Day 2 of our hike was a relatively flat hike of 7.2 miles. However, the last 2 miles of the trek is through what is known as "the box". This section enters a narrow canyon with walls that tower over the North Kaibab Trail. The temperatures inside the walls reach in excess of 130 degrees.
Since I wanted to make sure that we got through the box early, we decided to awake at 3:15 a.m. and be on the trail by 4 a.m. We decided that I would lead the hike so Kathy could keep an eye on me.
The rest and stretching I did yesterday paid off. My legs felt fine and we are on our way. Once you leave the campground you encounter typical desert vegetation as you see to the right of me.
The trail is much flatter. The climate is hot, and annual precipitation measures less than ten inches per year. Water is most precious
Poisonous but beautiful sacred datura is also a common plant in the desert below Cottonwood Campground,
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The most widespread desert tree mesquite grows about fifteen feet tall and is abundant in this area. They adapt to this dry environment by sending down roots to depths between thirty and one hundred feet.
It is recommended that hikers reach the Bright Angel Campground before 10 a.m daily.
Although not in this photo, we wanted to visit Ribbon Falls, a true gem about 1.6 miles down from Cottonwood Campground, but since I had such an issue with my legs yesterday we decided to pass. Hikers caught in the heat of the day are encouraged to take a siesta there from 10 a.m to 4 p.m,
Though the trail here is not challenging from a perspective of elevation. The gorge of black rock becomes like an oven and can be compared to walking through a parking lot in Phoenix or Las Vegas in the summertime.
As you can see here, we are starting to enter the inner gorge, a narrow canyon boxed in on either side by 1.7 billion-year-old Vishnu Schist where over 1 billion years of geology is missing,
Our history lesson for today. Do you know the difference between a canyon and a gorge?
A canyon is wider than it is high and a gorge is deeper than it is wide. If you got it right give yourself one point!
Although not common, the Grand Canyon Rattlesnake can occasionally be seen along the North Kaibab Trail. We did not see any snakes but Kathy did, however, dream that she encountered one on the trail and I simply told her to "just step over it"
In this photo, you can see the Bright Angel Creek. In addition to other survival items we brought along, we did purchase a survival straw that we could use to purify water just in case of an emergency,
One thing we did do that helped immensely was to soak our bandanas in the creek and wrap them around our necks to keep cool during our hikes.
Did I mention that our packs weigh between 30-32 pounds each? After hiking 14.2 miles you think you did pack the kitchen sink.
You can see here that the sun is starting to rise and enter the canyon.
The sign indicates Phantom Ranch is just 3/4 miles ahead.
After fourteen long trial miles from the North Rim, Phantom Ranch is indeed a welcome sight. By arriving at 8:30 a.m. we beat the heat. Another reason that I was glad I was here, is that Kathy arranged steaks dinners for us at 5 p.m.
Yep, it's me, soaking my legs and cooling off. You can only imagine how good it feels!
Kathy taking a well-deserved rest as well. The temperatures here at Phantom Ranch were in excess of 110 degrees in the sun. Looking for shade did little to help.
A couple of facts that you might not know about the Grand Canyon:
IT'S NOT THE DEEPEST CANYON IN THE WORLD
The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon in Tibet plummets to a depth of 17,567 feet, making it more than 2 miles deeper than the Grand Canyon's 6,093 feet. The Tibetan canyon is also about 30 miles longer than the Grand Canyon
THERE ARE NO DINOSAUR BONES IN THE GRAND CANYON
The Grand Canyon might look like the perfect place to go looking for dinosaur bones, but none have ever been found there and for good reason. The rock that makes up the canyon walls is vastly more ancient than the dinosaurs – about a billion years more ancient, in some cases – but the canyon itself probably didn't form until after the dinosaurs were long gone.
Huge !!! Good listening to your stories today --obviously a trip for the memory " book "
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