Taking a Morning Hike Down into the Grand Canyon

The morning of our final day at the Grand Canyon, we took the Bright Angel Trail down to the first rest house and back up again.

These first pictures are views of the trail from the rim of the Grand Canyon.

This is Ed on the rim trail.

And this is the upper part of the Bright Angel Trail seen from the rim trail.

Panorama video of the trail:

The view of the canyon just as you start to descend on Bright Angel trail:

The first trail “doorway” cut into the rock:

Squirrel!

Signs warn you of the symptoms of heat exhaustion, and to time your hike for the morning hours and bring enough water.  In August the valley reaches 120 degrees Fahrenheit.  Those who had hiked across the Grand Canyon from the North Rim had to get up 2am the first morning to get to the valley before noon, and again at 3am the next morning to make it to the top in time (with a guide).

Ed’s usually a bit ahead of me while I linger behind taking pictures…

Another trail “doorway” cut into the rock:

Plenty water bottles in that extra large fanny pack.  As well as in our wide pants pockets.  All that water is needed.

We will have a special encounter at this spot on the way back up.  Stay tuned.

Grand Canyon butterfly.

Our modest destination – the Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse.  A place to replenish and, uh, make water.

The winding trail downward.

Had we planned for it (with enough food for lunch and dinner), we could have hiked down to the 3-Mile Resthouse, waiting out the hot early afternoon picnic-ing in the shade, then hiked back up the late afternoon / evening (our many water bottles refilled at each Resthouse).  Instead, with only enough snack food for the morning, we headed back up the trail to get back before the hot afternoon sun struck.

Easter Island heads or Muppet faces in the rock:

Oh Deer!

The Mile-and-a Half Resthouse, from afar:

And then we came upon a mule train making their way down the path, bringing provisions to the valley camp.

One animal got spooked doing the turn, and ended up severing the connection to the rest of the train.

After a bit of delay, the wranglers got the train going again.

“You done taking pictures?”

One last look at the Bright Angel Trail after our ascent.

In case you needed reminding…

That evening we returned to the Canyon for the sunset, and the magnificent views of the stars under a the clear sky with zero light pollution.