Grand Canyon Hike (and road trip)

We decided that since we were spending Thanksgiving down in Phoenix, we'd road trip it down there, stopping for a hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon on our way. The drive down took us through Moab and Monument Valley - all setting the stage for the canyon hike ahead.

After spending a night (in a hotel) on the rim, we hiked down the South Kaibab trail to the bottom, spent a day resting down at the bottom in the Bright Angel campground, then hiked back out on day three via the Bright Angel trail back to the south rim. The hike was grueling both ways (probably more so going down than up) but it was absolutely beautiful!

We lucked out on the weather - it was supposed to be in the mid-sixties in the canyon and forties on the rim - instead it was nearly 85 in the canyon and high sixties on the rim!

The Navajo Twins south of Moab, UT
The Navajo Twins south of Moab, UT
 
11-17-2007 11:10 am
  26 miles north of Mexican Hat, UT
26 miles north of Mexican Hat, UT
 
11-17-2007 11:13 am
  Just outside of Mexican Hat, UT
Just outside of Mexican Hat, UT
 
11-17-2007 11:36 am
  Above Monument Valley, UT
Above Monument Valley, UT
 
11-17-2007 11:55 am
  Above Monument Valley, UT
Above Monument Valley, UT
 
11-17-2007 11:57 am
  Above Monument Valley, UT
Above Monument Valley, UT
 
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11-17-2007 11:57 am
  The winding road we followed up towards Glen Canyon
The winding road we followed up towards Glen Canyon
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-17-2007 12:16 pm
  Monument Valley, Utah
Monument Valley, Utah
 
11-17-2007 12:44 pm
  View from Desert View on the east side of the Grand Canyon
View from Desert View on the east side of the Grand Canyon
 
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11-17-2007 4:12 pm
 
 
11-17-2007 4:14 pm
  The Desert View tower
The Desert View tower
 
11-17-2007 4:17 pm
 
 
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11-17-2007 4:44 pm
 
 
11-17-2007 5:00 pm
 
 
11-17-2007 5:27 pm
 
 
11-17-2007 6:09 pm
  Sunset from the Grand Canyon Village
Sunset from the Grand Canyon Village
 
11-17-2007 6:16 pm
 
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-17-2007 6:47 pm
  Descending down the switchbacks of the South Kaibab trail
Descending down the switchbacks of the South Kaibab trail
 
11-18-2007 8:45 am
  Halfway down through the Coconino Sandstone formation
Halfway down through the Coconino Sandstone formation
 
11-18-2007 8:58 am
  The trail switchbacking down the Kaibab Formation
The trail switchbacking down the Kaibab Formation
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-18-2007 8:59 am
  Brian on the trail
Brian on the trail
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-18-2007 9:05 am
  A sharp switchback through the Coconino Sandstone
A sharp switchback through the Coconino Sandstone
 
11-18-2007 9:09 am
  Smoke from a controlled burn fills the canyon east of us
Smoke from a controlled burn fills the canyon east of us
 
11-18-2007 9:28 am
  Looking up the trail to the south rim
Looking up the trail to the south rim
 
11-18-2007 9:57 am
 
 
11-18-2007 10:08 am
 
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-18-2007 10:36 am
  The well established trail behind us
The well established trail behind us
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-18-2007 10:46 am
  Skeleton Point, where we dropped below the Redwall Limestone
Skeleton Point, where we dropped below the Redwall Limestone
 
11-18-2007 10:48 am
 
 
11-18-2007 10:51 am
  The numerous switchbacks below Skeleton Point
The numerous switchbacks below Skeleton Point
Note how the trail changes color from red to white - as we broke through the various layers of the canyon, the trail color reflected the current layer.
 
11-18-2007 10:52 am
  Looking up at the Supai Group
Looking up at the Supai Group
 
11-18-2007 11:22 am
  A mule train, ascending the trail with supplies
A mule train, ascending the trail with supplies
The mule trains ascend the S. Kaibab trail and descend the Bright Angel trail - the opposite way that we went.
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-18-2007 11:28 am
  Below The Tipoff, the trail wound around below the Tonto Layer
Below The Tipoff, the trail wound around below the Tonto Layer
 
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11-18-2007 12:07 pm
  Looking down on the campground and silver bridge from 1,000 feet above
Looking down on the campground and silver bridge from 1,000 feet above
We"re still over an hour away from camp at this point...
 
11-18-2007 12:23 pm
 
 
11-18-2007 12:23 pm
 
 
11-18-2007 12:26 pm
 
 
11-18-2007 12:50 pm
 
 
11-18-2007 1:13 pm
  The Black Bridge (Kaibab Bridge)
The Black Bridge (Kaibab Bridge)
This bridge was completed in 1928 and spans more than 450 feet across the fast moving Colorado River (which is over 100 feet deep in spots below the bridge). The bridge is about 80 feet above the low water line of the Colorado.
 
11-18-2007 1:14 pm
  Finally reaching camp
Finally reaching camp
 
11-18-2007 1:35 pm
  The view from camp up to Skeleton Point
The view from camp up to Skeleton Point
The canyon rims were not visible from most spots deep in the valley. From Phantom Ranch and two spots along the Colorado, you could actually make out the South Rim.
 
11-18-2007 3:09 pm
  Looking westward down the Colorado
Looking westward down the Colorado
 
11-18-2007 3:54 pm
  Looking around the silver bridge over the Colorado River
[PAUSE THE SLIDESHOW BELOW TO WATCH THE ENTIRE VIDEO]
Looking around the silver bridge over the Colorado River
 
11-18-2007 4:01 pm
  The silver bridge (Bright Angel bridge)
The silver bridge (Bright Angel bridge)
 
11-18-2007 4:01 pm
 
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-18-2007 4:23 pm
  A half moon rises above the inner-canyon rim
A half moon rises above the inner-canyon rim
 
11-18-2007 5:01 pm
 
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-18-2007 5:52 pm
 
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-18-2007 6:57 pm
  Our campsite
Our campsite
To keep wildlife out of stuff, the National Park Service provided poles to hang our packs, and ammo cans to store our food.
 
11-19-2007 10:21 am
  A view from the campground
A view from the campground
 
11-19-2007 10:54 am
  Our campsite - complete with a picnic table
Our campsite - complete with a picnic table
 
11-19-2007 10:55 am
  The campground
The campground
 
11-19-2007 11:34 am
  Two hikers up on the South Kaibab trail, about 700 feet up
Two hikers up on the South Kaibab trail, about 700 feet up
 
11-19-2007 11:40 am
  A mule deer near our camp
A mule deer near our camp
 
11-19-2007 11:42 am
  A mule deer near our camp
A mule deer near our camp
 
11-19-2007 11:45 am
  The trail leading to camp
The trail leading to camp
 
11-19-2007 11:47 am
  What backpacking campsite is complete without a pay phone (and flush toilets)
What backpacking campsite is complete without a pay phone (and flush toilets)
 
11-19-2007 11:51 am
 
 
11-19-2007 12:09 pm
  The black bridge
The black bridge
 
11-19-2007 12:20 pm
 
 
11-19-2007 12:21 pm
  The black bridge
The black bridge
 
11-19-2007 12:29 pm
 
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-19-2007 12:29 pm
  The black bridge
The black bridge
 
11-19-2007 12:31 pm
  The black bridge's south end terminates directly into the rock face with a tunnel
The black bridge's south end terminates directly into the rock face with a tunnel
 
11-19-2007 12:33 pm
  The south rim, visible from about 0.5 miles north of our camp (in Phantom Ranch)
The south rim, visible from about 0.5 miles north of our camp (in Phantom Ranch)
 
11-19-2007 1:52 pm
 
 
11-19-2007 2:00 pm
 
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-19-2007 2:05 pm
  Vertical rock layers and and intricate shadows in "The Box" up Bright Angel Canyon
Vertical rock layers and and intricate shadows in "The Box" up Bright Angel Canyon
 
11-19-2007 2:36 pm
  Hiking through a box canyon
[PAUSE THE SLIDESHOW BELOW TO WATCH THE ENTIRE VIDEO]
Hiking through a box canyon
 
11-19-2007 2:48 pm
  Brian and Lisa in "The Box"
Brian and Lisa in "The Box"
 
11-19-2007 2:48 pm
 
 
11-19-2007 3:34 pm
  Looking up at Skeleton Point
Looking up at Skeleton Point
 
11-19-2007 3:36 pm
 
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-19-2007 4:13 pm
  A mule deer about ten feet from camp
A mule deer about ten feet from camp
 
11-19-2007 4:16 pm
 
 
11-19-2007 4:18 pm
  Mmmmm....freeze dried Beef Stew...
Mmmmm....freeze dried Beef Stew...
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-19-2007 5:06 pm
  ...just look at all those nutrients!
...just look at all those nutrients!
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-19-2007 5:06 pm
  Just like Mom used to make!
Just like Mom used to make!
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-19-2007 5:20 pm
  Oatmeal and a Jetboil - what else could a growing boy need?
Oatmeal and a Jetboil - what else could a growing boy need?
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-20-2007 6:05 am
  Breakfast before the hike out
Breakfast before the hike out
 
Photo by Lisa Davis
11-20-2007 6:06 am
 
 
11-20-2007 7:08 am
  The south rim, from the Bright Angel trail
The south rim, from the Bright Angel trail
 
11-20-2007 7:47 am
  The north rim from the Bright Angel trail
The north rim from the Bright Angel trail
 
11-20-2007 8:13 am
 
 
11-20-2007 8:30 am
  The Bright Angel trail winding down below us
The Bright Angel trail winding down below us
 
11-20-2007 8:30 am
 
 
11-20-2007 8:42 am
 
 
11-20-2007 8:50 am
 
 
11-20-2007 8:50 am
 
 
11-20-2007 9:07 am
  The Bright Angel trail, highlighted in yellow, as it switchbacks up the canyon wall
The Bright Angel trail, highlighted in yellow, as it switchbacks up the canyon wall
 
11-20-2007 10:10 am
  The trail winding below us
The trail winding below us
 
11-20-2007 11:30 am
  Once we reached 1.5 miles below the rim, we encountered a LOT more people
Once we reached 1.5 miles below the rim, we encountered a LOT more people
 
11-20-2007 11:57 am
  Still a mile below the rim with a lot of switchbacks left to go
Still a mile below the rim with a lot of switchbacks left to go
 
11-20-2007 12:08 pm
 
 
11-20-2007 12:15 pm
  The trail winds to the Indian Gardens below
The trail winds to the Indian Gardens below
 
11-20-2007 12:19 pm
  The Coconino Sandstone wall alongside the trail
The Coconino Sandstone wall alongside the trail
 
11-20-2007 12:25 pm
 
 
11-20-2007 12:54 pm
  Lisa points to where we camped
Lisa points to where we camped
 
11-20-2007 1:05 pm
 
 
11-20-2007 1:06 pm
 
 
11-20-2007 2:15 pm
 
 
11-20-2007 2:16 pm
 

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