Day 15 of 16—The Grand Canyon, second day

How nice to stay in one place for awhile—for once I could leave my stuff in the tent and not break camp! After breakfast our little troop of 7 (Ana/Francis from Spain/France, and the Polish family) took off for the shuttle to go the Grand Canyon Airport. Our flight was at 11am and we arrived early enough to watch another flight de-plane and everyone was smiles!

The kids were super excited. I bought them some junior pilot wings at the airport concession to give when we part company in a few days.

We boarded an overhead wing prop plane (better to see the sights) and were told to put on earphones and switch to the channel of our language.

I was surprised at how moved I became as we crossed over the rim of this vast canyon to see the impressive chasm. Didn't know the Colorado River changes colors depending on the various tributaries and their minerals, from brown to green to blue. Apparently the Spaniards saw the canyon first and decided to ignore it as impassable and unproductive for farming or habitation. So the first person to actually explore the canyon was the one-armed retired Calvary General Powell, who in 1864 went down in row boats, and again a few years later. Not all his party survived these trips, in fact only a few boats made it. So while the soil is red with iron, there are many minerals under the surface. And there are remnant mines, usually silver but also uranium. Silver mining was marginal but demand for uranium made it profitable. When uranium mine production became noticeably damaging, a bill was passed to close the mines and protect the park from this use. The plane took us over both the south and north rims. I was very surprised to see such vast forests surrounding the park.

After we landed I took the shuttle to Hermits End to see more of the northwestern rim—it’s a 45 minute round trip loop that are only accessible to the GC shuttle busses. As they run every 10-15 minutes, one can get off and on at will. I did a few stops but found myself sleeping after we started going back and I think I still had bus “lag” from the late night driving previously. I stopped at the market near our campsite and bought more firewood and s’mores supplies. Dinner prep was arranged early so we could leave to see the sunset by about 6:30pm. Most of the hikers had returned and we had a big dinner of pasta with red sauce chock full of vegetables and a green salad. For hors d’oeuvres we had dates stuffed with feta.

Right after sunset, a huge thundershower scared everyone back and into their tents. I had decided it would be another short one, so started to make a nice campfire. But only a handful of people ventured out of their tents to enjoy it. So much for s’mores, but I was given a beer and sat to enjoy it and the fire, the thunder, the lightning, and the little bit of rain falling between thunderclaps. Finally the last contingent of canyon hikers returned (all the Chinese were together and they had gone ½ way the first night and all the way the next day, hiking a total of 15 miles!) I offered them cold dinner which they gratefully accepted after their shower. And finally I went to bed and passed out.