October Trip 2.6: Grand Canyon Day 3 (Oct 13)

Ha! Mom told me that I left out Day 3 of Grand Canyon trip on my blog so here's it.

On the third and last day of our Grand Canyon visit, we hiked down Bright Angel Trail to the first rest stop which was only about ~350m vertical descent. Come to think of it, 350m is a huge change in height! The whole trail round trip is about 3 miles if I remember correctly, and took us about 3 hours total. The next stop would have been 6 miles total round trip and it would have been too much for us.

We started early around 7.30am after watching sunrise at Mather Point lookout point. Based on my experience of catching one each of sunset and sunrise in Grand Canyon, I found sunset to be prettier.

 Sunrise at Mather Point, Grand Canyon, Oct 13 2010.

Before heading to Grand Canyon, I considered taking a mule ride on a trail hike in Grand Canyon. I asked Mom and the idea was quickly dismissed. We saw the mule stables in Grand Canyon but didn't see anybody riding the mules. Today we finally saw 8 or 9 brave souls rode the mules on Bright Angel Trail into the canyon.

Why did I call them brave? Here's why.

 The mules looked very tame and calm. Almost...wise. So that's good.

But what the heck~~!! They trotted so close to the edge of the trail! Imagine yourself sitting on the back of them, looking down the side of the canyon promising a nice hundred feet drop if you lose your balance on the back of the mule OR if the mule decides that your days are over.
Apparently nobody has ever died from riding mules in Grand Canyon. Nice to know.

And the mules poop whenever they like, or dislike.

There were quite a few people who walked the trail about the same time we started. Most of them hiked faster than us and often passed us. Some people were even making their way back up to the Canyon rim after spending the night before camping at the base of the canyon. Very amazing.

Here are some views of the canyon as we hiked down, and some pics of us hiking :).

 The layers of different geological materials are easily observed in Grand Canyon's cliff walls. Here you see a clear distinction between two layers--the lower red one is either the Hermit Shale or the Redwall Limestone..can't tell.

 Mom took several breaks on the way up but I was still impressed.

 I looked plump with three layers of tshirts on. I can't tell if I actually looked better like this...I guess a bit more flesh on me bones wouldn't hurt.

And here's Mom after a ~2.5 hour hike 350m into the canyon and 350m back up.

We were joking on how she looked older after the hike hahahhaa.


My thoughts on Grand Canyon National Park:
This was the place that I have heard of since young and the place I have always wanted to visit. (In fact the only other thing that I would like to do more in the USA is to drive on one of those long and straight highways through the American deserts and dry plains that stretch out as far as the eyes can see from both sides of the highway. However, I dislike driving and I would need a convertible to really emulate the scenes in the Hollywood movies that I yearn to experience.) Now that I have spent 3 full days in Grand Canyon, this what I have to say.
1. It's definitely worth going. The sheer magnitude of the Canyons is unimaginable if you haven't seen anything like it.
2. It's enjoyable even if you don't know anything about rocks, but it's more meaningful if you do.
3. A day on the Rim looking down into the Canyon is sufficient. Very soon, all the views look similar from the top.
4. A hike into the Canyon is a must. The Canyon feels and looks very different when you are IN it than when you are on top of it. I felt much smaller during our hike into the Canyon, and much more awe for the whole place and its formation.
5. River. Get onto the Colorado River and experience the Grand Canyon at the lowest point of the Canyon, the river. We didn't do this, but the next time I come I shall spend a some days going down the 277 mile part of the Colorado River in the Canyon. There were pictures of the side canyons and beaches that are accessible only from the Colorado River in the Canyon, and I was so hooked.
6. This place is CROWDED. Avoid summers if you can, at all means. We visited about a month and half after summer and it was still populous. I can't even begin to imagine how it's like in summer. 4.5 million people visit Grand Canyon every year.