4 Days in the Grand Canyon

Day 1 - Biking to the Canyon

We thought we would ease into our Grand Canyon experience so we hopped on the paved trails that they allow bikes on and headed to the South Kaibab Trailhead.  This was an easy 3 miles each way, but with Annalise on training wheels and some parts of the trail coming close to the Canyon rim, Annalise took it reeeeeaaaaaaallllll slow.  We all stayed together on the way out, but Maribeth went back with the older ones alone for lunch.  Mommy, Daddy and Annalise had a leisurely, sometimes painfully leisurely ride home and the older ones were done with lunch by the time we got back.  It was our first time to soak in the Canyon...

Our first family photo at the Grand Canyon

Gazing in wonder near Pipe Creek Vista

A Scarlett "Love" picture (she's been doing this to us everywhere)

This was the fastest Annalise rode all day.  Trust us!

Day 2 - A "Wild" Birthday for Annalise

We learned fairly quickly after a few views of the Grand Canyon, that it kind of starts to look the same.   No disrespect to the GC - it is after all one of the Seven Natural Wonders. So we started Day 2 with a Ranger volunteer led "Walk on the Wild Side" from Shrine of the Ages to the Canyon Rim.  From there we hiked the Trail of Time.  Annalise got to sport her new pink Camelbak (couldn't believe I found a little pink one at the General Store) and we got to learn about Ponderosa Pines, animal tracks (and all of the animals that exist in the park) and lightning strikes and how they affect trees.  Did you know that there are only 68 California Condors in the Grand Canyon?

A Ranger volunteer doing his thing

Annalise sporting her new Camelbak
and examining a "yellow belly" Ponderosa Pine
(that would be a mature Ponderosa Pine...)

Our view at the end of the Ranger Program

Scarlett and Laryssa on the Trail of Time

Another Scarlett "Love Shot"

Annalise on a shuttle back to camp after our hike.
She knows her birthday dinner is coming!

Then it was time to get ready for Annalise's Birthday Dinner!  We went to the Bright Angel Lodge and enjoyed a great meal.  I think Annalise has the best birthdays - we always tend to be traveling in July and that means going to a new place to celebrate her birthday every year.  Hard to beat a birthday at the Grand Canyon!

Ready for dinner at the Bright Angel Lodge

Happy Birthday Annalise!  You're 6!

Coloring before dinner

Happy Birthday singing from the staff!

Annalise knows she can get anything on her birthday...

Annalise with her birthday surprise

Day 3 - All about the BIKES!!

Today started with an early morning ride for Daddy to the Hermit's Rest route which is closed for vehicles - only shuttle buses and bikes.  I wanted to get a sunrise video and some pictures and while I had Hopi Point in mind as the spot, I got there a little late and settled for the first overlook.  It turned out to be the Trailhead Overlook and as the sun rose I noticed people hiking into the Canyon.  The trail was  the Bright Angel Trail and as I watched them all hiking along that trail, I knew that would be our plan for the following day.  Something about watching them, small as ants wind down this trail.  It made me realize that it would not only be a challenge, but the views looking up from the Canyon "floor" would have to be even better...

Sunrise at the Grand Canyon from Trailhead Overlook (Hermit's Rest Route)

Bright Angel Trail - if you look close, you can see hikers

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  BIKING!

Since the Hermit's Rest route is closed to vehicles I thought it would be ideal for us to ride.  It would be over 20 miles by the time we reached Hermit's Rest at the end and were back to camp and at mile 5 we would have to ascend a 6% grade for a mile and a half.  You may be thinking to yourself, "How on earth is Annalise going to do that on training wheels?"  Well, she wouldn't.  So Aunt Maribeth and her hopped on a couple of shuttles and eventually met us at Hermit's Rest and did quite a bit of hiking on their own.  We're estimating that they hiked about 6 miles that afternoon.  And I honestly don't know what we would do without Aunt Maribeth - this ride would clearly not have happened without her!

The kids on bikes also did fantastic - Scarlett was a regular machine and just after her and I got to the top of that steep grade, a bobcat ran right across the road in front of her!  I have it on video, but it's absolute torture to try and upload any video here.  It was quite amazing, especially since I've never seen a bobcat, EVER!

Successfully climbing a 6% grade

A beautiful day for a ride

Graeme and Scarlett resting at Hermit's Rest

10 miles down, 10 to go

You guessed it - Scarlett again!

Annalise reunites with the family

Graeme loves to take shots with the Go Pro - this one was pretty cool

Graeme took this cool shot, too!

Day 4 - A Day of Decisions at Bright Angel Trail

Here we are at the trail head.  Bright Angel is one of two trails that will take you down into the Canyon.  There are dire warnings everywhere about staying hydrated and not overextending yourself on this trail.  Deaths occur every year and the one thing they strongly discourage is to hike down to the Colorado River and back in a day - 16 miles round trip.  The average grade along the entire length of this trail is 10%.  We approached this trail with caution and vowed to take it easy and turn around when we needed to.

About 200 feet down the trail, Mommy's decision was made - she was out.  As most of you know, Lisa is fearful of heights.  She took one look at the edge of the trail that simply drops off to nothing and she knew it wasn't going to happen.  At almost the same time, Scarlett stepped on a rock, slipped a little and decided that, and I'm quoting her, "I'm clumsy - that trail is no place for me".  Two good decisions yet it really meant that they were going back to camp to do laundry.

So now we were 5 - Maribeth, Laryssa, Graeme, Annalise and I were ready to see what we could do. We were on the trail by 7:30, but by 8:30 you could feel the heat and especially so for Annalise.  We set our goal for the Mile and a half Resthouse.

Making room for the mules - they have the right of way

It was probably a little over a mile into it when Annalise decided it was getting too hot for her.  Her fabulous big sister and Aunt decided to go back with her.  I can't thank them enough for helping her and at the same time allowing Graeme and I to continue our hike.

Graeme finds a wide spot in the trail to take a rest

The Mile and a Half Resthouse came into view only about 15 minutes after the girls headed back up.  At this point, that 10% downhill grade was starting to affect my legs.  I wondered how Graeme was doing.  Outwardly he had his mind set on Indian Garden - 4.9 miles one way.  It was my goal, too, but as we left this Mile and a Half Resthouse, I had my doubts...

Graeme looking down on Indian Garden - one of the only places above the Colorado River that has water

Looking up from within the Canyon was a great experience

 Here's Graeme at our "lunch table" at the Three Mile Resthouse.  We just had a snack and rested our legs here and this was the first time in Arizona that I can recall truly sweating.  At this point, with 3 miles to hike back up, Graeme decided that it was time to turn around.  As cool as it would have been to see Indian Gardens and it's natural spring, Graeme knew that his body couldn't do it.  Love that kid!

One of the many rock squirrels around the Grand Canyon that
will literally come right up to you for food

Our hike back up was just as amazing as the way down.  It's funny how just reversing direction changes your point of view and it's as if you're on a brand new trail.  We stopped to talk to a Park Ranger who clued us in on these petroglyphs that were high on the Canyon wall early on in the hike.  Very neat to see something that was done here hundreds of years ago by another human being...  

After a 6 mile hike, it was time for a dog and milkshake!  Graeme definitely earned it!  

Some dirty hiking shoes

This massive elk was waiting for us back at camp after our hike

Daddy was too tired to even take a shower
so it was nap time on the floor

 It turns out we got our hike in at the perfect time - right after we got back it rained pretty good and a few drops returned at dinner.  Of course, the kids just had to have their umbrellas...

Our last night at the Grand Canyon - we finally got to see a beautiful sunset

The perfect ending to our stay at the Grand Canyon.

Today we head up to Utah to see Dot & Rich Dillon and to explore Bryce Canyon and Zion.  It's a short 4 1/2 hour drive so we're hoping to be set up by mid afternoon!