Decided to spend the day hiking! Mark was keen to follow part of the Bright Angel Trail into the Canyon but I heeded the rangers warnings about temperatures etc and we opted for the paved path along the rim. A complete nightmare; not dissimilar to navigating your way down Oxford Street in the run up to Christmas. Three miles down the track we made it to the lodge for cold beers and a hearty lunch and decided the afternoon should be spent heading west along the rim in an attempt to get away from the tourists. (The national park receives in excess of 5 million visitors a year and most would appear to be there in June).
So, we caught the free bus out and hopped off where the path becomes unpaved. Spectacular views and relatively peaceful; we saw our first California condor swooping below us. We hiked for another three miles or so and watched the shadows lengthen in the afternoon sun. The bus delivered us back to the campsite in time for a quick supper before heading back to the Desert View Point for the sunset. One of the Park Rangers regaled us with the story of Powell’s expedition running the Colorado River in 18-something-or-other and then we watched the sunset spectacle. An even more staggering panorama to end a day full of staggering panoramas.
Today’s Tune: The Grand Canyon Trail (theme music to the film) sung, I think, by Judy Garland
Wildlife Watch: A day to impress Bill Oddie - Mule deer grazing by the showers; a magnificent elk and partner wandering past our tent; the rare Californian condor; an Abert’s squirrel; a skink and the back end of a snake (possibly a rattler???) but only seen by Mark.
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