We don’t know how many of you have been to the Grand Canyon, but if you haven’t, it is our opinion that you need to put in on your “bucket list”. Today was quite an awe-inspiring experience and our first day for seeing what’s in the area.
We headed out around 10:30 a.m. in our Honda Accord and drove through the terrain here on the Kaibab Plateau. Immediately after leaving the campground, we began climbing up. This time we had less altitude to traverse, only about 800 feet. As we drove along, we saw evidence of charred tree trunks from a fire that swept through parts of the forests in 2000. What was strange, though, was that in the midst of charred trees there are swaths of perfectly untouched pines as if the fire just went around them and moved on. Even the charred trunks have branches with green pine needles for the upper two thirds of tree. Suddenly, we drove through an area where it appears there had never been fire as we drove among Quaking Birch and Ponderosa Pine trees flanking beautiful meadows as far as the eye could see. The trip from our campground to the Canyon was 30 miles of beautiful land, a plateau atop a mountain at 8000 feet.
Driving on the Kaibab Plateau toward North Rim. The plateau has forests of pine, fir, and aspen trees where some open meadows exist.
Upon reaching the park, we paid our entrance fee. If you are over 62 years of age, you qualify for a Senior pass at the cost of $10. The pass is good for any national park for life. Since Byron is 65, he was most happy to take advantage of the opportunity. His thought was, "It sure beats the deal you get with a Medicare card."
From the park entrance, we drove to the North Rim Lodge. Martha had read the suggestion that the first glimpse of the Canyon should be from the observation area of the lodge. We made our way through the lodge to the vast windows that look out over the edge of the Canyon for our first view. The only words out of Martha’s mouth were “Oh my!” Though a person may see pictures, you are still not prepared for the stark beauty and depth of this place. As Byron remarked, there is a need for a 3D Viewmaster or a stereoscope, two-dimensional photos can’t do wonders like this justice.
The view eastward from the North Rim Lodge on the north side of a smaller canyon that opens into Grand Canyon (above). At right is a view looking across the canyon from the North Rim Lodge, in the distance are the walls or Grand Canyon.
Martha checks her phone to see if we have AT&T coverage. Back at the campground we don’t.
We hiked along some short trails to different points before having lunch in the lodge dining room overlooking the Canyon. One of the trails took us to the Bright Angel Lookout which is near the Bright Angel Trail.
We had a lat lunch in the lodge’s dining hall. The walls are of native rock with exposed beams of Ponderosa pine. Even the chairs and table legs are made of saplings.
We had been told we needed to ride out to Cape Royal. That turned out to be a 20-mile ride along the top of the Canyon (plateau) in most places. There were more spectacular sights to behold. At the point, you can catch a glimpse of the Colorado River in the bottom of the Canyon more than two miles away. We took lots of pictures; however, we both agree that a photo is no substitute for the real experience of standing on the edge of this vast creation.
As we traveled or hiked around Grand Canyon and Kaibab Plateau, we are grateful that many individuals were successful in getting Congress to create Yellowstone National Park back 1872 and the other parks since. We’re also grateful that in 1916 the National Park Service became an agency to oversee the development of the system so that those of us living today may enjoy our National Parks. However, we must be good stewards so that generations to come may also reap the benefit. Byron wonders if such would be possible in today’s political climate. He would like to think the answer would be “Yes.”
At Cape Royal Overlook, nearer the Colorado River than the North Rim Lodge.
While driving through an area within Grand Canyon National Park, there is evidence of the 2000 fire. Growing on the floor of this area are new aspens averaging five feet in height. In other areas of the Park where burned timber exists and no new growth is significant, selective logging is taking place. That seems to be a wise choice.
A small pond is protected by a split-rail fence so the native wildlife can get water. Even this setting is a thing of great beauty.
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