jgaz
Adventurer
Don’t worry @timdraper90, “our” Canyon has been there for awhile and it will still be there when this madness subsides.
In the meantime here’s a couple more photos to whet your appetite.
Grand Canyoneering
- Thread starter TripLeader
- Start date
In the meantime here’s a couple more photos to whet your appetite.
murice1995
New member
Those pictures look so beautiful. I cant wait for this pandemic to die down so I can check the Grand Canyon myself. I've already had plans for it earlier this year but I had to cancel it along with my metal detecting ventures. I'm praying they can find a vaccine soon.
jgaz
Adventurer
A lot of people are already there.
I was up there 4 days last week doing my volunteer trail patrols due to the fact that the park has been busy and our program’s seasonal rangers don’t start for another 10 days.
About five inches of snow fell below the rim on Tuesday. It hid the existing ice on the trail and made for some slick footing.
Wednesday was still slick and muddy, but clear, sunny and beautiful.
The ice and snow made things quite tough early Tuesday but I only saw three! people from the rim down to 1 1/2 rest house. It was like having the canyon to myself.
So quiet.
I was up there 4 days last week doing my volunteer trail patrols due to the fact that the park has been busy and our program’s seasonal rangers don’t start for another 10 days.
About five inches of snow fell below the rim on Tuesday. It hid the existing ice on the trail and made for some slick footing.
Wednesday was still slick and muddy, but clear, sunny and beautiful.
The ice and snow made things quite tough early Tuesday but I only saw three! people from the rim down to 1 1/2 rest house. It was like having the canyon to myself.
So quiet.
Last edited:
STREGA
Explorer
The ice and snow made things quite tough early Tuesday but I only saw three! people from the rim down to 1 1/2 rest house. It was like having the canyon to myself.
So quiet.
[/QUOTE]
Last year while the park was closed down they allowed park residents to do day hikes down into the canyon. I was able to get 8 hikes in before it started getting to hot for me. I saw very few other people on those hikes almost all on my way back up since I started hiking early in the morning. The last one I did was on the Hermits and only saw one ranger the whole time. Like you said “so quiet”. The six weeks the park was shut down was so amazing, there was nothing going on at all no shuttle or tour buses, no helicopters or airplanes flying overhead, all construction stopped, a large amount of park employees had left almost no vehicle traffic period. It was “so quiet”, the park was totally relaxed you could see it in the wildlife. I’ve been working here for 8 years and that time will be the highlight of my time here a once in a lifetime event.
So quiet.
[/QUOTE]
Last year while the park was closed down they allowed park residents to do day hikes down into the canyon. I was able to get 8 hikes in before it started getting to hot for me. I saw very few other people on those hikes almost all on my way back up since I started hiking early in the morning. The last one I did was on the Hermits and only saw one ranger the whole time. Like you said “so quiet”. The six weeks the park was shut down was so amazing, there was nothing going on at all no shuttle or tour buses, no helicopters or airplanes flying overhead, all construction stopped, a large amount of park employees had left almost no vehicle traffic period. It was “so quiet”, the park was totally relaxed you could see it in the wildlife. I’ve been working here for 8 years and that time will be the highlight of my time here a once in a lifetime event.
jgaz
Adventurer
Last year while the park was closed down they allowed park residents to do day hikes down into the canyon. I was able to get 8 hikes in before it started getting to hot for me. I saw very few other people on those hikes almost all on my way back up since I started hiking early in the morning. The last one I did was on the Hermits and only saw one ranger the whole time. Like you said “so quiet”. The six weeks the park was shut down was so amazing, there was nothing going on at all no shuttle or tour buses, no helicopters or airplanes flying overhead, all construction stopped, a large amount of park employees had left almost no vehicle traffic period. It was “so quiet”, the park was totally relaxed you could see it in the wildlife. I’ve been working here for 8 years and that time will be the highlight of my time here a once in a lifetime event.
[/QUOTE]
I can only imagine.
When I volunteer there I will often make Hermit my last shift.
Sometimes I just want to get away from the hundreds of people on the BA or SK.
STREGA
Explorer
I can only imagine.
When I volunteer there I will often make Hermit my last shift.
Sometimes I just want to get away from the hundreds of people on the BA or SK.
[/QUOTE]
This spring has been a mob scene at both BA and SK trails. Hermit’s is a lot busier than I have ever seen it also, hauled a bunch of hikers up their yesterday.
jgaz
Adventurer
This spring has been a mob scene at both BA and SK trails. Hermit’s is a lot busier than I have ever seen it also, hauled a bunch of hikers up their yesterday.
[/QUOTE]
I was up this past Wednesday and Thursday and was blown away by the large crowds. I worked with another volunteer on Thursday.
We had a total of three walk out assists on the SK at the same time. I finally called for help on the worst of them.
We got him to the rim, into the ambulance, and he was headed immediately toward Flagstaff.
TripLeader
Explorer
2022
Part 1 [Re-Introduction]
My wife and I ended up with reservations in late September for a Las Vegas wedding. We took the opportunity to explore the area, including another trip to the Grand Canyon. So why not add a few more photos to the old thread?
Part 2 [Las Vegas, Nevada]
It was not our scene. We jumped in our rental Nissan Sentra and headed east the morning after the wedding.
Part 1 [Re-Introduction]
My wife and I ended up with reservations in late September for a Las Vegas wedding. We took the opportunity to explore the area, including another trip to the Grand Canyon. So why not add a few more photos to the old thread?
Part 2 [Las Vegas, Nevada]
It was not our scene. We jumped in our rental Nissan Sentra and headed east the morning after the wedding.
TripLeader
Explorer
2022
Part 3 [Hoover Dam]
The first tourist trap we came to was the Hoover Dam. We paid our money and took the dam tour. It was a worthwhile dam experience.
One of the tour guides talking about the diversion tunnels.
The diversion tunnel (on the Nevada side).
Making electricity, with the exception that "Nevada 3" had been pulled for repair. Sometime, around the 1980s I think they said, the elecricity produced and sold from the dam paid for the cost to have built it. But electricity was never the goal. It was always about the reservoir.
Walking to a vent on the downstream side of the dam. Tourism was considered at the time of construction. Finished tunnels, like the one above, were created for future tours. However, in the coming years, tours spread to the unfinished tunnels too.
The view from the vent.
Strings tied between bolts were once used to measure movement of the concrete blocks making up the dam. A broken string indicated the blocks had shifted away from each other; a bowed string indicated the opposite.
Part 3 [Hoover Dam]
The first tourist trap we came to was the Hoover Dam. We paid our money and took the dam tour. It was a worthwhile dam experience.
One of the tour guides talking about the diversion tunnels.
The diversion tunnel (on the Nevada side).
Making electricity, with the exception that "Nevada 3" had been pulled for repair. Sometime, around the 1980s I think they said, the elecricity produced and sold from the dam paid for the cost to have built it. But electricity was never the goal. It was always about the reservoir.
Walking to a vent on the downstream side of the dam. Tourism was considered at the time of construction. Finished tunnels, like the one above, were created for future tours. However, in the coming years, tours spread to the unfinished tunnels too.
The view from the vent.
Strings tied between bolts were once used to measure movement of the concrete blocks making up the dam. A broken string indicated the blocks had shifted away from each other; a bowed string indicated the opposite.
TripLeader
Explorer
2022
Part 4 [Hoover Dam, on the Outside]
The narrated diorama from the old visitor's center.
Part 4 [Hoover Dam, on the Outside]
The narrated diorama from the old visitor's center.
TripLeader
Explorer
2022
Part 5 [Humphreys Peak]
We moved on to Flagstaff, Arizona as the base for the rest of our trip. My wife took a spa day. I took that day to try for the highest point of the state.
Part 5 [Humphreys Peak]
We moved on to Flagstaff, Arizona as the base for the rest of our trip. My wife took a spa day. I took that day to try for the highest point of the state.
TripLeader
Explorer
2022
Part 6 [Top of Arizona]
A hiker on the summit.
Looking toward the Grand Canyon from the summit.
The Grand Canyon, about 65 miles away.
I'll never reveal anything. Don't ask. You have to go for yourself.
Part 6 [Top of Arizona]
A hiker on the summit.
Looking toward the Grand Canyon from the summit.
The Grand Canyon, about 65 miles away.
I'll never reveal anything. Don't ask. You have to go for yourself.
TripLeader
Explorer
2022
Part 7 [Good Living at 12,633 Feet]
The way down.
Part 7 [Good Living at 12,633 Feet]
The way down.
TripLeader
Explorer
2022
Part 8 [Down and Out Trail Scenes]
And I was back to the trailhead shortly after hitting the wilderness boundary again.
Part 8 [Down and Out Trail Scenes]
And I was back to the trailhead shortly after hitting the wilderness boundary again.
TripLeader
Explorer
2022
Part 9 [Fort Verde]
We took the tour of the fort, which is now an Arizona state park. There's a lot of western history here.
Inside the surgeon's quarters.
Part 9 [Fort Verde]
We took the tour of the fort, which is now an Arizona state park. There's a lot of western history here.
Inside the surgeon's quarters.