if I was the Grand Canyon

Thursday November 5

Got up early and went to Safeway to stock up on hiking snacks for my two-park day. Skipped breakfast in favor of getting an early start on the Petrified Forest. First I passed a sign that contradicted Google, saying that the park wouldn’t open until 8am (It was 6:30). I figured I could wait and watch the sunrise. As I drove further East a light dusting of confectioner’s sugar appeared to fade the colors of the vegetation, then thickened gradually so that by the time I'd arrived at the entrance I knew there would be nothing to see. I took some pictures of the funny dinosaur statues covered in snow anyway, then I turned and headed to the Grand Canyon.

Pie in the face dinos

High desert winter wonderland

First glimpse of the Rockies!

A record-breaking 12 inch snowfall had fallen on Flagstaff the previous night and it felt like a Rocky Mountains ski town. By the time I got out of the car in the visitor center parking lot it felt like winter had caught up with me.

View from the South Rim

Part of the South Kaibab trail

I took the South Kaibab trail into the canyon, which was frozen up at the top where it was hidden in the South rim’s shadow, but cleared further down. The aptly named Ooh Aah Point was beautiful, and from Skeleton point you can see Phantom Ranch.

Mule train returning from Phantom ranch

Obligatory tourist photo from Ooh Aah Point

If you look in the bottom right corner of that sandtrap you can see Phantom Ranch

I had felt fine up to that point but the minute I turned around to go back my legs told me it wasn’t going to be easy. That breakfast I skipped had caught up with me too, but I made it back out in the end. 

Long shadows fall on the canyon walls and crevices