Day 4 - Grand Discovery

Panorama shot of Grand Canyon from Watchtower windows.  More than 360º, notice the same building on left & right.

Time lapse animation of sunset at the Gran Canyon, each second of animation is 15 minutes of sunset.

David's Journal

Our fourth day started with a privately guided tour of the south rim of the Grand Canyon.  Including a stop by "The Watchtower", which gives a fabulous 360º view from a tower above the canyon (the panorama shot was through the windows of the Watchtower).  After that we had lunch at the Bright Angel Lodge, followed by a hike down the Bright Angel Trail.  We only hiked for about 45 minutes (15 downhill, 30 uphill).  Then we watched the sunset in the canyon from the lookout point near the El Tovar hotel.

Amber's Journal

Day 4--Grand Discovery

Up yawningly early again!  Then off we went to the Canyon for a guided tour with another local guide who told us about the Canyon as we went about to various vantage points to oooh and ahhh over the surreal majesty below us.

At one point, several members of our party scrambled out onto an outcrop by the cliff side. I surprised David by following onto the outcrop as well--although I was NOT brave enough to go scrambling down onto the lower ledge! I was quite close enough to the edge thank you very much! Me and my fear of heights stayed where it was safe!

We nosed around the shopping area around the El Tovar Hotel (which is apparently the plushest place to stay in the Canyon) and had a nice lunch at a cafe there--stew for me, and chili for David in bread bowls.

After lunch, we hiked a bit down Bright Angel Trail which is the trail they take the mules down--we didn't run into them, just mule by product.  We followed the trail down to a spot where there are some Indian petroglyphs on a high ridge.  Then--the hard part! The trail is quite steep--our guides told us to allow "one part down, but two parts up" It takes way longer to climb out than to go down!! We were both panting, and sweaty after our excursion, although apparently others in our group were much more energetic, and overdid it a bit!

After our hike, we went back to the hotel for a well-deserved nap, then a return to the Canyon to watch the sun set and paint the rugged landscapes in ever-changing rusty hues.  Every time you looked, the rocks looked different, and the hues of the cliffs were constantly evolving with the dying light.  I got an especially nice shot of a dead tree silhouetted against the sunset.