The route from Sedona to the south rim of the Grand Canyon was an interesting one. We got a break from the long highway roads with desolate desert sand on either side and instead exchanged it for curving roads clinging tightly to rock ledges. To our left was plant-covered mountains and to our right was a sheer drop to the Coconino forest floor.
We arrived in the town of Tusayan, Arizona that plays home to terribly reviewed restaurants but a Wonder of the World, the Grand Canyon.
The South Rim is considered the most touristy but the most accessible route to see the Grand Canyon. This proved to be true as I saw more international visitors than domestic. It's patrons ranged from Chinese to New Zealanders and anyone in between. It was almost like an amusement park without the rides, dirty concrete and splash zones.
When we finally arrived and entered the park and started to head towards the rim of the Canyon I made a decision to not look leading up to it. So I bowed my head and pulled the brim of my hat real low and stared at the ground only a few feet in front of me. I knew I was getting close because the wind was picking up as it raced past up and over the open Canyon.
When I felt close enough, I looked up.
My heart began to race. It almost felt like it wanted to leap out of my chest on the first few beats after seeing the Wonder. Out in front of me was an expansive view that almost appeared to be painted by countless talented hands. The colors ranged across the spectrum and the sun cast shade on its walls. It was breathtaking.
You will have to see it for yourself one day if you haven't already done so.
We spent two nights at the Grand Canyon. On that first day that we got there we explored the rim of the Canyon. Each spot offered a different scene of immense beauty. That night we raced the sun as it threatened to set. We reached our destination, Hopi Point, just on time and experienced the greatest sunset I have ever seen. We stargazed that night until 1 am and then woke up at 3:30 am for a Grand Canyon sunrise that again took my breath away. We then did the Bright Angel Trail, which dives deep into the Canyon until it reaches the floor and the Colorado River. But my brother and younger sister only hiked until the 3 mile marker and turned around for the hardest hike yet, back up to the Canyon Rim. All in all, it was nearly a 7-mile hike, that took roughly 6 hours and a lot of liters of water.
It was an exhausting stop but something I will never forget.
My parents have this album in their music collection and I remember driving around in my dad's old Nissan Pathfinder to this song with the windows down during the summertime. It came back to when I first saw the mule on the Bright Angel trailhead and then later that night when we were driving back from some star gazing. Enjoy.
(Above): My first sight of the Grand Canyon with rain pouring on the right.
(Above): I had to ask them to kiss again because I missed it the first time. My dad didn't complain.
(Above): Sunset from Hopi Point, with an appearance from the Colorado River.
(Above): Facing the sunrise.
(Above): Climbing down into the Canyon.
(Above): This rock was a point to which I would look to determine how deep we had gone. Now it towers high above us.
(Above): Found someone's heart.
(Above): Climbed all the way down and then had to go back up to the top.
(Above): Shadows came and covered the land.
(Above): Me, snapped by my brother, Patrick.
(Above): Sunset from Mather Point.
(Above & Below): The skyscapes left behind by the sun were out of this world.
(Above & Below): The Milky Way glistening like a dusty streak in the sky. Truly amazing.