The Grand Canyon - Finally!

 It was worth the 3 and 1/2 hours in the traffic jam to get into the park, but there were moments inching along when I wondered if it would be. We ran into 2 lanes of cars stopped well before the village and it took 1 hour and 15 minutes to make it to our hotel, the Red Feather. Our plans were to go into the park first but it was clear that we'd be in line for hours still, and we needed a bathroom and lunch, so we stopped. After both were satisfied, the line still crept on, so we visited the "Visitor's Center" in the village. This is mostly a giant gift shop, but with time on our hands, we saw the IMAX film on the canyon. And it was great - a very good introduction to the history and geology with, of course, amazing photography.

These panorama shots help convey the immensity of the canyon but two-dimensional pictures are inherently inadequate.

After checking into our hotel and a brief nap, we finally joined the line outside again. Folks we talked to said it usually gets smaller later in the day, but at 3 PM, it had not. It took 2 hours and 15 minutes more to make it through the entrance booths. Three things led to this situation: Easter week and Spring Break, a lack of staff so only 2 booths were open, and the East Gate was closed. We didn't have much time left to see the sunset, so we hurried down the path to Mather's point. The sunset wasn't much that day, but the Grand Canyon is indeed worth the wait. We visited the North Rim many years ago and I had forgotten the impact it has. 

The sun coming up over the horizon at 6:13 AM. It was about 50 degrees so we were really bundled up! You can see there is still snow clinging to the rocks and trees.

We were up at 5:15 AM the next morning and naturally, there wasn't a line this time. But we joined plenty of people again at Mather's Point, to see the sunrise. Again, not much of one as it was cloudy, but there was a clear line at the horizon so we saw the sun briefly before it ascended into the clouds. And again, just being there is amazing. Our first lucky break happened then, we hurried over to the El Tovar for breakfast. We were one of the first in the line waiting for the 7 AM opening and the couple ahead of us helped us pass the time with interesting conversation. We got a table right in front of the window overlooking the canyon! And it was a wonderful breakfast.

The Easter welcome table at El Tovar

Our table was ahead on the right in front of the window in the grand dining room. There was a fire going in the fireplace next to us.

The rest of the day was spent driving along the rim from Hermit's Rest to Grandview Point, stopping to hike sections of the Rim Trail. And our second and best lucky break happened to us. After walking around the village, we tried to drive the road to Hermit's Rest and found it is closed to all but buses, and there was a long line of people waiting for them. We stopped the car to chat with a Ranger about the situation and he commiserated over the long traffic jam yesterday. Then he pulled out a small notebook and jotted down 4 numbers, the key to the gate down to Hermit's Rest!!! "Have fun", he said, and don't give it to anyone else. 

We walked down the Bright Angel Trail to the first tunnel. When we reached the beginning of this
icy patch we thought we'd have to turn around. But a helpful person coming up told us to stay along the left and step on the pebbles embedded in the ice. It was still rather scary.

It was a magical time although shorter than we would have liked. We needed to be back in Prescott Valley before the watch repair place closed at 5 PM (my watch needed some work and I had been missing it so much). Dave and Ellen were joining Marsha and Rick and ourselves for dinner that night in Prescott. But we'll be back again someday!

Most people wore masks while in groups but we
took them off while walking separately. I needed
my jacket and fleece to watch the sunset and in
the morning until around 10 AM.

Another photo while we walked down the rim
trail to Mather's Point

That's Mather's Point in the distance, the people are barely visible but it was fairly crowded on the
point itself.

Early the next morning just before the sun rose.

A close up of a helicopter far down on Bright 
Angel trail we assume helping someone as we
believe they aren't allowed there with tourists.

We could occasionally see the 
River below

The day turned bright and beautiful
by mid-morning.

Mary Coulter's Lookout Studio, now a gift shop
but you can go out on the balcony for a great view

The Kolb Studio - from 1904 to 1976 the photo
studio of brothers Ellsworth and Emory Kolb.

Jackets off but the flannel shirt was welcome until
late morning.

The view of the Bright Angel Trail down to the 
first tunnel - the early photo above showed the 
view looking up from the tunnel.

The old entrance to Hermit's Rest.

Also designed by Mary Coulter, this
served as a cafe and warming spot
at the end of the road along the 
rim heading west.

We saw this mother and child deer on the side of
the road and they kindly stood still for their photo

A Christmas card shot and as you can see, we've stripped down to our t-shirts, conveniently both
red!

We took so many photos and almost all came out great but I'll leave this one for last - Grandview
Point at our eastward most site along the rim.