News From The Rim

Everyone got up pretty early and grabbed something to eat. We were very anxious to explore the park got going as soon as we were able. The campground is OK, certainly nothing to write home about. However, for a National Park, things are pretty buttoned up. There is an excellent if not overcrowded mass transit system that will carry you from one end of the park to the other. There are shops, hotels and restaurants. There are bookstores, theaters and even a fairly well stocked General Store. What they don’t have is internet access. The neat thing about the South Village is that many of the hotels and buildings were built long ago by the railroad companies. In fact the El Tovar Hotel was built in 1905 by the Santa Fe railroad for the exclusive use of their company executives. The hotel is considered to be one of the crown jewels of all the National Park lodges. The El Tovar is located in the center of the south village. The hotel restaurant is elegant yet rustic, its shops are diverse and only moderately expensive and the views are nothing short of spectacular. Parking at the El Tovar we began our first full day at the Grand Canyon by taking in the views, hitting a number of shops in the village and eating lunch at the Bright Angel Lodge. We attended a lecture at Kolb Studios on the efforts being made to save the California condor from extinction. The talk was given by a park ranger and conducted on a rock terrace overlooking the canyon. If you are like us and are unfamiliar with the plight of the condor, let me tell you these things are huge! With a wingspan in excess of 9 feet, the California condor has been around since the last ice age. However, by the early 1980’s these animals were all but extinct, with less than twenty living in captivity. The reintroduction of condors into the wild is going slowly. Those involved with the project are guardedly optimistic that over time we will be able to save these great birds. Yet, despite these efforts the California condor remains one of the rarest birds in North America. However, at the Grand Canyon they are very visible and can be seen soaring high on warm air currents and updrafts.

The kid’s began their third Junior Ranger program and we went on a hike along the central rim of the canyon. What an experience! The views are unbelievable and the weather is simply gorgeous. The rim trail is often overlooked when people discuss hiking the canyon. I can tell you from the little we did today; we have a deep appreciation for this aspect of the park. Hiking about three miles of the rim on paved paths, many that skirt the edge of the canyon, it was a nice introductory experience for the kids and a great time for us to take in the beautiful serenity of this special place. Wildlife was also in abundance as we have encountered elk, mule deer, rabbits, condors, ravens, and the biggest darn squirrels I have ever seen. At the end of the day, we packed it in, wandering outside just long enough to gaze at the evening sky. So many stars, you can hardly believe it. Without the light pollution of cities or the impact of human activity, it is hard to believe that this is the same sky you take for granted every night at home.