Adopt A Tree Day

James woke up early this morning to join a ranger-led hike into the canyon.  He took some awesome pictures and learned some cool facts.  The Grand Canyon gets about 5 million visitors each year, and only 5% go below the rim!  The average length of a visit is 30 minutes, so apparently most people just drive through, look into the Canyon from the rim, and move on.  Only1% make it to the bottom of the Canyon, which isn't so surprising because that involves a 6-7 mile hike that descends more than 5,000 feet.  James's hike went about 1.5 miles down and descended 1,200 feet.  The history of the Canyon is mind-blowing.  In short, almost 2 billion years of layered rock formation thousands of feet deep and created, in part, by a huge saltwater sea spreading and receding across the middle of the continent, plate tectonic movement that raised all that as an enormous land mass, at different times, and then erosion caused by the Colorado River.  The Canyon is 277 miles long and averages 10 miles wide and 1 mile deep.  Fascinating. 

Views from the trailhead at South Kaibab.  

A series of switchbacks descending into the Canyon.  

A view of the top 3-4 layers of rock, alternating between hard rock, which breaks off in chunks creating steep cliffs, and softer rock, that erodes and sloughs off over time, appearing as slopes between the cliffs.  That softer ground holds more water and can support tree growth.  

The view from ooh-aah point, showing where the Canyon really steepens into the lower layers.  The river flow is more controlled now, but the Canyon bottom continues to erode approximately the thickness of a sheet of paper each year.  

The point at Cedar Ridge.  

A panorama from Cedar Ridge.

The girls and I joined a junior ranger tour called "Walk on the Wild Side".  I didn't feel like messing with the shuttles so we walked the mile or so to get there.  I swear I heard a bear one time.  On the tour, we hunted for certain things and hiked to the rim.  The girls received their badges at the end of the tour.

As part of the program, the girls "adopted" trees.  They named them and drew a map so they can find them on future visits to the canyon.  This is Sarah Ellen with "Lisa."

 And "Max"

Guess what Lily's trees were named: Margaret Anne and Porter! 

We had a low key afternoon.  I went to the laundromat and did 5 loads of laundry at once!  James and the girls hung out.  We went to dinner at El Tovar with a fabulous view of the canyon.

The Grand Canyon

Off to the Grand Canyon today!  We enjoyed another drive filled with beautiful scenery.  We have been pleasantly surprised with how much we are enjoying the driving time.  Good thing, since we are doing a lot of it!

Welcome to Arizona

Sarah Ellen must have needed a little alone time.

We drove by the Vermillion Cliffs, the Echo Cliffs, the Marble Canyon, and Little Colorado Canyon.

We stopped briefly to look down on the Colorado River as it cut the Marble Canyon.  Unbelievable that a river can carve such amazing scenery.

We had planned to go straight to our hotel once in the park, but we couldn’t resist taking a peek at the first lookout.  We stopped at the Desert View visitor center.   WOW!

  

We made our way to our room in the Kuchina Lodge.  The lodge itself resembled a dorm and didn’t smell so great.  The rooms were nice but a little musty.  The view was amazing.  I suppose the price you pay is mostly for the view and being in the park. We have come to learn that we can handle the bare necessities as long as they are clean and fresh.  Musty - we don't do so well.  We made the executive decision to cut the Grand Canyon a day short and add a day at the Bellagio.

We walked the rim to the Arizona Room for dinner.  I hope the girls' arms aren't bruised.  Every time they got within ten feet of the edge, I would grab them by the arm and pull them next to me.  I really don't mind cutting The Grand Canyon short for this reason too.  I have horrible visions of them falling over a cliff.  They need A LOT more rails around this place for this mama to feel better.

After dinner we stopped by the Fountain for ice cream.

Once back in our room, Mother Nature treated us to a spectacular show.

James and Lily did a nightly yoga routine – a habit they have started that I love.  Sarah Ellen did my hair, and we all were happy!