The Grand Canyon
Mark K June 24th, 2008
After driving north all day from Tucson and Phoenix, pine trees start to appear and you realize that you’ve climbed to 7000 feet by the time you reach Flagstaff. For the first time on our trip, the temperature was pleasant and we continued on to the Grand Canyon, trying to get there before the sun went down. When we reached the viewing area, we stood with tourists from throughout the world - Germany, Denmark, Italy, England, and Japan. Like us, they were all speaking in hushed tones which reflected the awe and respect that we all felt for the miraculous sight in front of us. Some of us walked gingerly down to the viewing areas perched on the edge of the cliff, clinging to the railing on the side away from the edge. You couldn’t see too much by looking to the west, where the canyon was completely in shadow, but if you looked upstream, the colors were spectacular. Directly below us, there was a glimpse of the trail leading to a tiny sliver of the river that was visible from our vantage point. Someday, I hope to return and hike that trail.
One of my goals for this trip had been to help Joe and Eric stop and appreciate the beauty and variety of our vast country. When we agreed to make the trip together, I had suggested, for starters, that we stop and see New Orleans and the Grand Canyon. Judging by their reactions, I don’t think that any of us will ever forget this trip.
- wandering
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