Here is the first installment of my GC Trip Report. Be sure to click the thumbnail pics to see the full image.
On arrival I drove from Flagstaff to the Cameron Trading Post in the Navajo Nation. Bought some gifts to placate Mrs OMO and had a ginormous dinner of Navajo Tacos.
Then I stopped at one of the roadside tables to buy another gift. The old man at the table told me all about the origin and foklore of the crafts they were selling.
Desert View is the first view of the Canyon. Late in the day the best views are to the East with the sun behind you. I love the early 20th century classic park buildings.
I stopped at several overlooks along the road, but the best was Zuni Point, only accessible by a 1/2 mile cross-country walk. Here you have the sunset all to yourself.
I had one full free day to explore the South Rim and get ready for the hike. I hiked some of the Rim Trail along the Hermit Road. The overlooks are amazing.
I could see much of where I was going to be hiking down below. The first is above Horn and Salt Creeks. The second above Hermit Creek where the hike will end.
I then went back to the village. I was staying at Bright Angel Lodge, one of the classic old lodges of the NP. It's the most affordable room on the rim, but very nice.
Behind the lodge is Lookout Studio, built right on the rim. Many of these buildings are attributed to Mary Colter, designer for the Fred Harvey Company in the early 20th Century.
Up the hill are the Thunderbird and Maswik Lodges, from 1972. Part of the Mission 66 program and with none of the charm of the pre-WWII classics.
The most deluxe and oldest of the lodges is the El Tovar. I had a sumptuous lunch of wedge salad, burger, and prickly pear margarita.
I walked the Rim Trail all the way to Mather Point (maybe 8 miles in walking total today). There were overlooks everywhere for a shot of OMO on the rocks.
Mather Point is the most famous and crowded overlook, but it was fun to mingle with the tourists. They were dumbfounded to learn I was hiking to the bottom tomorrow.
Lots of people complain about the crowds, but it isn't had to find an overlook all to yourself.
On arrival I drove from Flagstaff to the Cameron Trading Post in the Navajo Nation. Bought some gifts to placate Mrs OMO and had a ginormous dinner of Navajo Tacos.
Then I stopped at one of the roadside tables to buy another gift. The old man at the table told me all about the origin and foklore of the crafts they were selling.
Desert View is the first view of the Canyon. Late in the day the best views are to the East with the sun behind you. I love the early 20th century classic park buildings.
I stopped at several overlooks along the road, but the best was Zuni Point, only accessible by a 1/2 mile cross-country walk. Here you have the sunset all to yourself.
I had one full free day to explore the South Rim and get ready for the hike. I hiked some of the Rim Trail along the Hermit Road. The overlooks are amazing.
I could see much of where I was going to be hiking down below. The first is above Horn and Salt Creeks. The second above Hermit Creek where the hike will end.
I then went back to the village. I was staying at Bright Angel Lodge, one of the classic old lodges of the NP. It's the most affordable room on the rim, but very nice.
Behind the lodge is Lookout Studio, built right on the rim. Many of these buildings are attributed to Mary Colter, designer for the Fred Harvey Company in the early 20th Century.
Up the hill are the Thunderbird and Maswik Lodges, from 1972. Part of the Mission 66 program and with none of the charm of the pre-WWII classics.
The most deluxe and oldest of the lodges is the El Tovar. I had a sumptuous lunch of wedge salad, burger, and prickly pear margarita.
I walked the Rim Trail all the way to Mather Point (maybe 8 miles in walking total today). There were overlooks everywhere for a shot of OMO on the rocks.
Mather Point is the most famous and crowded overlook, but it was fun to mingle with the tourists. They were dumbfounded to learn I was hiking to the bottom tomorrow.
Lots of people complain about the crowds, but it isn't had to find an overlook all to yourself.