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Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Below the Rim

Lilah and I decided to venture down the Bright Angel Trail for a bit this morning. My mom stayed at the top. 

Although the trail was booby trapped with mule poop (this is the main supply trail for the Phantom Ranch hotel in the canyon), the biggest danger to safe footing is... Stupid tourists. 


Why would anyone bring an infant to the Grand Canyon, never mind try to negotiate a stroller down a steep rocky incline with a sheer drop of a mile? (That's a rhetorical question). 



Lilah and I walked for a while until the path narrowed and I started feeling rather dizzy. I reminded her, we had to actually climb back UP!



I do ok with the hiking and even the climb is fine, it's the heights that bother me. I think I would actually enjoy hiking farther in if I didn't constantly feel like I might tumble over the side at any moment. 


I love that sign! It looks like the picto-person is doing parkour! Maybe it should say "No Parkour in Park"?

Here are two very pretty shots of some of the trails we did NOT travel down...





The views from the South Rim are beautiful, but even if you only go a short way below the rim, the views are even more stunning. 



We have seen some great wildlife. The squirrels, deer, and lizards have no fear of people. 



And back at Hopi House, we saw an amazing Hoop Dance. Lilah and I were really impressed as we have both been trying to learn hooping - with just one hoop! 

 







I noticed this strange and unusual plant near our lodge...







Yes, all those parts are on one plant?! I think I will call it Audrey 2.



One of the nice things about staying at the park is the Lodges. We are part of Maswick Lodge - which has a food court, pizza pub, and gift shop, but you sleep in smaller buildings with around four rooms each. The buildings are scattered around the pine forest with cactii and deer for atmosphere. There are free buses that will take you all over the park. Everyone is very friendly and the tourists AND employees are from all over the world. 

9 comments:

  1. Hi! I have to say something about "Audrey 2." This plant looks suspiciously like a plant in my garden; a gift from a "friend." LOL. Anyway, what gave it away were the creepy seed pods. This plant belongs to the nightshade family and is poisonous. It's similar to the moonflower, which blooms in the evening and has the most indescribable, incredibly beautiful, amazing smell. The flower of the witch plant also blooms in late evening, but its fragrance does not compare. I advise against planting, because if you do not keep an eye on it.....will completely take over everything!! It is literally the gift that keeps on giving;-) thank you for the great pictures!!

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    1. It does seem odd that they'd plant such a dangerous plant right next to the rooms doesn't it? I wonder if they are trying to send a message!? ;-)

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  2. You are wise to stay away from the edges. Within the past week, two people (married, parents) were stepping back for photos and, yes, stepped off. Awful. Anyway, cling to those mountain sides, 4sur! Do NOT test yourself if you feel uncomfortable (or even if you feel like a goat). There is no reason to do so.

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  3. I believe the plant is Datura, it has upstanding flowers, whereas a Brugmansia has downward hanging flowers. Loved your photos and the on-going journal of your journey - it sounds like your Mum had a fantastic idea! Something all of you will remember with delight and love.

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  4. You were very brave to go down even a little. Good for you. The last time we stayed at the Canyon, we were surprised by the visit of a skunk! Watch out LOL!

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  5. I always thought Datura, and Brugmansia were interchangeable names for "Angels Trumpet". Whatever, I have one in South Florida. They are VERY toxic.
    Stupidity on the south rim trails abound. I once saw parents allow their two young children (under the age of 10) run ahead of them and pass others on the trail. You can bet I yelled at the parents!

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    1. The crazy tourists made me even dizzier than the heights did! But it was worth losing a bit of my stomach lining to see the rocks from that perspective. ;-)

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  6. I've always called that plant, Moon flower. It raises it's blooms to the moon and in the morning by 10 they are all shriveled up and done and then more bloom again at night. Yes, they are prolific but if dug out at the end of the season, we're in MD, their seeds bring up new sprouts in the spring. If you leave em in the ground, the roots are huge and hard to remove. I start from seeds every year that have fallen in the ground. There is a moth that is big and has a long bill on it's mouth like a hummingbird that comes to feast on the nectar at night. I've never seen anything like it and it comes at dusk. A beauty to behold.

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