Grand Canyon views

With great anticipation we crossed Arizona so looking forward to seeing one of the 7 listed wonders of the world. We parked the RV in Williams at the Grand Canyon Railroad RV Park. This park is connected to a hotel and a depot for the train that runs the 60 miles north to the Grand Canyon National Park. The park was very nice and included access to the hotel's indoor pool and spa. We also found this to be a nicely paved small town environment that was great for trying out our new bikes. There were gas grills provided in the center of the park that we used for a hot dog and beans supper with s'mores for dessert. They even had a clean, well-kept, on-site kennel for the dogs that allowed us to spend two full days at the canyon.

While the train looked like fun, we wanted to drive over and spend as much time experiencing the canyon as possible. Each of us were a little overwhelmed by the majestic sights everywhere you looked as well as the size and scope of this God given natural wonder. Much of the first day was sorting out the different rim trails and the bus system that delivers you around the miles of canyon within the park.

We hiked around on three of the rim trails and gained a closer view (than riding the shuttles) and some feel for the size of this thing. It made for a long first day, but we went home happy, tired and ready to go back for more the next day.

Bed time was early that night and the alarm was set for 3:30 am so that we could get around in time to make the drive to the canyon in time to see the wonderful sun rise vista of the canyon. Sleepy and cold, at 5:30 am we climbed out on the overlook in the dim first light joined by a couple dozen other people. Despite the forecast for an overcast sky, the sun peeked through the broken clouds and made the sun rise even more spectacular.

We caught a shuttle bus to the lodge above Bright Angel Trail and enjoyed a great breakfast and welcome warm up time. Cory had his heart set on going down the trail to the bottom of the canyon. All agreed to try to go down as far as we felt able, maybe down to the composting restroom (about 1/3 the distance to the bottom). The information we reviewed prior to starting this hike warned us to each carry plenty of water, stay aware of our need to take breaks to rest and provide twice as much time to go up as it took to go down.

Starting our descent a little before 8:00 am, the air was very cool at the top and we all started with jackets and the boys donned sweatpants over their shorts. As we started, six giant condors took off from the cliffs just beneath us and all the people at the top of the trail watched mesmerized as these enormous birds glided in graceful circles swirling down the canyon below. It was easy going down and the view was breath taking. The only challenge we faced was to allow a mule train to slip by us along the trail on their way to the bottom (and then to avoid stepping in any of the deposits they left on their way).


We arrived at our turning point (1 1/2 miles and 1100 feet drop in elevation) after about an hour of hiking, not too tired but a lot warmer. Everyone had jackets tied around their waists and I collected all the sweatpants and stuffed them in my backpack. As we turned to go back up, we could feel gravity do its work and we realized how steep and long the trail was to return to the top. They were correct in the estimate that it takes twice as long to go up as it does to go down and about 11:00 am we were back to the top. It was hard and hot, but it was still beautiful and we all felt the bond of doing something difficult together.

We were so taken by this place and this experience that we are determined to return and we want to train up on our journey so that when we do return, we can take on a longer hike that could take us the bottom and back again.

We were pleasantly surprised to find this plaque at a stop identified as Hermit's Rest - near the west end of the most publicly toured areas of the park. We're thankful that within this government owned and operated park, an acknowledgement of God as the Creator has been allowed to remain. We'd love to find out who placed the plaque! We stood in a mix of humility and awe of the wonder that exists as an ongoing testimony to the power and might of our Jehovah-God.