3rd May 2010 – The Gut Busting Grand Canyon and its Trails
The Grand Canyon is merely a stone’s throw away from any tourist hotspots such as Flagstaff which has hotels, restaurants and historic attractions to cater for all needs and requirements. A good starting point is to take in the breath taking scenery from the visitor centre viewpoint. Next port of call before you proceed any further should be a ranger’s talk within the confines of the informative visitor centre itself. This talk on the geology of the Grand Canyon is not only educational but also entertaining and easy to listen to and understand. You should listen with open ears whilst the ranger is talking, due to the fact that the exposed environment lacks signs that illustrate the natural beauty that is all around you. With great beauty comes a slight risk, therefore a minimum of 4 litres of water should be taken, along with some food when tackling the trails.
A Map of the Grand Canyon Trails, including the Kaibab Trail
There are many routes around the canyon that can be taken and the easiest access by shuttle bus is the challenging Kaibab trail. The bus driver is not only exceptional at his duties as senior coachman but also very knowledgeable and helpful in the terms of information about trails and general Canyon facts. When you arrive at the start of the Kaibab trail one can’t help but be overwhelmed by the natural beauty and presence. The trail is a fantastic chance to get photos so it is good to take your time on the way down, taking in the spectacular views because the way back up is easier said than done. Mainly tackling the trail is a mixture of school visits, enthusiastic tourists and hikers, who are all friendly, easy to talk to and will help to keep you going when the trail becomes tough. As walking down the trail the transition of the rock types that the ranger spoke about earlier becomes clearer as you descend deeper in to geological time. During the trail there are ideal places to sit and look out into the truly ‘Grand’ Canyon and if you are lucky you may spot a huge California Condor soaring on the thermals above. At a gentle two and half miles you come across Cedar Ridge which is a perfect spot to stop for some food, use the restrooms and take in the scale of the Grand Canyon, however whilst eating you must be careful of the cheeky Kaibab squirrels that may fancy a spot of your lunch.
If you are a more driven walker then carry on further to the spectacular Skeleton Point where you can see down in to the river channel canyon. Keep an eye on your watch because the route back up is more time consuming then the decent. Taking regular breaks to top up on water and air is strongly advised as is the topping up of sun cream. When you reach the top again you have a real sense of accomplishment when you look down the canyon and see how far you have walked. If you still want more of the views then getting off a stop before the visitor centre is a good opportunity to enjoy the delights of the relaxing rim trail. This takes you along the stunningly beautiful South Rim and this walk mixes views of the different native trees and flowers alongside the awe-inspiring views that the Grand Canyon has to offer. This tops off a breath-taking day at one with nature at one of the world best natural wonders.
Muchos Love. Matt, Luke and Freddy
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