North Rim GRAND CANYON

North Rim  Grand Canyon

I had the time and had been told that the North Rim of the Canyon was very worth the trip.

IT WAS!

There are Two really great access points that I went to.  The main one at the Lodge that I’ll get to in a minute, and the access that I liked, Cape Royal, because I loved the hike.  

The heart on the map photo farthest south Is Cape Royal.  You get to bothThe North Rim/ Lodge and Cape Royal via Hwy 67 south of Kanab thru Freedonia.  There is a ‘T’ in the road a few miles before the North Rim Ranger Station that takes you to Cape Royal and a pretty drive of about 15 miles through Ponderosa Pine and believe it or not, True Fir.  The reason you know that is the smell of Pine (very nice)  then the smell of True Fir  ( a fragrant Balsam odor).  It is one I was always crazy about and if you ever had a Christmas tree of Grand, Noble, White, or especially Balsam Fir you will pick up on the odor. 

I grew all of these in my career so I smelled it right away.

The North Rim is 1,000 ft higher than the South rim at about 8,000 feet and at the edge there is a bit of a micro-climate change of cooler moist air that the true firs love.  OK maybe TMI but I for one was pleasantly surprised.  

Here is the second treat; there is a hike of about 4 miles round trip from a parking spot to Cape Royal that takes you thru

Mature Ponderosa Pine and winds you close enough to the rim

that you smell the White Fir. 

Then you follow your nose and there are vistas of the Canyon all along the way.

That sometimes are surreal

 

 Wild flowers in July are Indian Paint Brush, 

                                                                         

Penstemon,

stuff I don’t know and a Shrub called

Cliff Rose that I had never heard of. 

Doesn’t look anything like a rose till you see the flower…..typical apple blossom!   Apple is in the ROSE Family.  But the leaves remind me of Liverwort!

                                                            

It looks more like a Juniper in both bark and leaves.

I know,  enough about plants, only my daughters will appreciate this!  Wanna see some sights?

There, a dead plant pointing to a scenic view.  Looks like the hand of a witch but this spot is called Angel’s Window because if I turn the camera to the right…

                     

This rock formation broke away to create a window to the distant cliff wall

C’mon, I’m still transitioning from plant to Canyon but you have to give compliments to this sentinel Pinion Pine.

 Though I should pay attention to the name of the far peak…sorry.

This is more like it

But in my defense, to get that shot I have to walk out this bridge and try not to look down on either side because

it just keeps going….DOWN!  of course, depending on where you are the elevation fluctuates but I am about 5,000 ft above that trickle of water.

This little guy is right on the precipice but it doesn’t seem to bother him!

Hell, he probably can’t see that far.  Why would he need to?!

Ok, this isn’t my fault!  This Western Tangier flew in for the show and I had never seen one.  When I went to the lodge later I had to look it up in a book….that I did not buy….because I could not afford it!  Ok, scenery, no Plants!

Ok, speechless for a second there but here is just another shot…but oh no, not just a shot, a shot looking across just to the right of dead center…

There is the Lookout tower on the South Rim near the Visitors Center there.

Here is one of my photos from when I was there on the Motorcycle....no, my zoom isn't THAT good!

I like these kind of shots

One small crack heading to the Big Crack

Why talk, just look and enjoy

Ok, I’m going to walk out there, but I’m not going to like it.

But it looks like one of those panoramic shots to die for.

Bad choice of words…

Down a ways from Cape Royal is Cape Final…I think ‘Final’ in terms of you then have to go back into a gorge so you might as well turn around and get the car to drive to the North Rim Lodge….which is coming…

It was named quite before we all were born it appears

And from the looks of this cloud, it could have another meaning…

So I’m outta here ‘cause there be lightning in those there thangs!

The light seemed better at the North Rim,  I got back to the car before it started sprinkling and by the time I got to the North Rim all was settled and good.  So here are the rest of the shots!

Does that look like rain?  Who cares, it is allowing quite a picture.

Oh no, another one of these!  Actually it is so cool that they have decided these are stable enough to build bridges/walkways out for spectacular vantage points.  One of the things that makes the visit so worth it!

One of the visitors was counting lightning strikes, but try and get a picture….no way.

Shelter is, well, this is telephoto so, there but not close.

No deer this trip, just this guy who demanded I shoot him…so I did!

 This is the highlight of the North Rim called Bright Angel Point Trail and is 1/5 mile but not flat and 100 yards of it go out out out to another quite scary point.

On either side for quite a ways is, just air and drop off.

From the outer end there is a phenomenal view that I can only attempt to show.

You see the rain coming?  That's where he saw lightning.

You see what is called Bright Angel Fault, one side being higher than the other.  That had to be loud!  Did that happen at the same time the Canyon first opened up?

You see me retreat ‘cause it is starting to sprinkle and the lodge is uphill and a half mile of cliff either side of the walk.

And I get back, pick up a cappuccino, kick back in one of their leather easy chairs and enjoy the moment.

I think the Grand Canyon must be Number 1 as far as the GRANDEST place I have ever been.  The views are gynormous and you can sit and stare into forever of what was and what will be.  A wise trip to make.

Only the Glaciers and Volcano’s match the awe.  But I admit, I’ve never seen the Alps.  The North Cascades must be close and they are pretty awesome, but the Canyon is just plain BIG!