DVD
Adventurer
My nephew just ended a temporary contract in Phoenix. My son was just starting Spring Break. Son-in-laws are always eager for an adventure. So we packed up the LR3 and headed to Flagstaff (NAU) to pick up my son and then head out to parts unknown.
Grand Canyon North Rim was the intended destination. I was thinking about Toroweap, but new regulations (permit required and no fires) dissuaded me. Permits take a couple weeks, and we didn't even know who was going and what dates a couple weeks ago. The North Rim weather forecast was favorable, but with nighttime lows in the 30s, I really didn't want to camp without a camp fire.
I found some good resources on this site for dispersed camping to the east of the National Park, so we turned off the highway on Buffalo Ranch Rd and headed towards the canyon. I was concerned that remnants from a big dump of snow a couple weeks earlier might have left the roads impassable due to either snow or mud bogs, but the trails were clear and dry.
Setting up camp
Camp set. It's a good place.
We found a nice site right on the rim at Marble Canyon. The view was spectacular, although lacking the vista of the National Park areas. On the plus side, we had the place completely to ourselves for the entire weekend - nobody around for miles. The solitude and stillness are equally important qualities.
View from campsite area
View from campsite area
View from campsite area
Exploring near our campsite
We had all day Saturday to explore the area. The only task was to find downed wood. There are no trees where we camped, and we burned our 2 bundles of store-bought wood on the first night. So we found a trail leading up to the forested North Rim plateau. This trail was the only real exercise the LR3 got, with some climbing and snow and mud.
Heading back from high country
Some melted snow sections
Once we got to the top, it was still a long way to any Grand Canyon overlooks (and these also looked to involve a jog on closed highway 67), so we hiked a bit on a closed vehicle trail and then headed back to the Buffalo Ranch area.
Down on the lower plateau, we did more hiking and exploring. First stop was the Nankoweap / Saddle Moutain trail.
Beautiful scenery, but no canyon views within the first 45 min or so of hiking
From Saddle Mountain, we headed east and noticed the Three Alcoves trailhead. It wasn't a long hike, so we parked and hit the trail. After 15 min or so, we were rewarded with this.
Three Alcoves overlook
(continued in next post)
Grand Canyon North Rim was the intended destination. I was thinking about Toroweap, but new regulations (permit required and no fires) dissuaded me. Permits take a couple weeks, and we didn't even know who was going and what dates a couple weeks ago. The North Rim weather forecast was favorable, but with nighttime lows in the 30s, I really didn't want to camp without a camp fire.
I found some good resources on this site for dispersed camping to the east of the National Park, so we turned off the highway on Buffalo Ranch Rd and headed towards the canyon. I was concerned that remnants from a big dump of snow a couple weeks earlier might have left the roads impassable due to either snow or mud bogs, but the trails were clear and dry.
Setting up camp
Camp set. It's a good place.
We found a nice site right on the rim at Marble Canyon. The view was spectacular, although lacking the vista of the National Park areas. On the plus side, we had the place completely to ourselves for the entire weekend - nobody around for miles. The solitude and stillness are equally important qualities.
View from campsite area
View from campsite area
View from campsite area
Exploring near our campsite
We had all day Saturday to explore the area. The only task was to find downed wood. There are no trees where we camped, and we burned our 2 bundles of store-bought wood on the first night. So we found a trail leading up to the forested North Rim plateau. This trail was the only real exercise the LR3 got, with some climbing and snow and mud.
Heading back from high country
Some melted snow sections
Once we got to the top, it was still a long way to any Grand Canyon overlooks (and these also looked to involve a jog on closed highway 67), so we hiked a bit on a closed vehicle trail and then headed back to the Buffalo Ranch area.
Down on the lower plateau, we did more hiking and exploring. First stop was the Nankoweap / Saddle Moutain trail.
Beautiful scenery, but no canyon views within the first 45 min or so of hiking
From Saddle Mountain, we headed east and noticed the Three Alcoves trailhead. It wasn't a long hike, so we parked and hit the trail. After 15 min or so, we were rewarded with this.
Three Alcoves overlook
(continued in next post)
