luck.
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerStopped to fill water bottles at the Roaring Springs Ranger Residence and spotted this sapsucker. Mostly we heard Cactus Wrens barely catching sight of them swiftly flitting across the trail.
Bright Angel CreekSaw a few American Dippers in the creek, but they were too fast for me to photograph.
Tapeats SandstoneThird, and oldest, layer of the Tonto Group reveals a beach or shoreline environment.
Tapeats Sandstone up closeThe Tonto Group represents at least 50 million years of deposits starting with the beach (Tapeats Sandstone), mud delta (Bright Angel Shale) and shallow sea (Muave Limestone).
Below the Tonto lies the oldest revealed rock in Grand Canyon. You’ll have to come back to see that sparkly stuff because we saw it on day two of the hike.
Approaching Cottonwood campground in Bright Angel CanyonIt was a long day of hiking down 4170 feet in 6.8 miles (1271 m in 10.9 km) to our first camp and we all felt a good kind of tired.
Lichen Moth Lycomorpha fulgensAmy took charge and set up her tent, a two person that three of us spooned into. Then she cooked a delicious organic Mac and Cheese with tuna dinner. Little mice ran all around our feet and even nibbled on Amy’s toes. Jan and I cleaned up afterwards.
Cottonwood camp, Jan & AmyDuring our cocoa toddy we saw the lights come on at the North Rim Lodge, watched the stars including a few shooters, and listened to the creek. It was an early to bed night as we had a 7 mile (11.3 km) hike, plus a side trip, the next day to Phantom Ranch and beyond to Bright Angel campground.