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Vacations!
Grand Canyon 2010
Sunday, 03 October 2010 12:57
Thom and I ventured on our first trip to the Grand Canyon, AZ, Sep 27 - Oct 2, 2010. We visited both the South Rim and the North Rim, and points in between on the ~215 mile road trip from one rim to the other. We were interested in learning about the history and geology of the Grand Canyon, so we signed up with a tour group. Our group was Road Scholar (formerly known as Elderhostel), and the tour was their program #2804: Grand Canyon National Park: Exploring the North and South Rims. (Note: To view the photo albums, scroll to the the bottom of the full article)
Thom's thoughts upon return:
Our trip to the Grand Canyon was an awe-inspiring experience. It has always been one of those things that you want to do, but unless it was on your parent's list of things to do, then job, family and life generally get in the way. You really do have to slow down, make some time available, and smell the roses.
Like many before us (over five million people visit the Grand Canyon annually), the very first thing you are confronted with is comprehending the magnitude of the canyon. It is impossible to take it all in, and appreciate it at first sight ... just a "very big ditch". Arriving at the South Rim in the mid-afternoon, we walked through the lobby of the Bright Angel Lodge, and walked along the canyon's edge to see this broad expanse, from horizon to horizon, of open area, brilliant colors of red, green, white and tan, and far off in the distance, the North Rim. No kidding ... Geographically-challenged visitors have asked Park Rangers if that far ridge they see is Canada! Actually, the North Rim was a mere 10 or so miles away as the raven or California Condor flies. Succinctly, this was quite the sight to behold. Hidden from view was the Colorado River that we would not see until the next day as we toured various vantage points along the South Rim. Two days later, we drove the 215-mile trip to the North Rim for yet another perspective.