Today we decamped and drove into Grand Canyon National Park ready to hike down into the canyon on the North Kaibab trail. We hiked down 1000ft through the top layers of Kaibab, Coconino, and Supai and hardly made a dent in the total descent. We met some hikers who had come from the South Rim 12 miles across the canyon. Now that trip has gone on my “Bucket list”!
The views were awesome and the change in temp amazing as it got hotter as we descended and then the afternoon storm arrived as we hiked back up.
Next we did the tourist bit and visited the Grand Canyon Lodge for even more awesome views of the North Rim of the canyon. What an amazing log and stone lodge too. I read all about the various layers dating back almost 2 billion years of rock. Apparently we can see the layers as the whole plateau was raised up when the pacific and N.American tectonic plates collided (also forming the rockies) and the ground rose up almost evenly everywhere- eventually the Grand River (now named the Colorado River) flowed through and eroded much of it away. The river was a lot bigger after the ice age than it is today hence the huge canyons and rims which range from some 8 miles to 12 miles apart I believe. Read more knowledgeable people explaining this here.
At 3pm we worked our way down a 24 mile dirt track towards our next camp, just as we were about to leave the van and ride a hail storm started so a 14 mile dirt road ride in hail did not sound attractive. Instead we had a bouncy 4x4 drive experience in the van courtesy of Chuck.
Tonights campsite was stunning once again and so remote. We are right on the Rainbow rim trail at Locust point with views of Amphitheater Tampeats canyons forever and ever to see. I pitched my tent double quick and now the sun was out I rode off on my bike on the Rainbow Rim trail towards Fence point.
Sweet sweet singletrack rolling and stony with one log jam which I stopped and built up until it was rideable. I could not stop myself so went beyond Fence Point for about a half mile until the familiar whooshing steam train of the impending storm warned me that it was time to don my waterproof and head back. I sprinted to outrun it and as I rounded the corner to Locust Point bumped into Bruce and Sandy taking photos of the views.
Our delicious campfire meal was Stir fry chicken with loads of fresh veg followed by freshly baked (in the Dutch Oven) Peach cake- yum! So spoilt!
As if now a part of a familiar routine we again sat like a theatre audience and watched the light show of the canyon as the sun gradually set in a perfect fiery orange globe, just how you dream of sunsets! I'm sure Bruce has the killer photo of it that I will share when he's done editing.
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