Half Around The World In 80 Days

Grand Canyon (24-26 September 1999)
[Previous] [Next] . . . [Contents] . . . [Feedback]

One of the main reasons for travelling to the southwestern USA was to visit the Grand Canyon. I had actually been here before in 1997, but poor planning and extreme bad luck allowed me to stay for only 1 hour at the valley rim, which is not nearly enough. This time I planned to see it properly.

My co-conspirator in this was Seamus Gallagher, a friend from college who now resides in Los Angeles. We met at Las Vegas airport and then drove 300 miles through the night to get to the Grand Canyon. The next day we hiked down the Bright Angel Trail from the valley rim to the mighty Colorado river 4000 feet below. The scenery was utterly stunning with multicoloured vistas whether you looked up, down left or right. This was moderately tough downhill hiking under the blazing sun. It was slightly unsettling though to see the grimaces on the faces of those souls hiking UP the trail; what lay ahead for us tomorrow ?

We stayed the night in a rustic abode called Phantom Ranch on the banks of the Colorado. There is a great sense of camaraderie between all who have made it to here. After our well-earned repast, we went 'scorpion hunting' in the dark with a park ranger. This is done with the aid of an ultra violet light, under which the scorpions glow bright green; under normal white light the scorpions are almost invisible against the background rocks. The Park Ranger reassured us that the scorpion stings are rarely lethal, but many of the hikers were unconvinced.

The hike UP out of the Grand Canyon was just as tough as I had imagined, and them some more beyond. I reckon that I grimaced enough to strike terror into other people's souls on this winding trail back to the valley rim and the land of the day-trippers. Unlike mountain climbing where gravity assists you descend when tiredness has set in, all the cards are stacked against you here on the way back. Still, we did make it back to the land of the living intact where nature had one final treat in store for us. The sunsets here are magical with the colours of the Canyon changing by the second as the sun dips below the desert horizon to the west. This is more than adequate compensation for all our exertions; the Grand Canyon is nature on a gargantuan scale and left me utterly in awe.

Click link to see larger image. Use   Back   button on browser to return to this page. Seamus Gallagher still smiling on the way down the trail.

All transport up and down the Canyon trails is by mule. This one is loaded with empty Coke cans to take out of the valley .

Verdant oasis by Angel Creek

The Canyon in profile

Trail-worn hikers take a breather

Night falls on a tiring day


[Previous] [Next] . . . [Contents] . . . [Top Of Page] . . . [Feedback]