Postcards From: South Rim of the Grand Canyon & Sedona

Posted on by Brett

Nearly 30 years ago, I first saw the Grand Canyon from 37,000 feet, but could not see what all the fuss was about. What I saw then was a fat caterpillar with a little hint of silver shimmering along its spine, like a mercury thermometer. Seeing it for the first time this Spring, with feet firmly planted on Earth, I am ashamed of my former assessment. From the rim it’s more beautiful than any butterfly!

Looking to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, just before sunset the day of our arrival. Notice the tunnel worn through the limestone outcrop on the South Rim.

Limestone in upper Grand Canyon with water worn tunnel through it.
TimeTunnel

Here’s a dandy little scenic locator donated to the park in 1922. Too bad the telescope that obviously came with it did not survive the near century since.

Brass Monument, notched for locating scenic vistas.
Scenic Locator

A canyon so immense that we rarely glimpsed the Colorado River. Here is what the trail looks like from the rim, about 4,000 feet above it.

First Nation Garden
Indian Garden – halfway to the river – from Kolb Studio

Our hotel viewed from the Bright Angel Trailhead. Kachina Lodge and Thunderbird Lodge are situated between the El Tovar and Bright Angel Lodge.

Historic El Tovar Hotel and Kachina Lodge
Historic El Tovar Hotel and Kachina Lodge

This tunnel is just about two-tenths of a mile down the Bright Angel Trail. Note the smaller through hole to the right of the tunnel on the trail.

Tunnel at Bright Angel Trailhead
Tunnel at Bright Angel Trailhead

Heading for Hermit’s Rest

Powell Point
Mojave Point
aRiverRunsThruIt
First glimpse of the Colorado
youCanHear
You can actually hear the rapids from here
risingMoon
Moonrise
sunset
Sunset

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morning walk views:

Painter's Dream
Painter’s Dream
Spires and Scree
Spires and Scree
Whose house was this: bear, cougar, human beings?
Whose house was this: bear, cougar, human beings?

Afternoon trip to Desert View Watchtower:

Watchtower Wall
Watchtower Wall
Vishnu Temple
Vishnu Temple
Colorado River from Navajo Point
Looking back toward Watchtower and Colorado River from Navajo Point

Capturing sunrise (06:34 hours) from the Rim Trail:

062338
0623…
063025
0630…
063419
0634!

Maricopa Point at sunrise:

elDorado
Like Eldorado, that shining city of gold

On to Sedona…

coffeePot
The Coffe Pot or Thunderbird, depending on your point of reference
slideRock
Slide Rock State Park
homeward
Looking Homeward

Published by Brett

14 thoughts on “Postcards From: South Rim of the Grand Canyon & Sedona”

    1. You’re welcome. My personal favorite was Maricopa Point at sunrise (a decent land swindler could make a handsome profit, selling a gold nugget that large).

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  7. the photos are amazing, we are hoping to do a trip to Canada and America within the next couple of years.
    Have you been to Europe? after looking at these photos I am sure you would love to drive through the Pyrenees (sorry have only just found your blog so not been through all the posts yet)

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    1. Yes, I have been to Europe, but only around the Mediterranean, at an age where I was more interested in food and drink than on taking photographs. Although I’ve kept treasured images of Istanbul, Heraklion and Knosos, Athens, Palma, Barcelona, and Tunis in my mind all these years, I long to see inland areas that lack deep natural harbors.

      Please do blog your trip to Canada and other parts of America.

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