Even after spending most of my life living in Northern Arizona I still had never been down into the guts of the Grand Canyon. This last trip to Arizona I was able to post up on the south rim, and after 3 days of showing up at the backcountry office every morning at 8 am, I was finally able to get a permit. It was the fucking best and here are some pics.
Sunrise from the south rim while waiting for the backcountry office to open.
Looking across the Abyss while walking the south rim trail.
Sun starting to go down off of Pima Point.
Three days later with permit in hand, I was finally able to set off down the South Kaibab Trail.
I would hike 4.5 miles down the South Kaibab Trail before meeting the Tonto trail on the Tonto Plateau.
The trail seen skirting the left base of the mesas is the Tonto. I would follow that another 7.5 miles to my first camp at Horn Creek.
Dropping down onto the Plateau
Tonto Plateau
Lunch Spot near Pipe Creek. I was gonna post up in the trees for lunch, but when I crossed the wash I heard a coyote barking just below me followed by a really loud hair-raising growl that I don't think was a coyote. I got out of there and cruised to this spot instead. I tried to look over the edge into the wash but never was able to see what was down there.
Panorama looking north toward Bright Angel Canyon
Entering into Indian Garden to fill up water before heading the last 2.5 miles west to Horn Creek
Horn Creek. There was a little water running and a few small pools but the water is supposedly full of uranium.
Horn Creek as it drops further into the canyon
Horn Creek Camp
Early evening just up the hill from camp
Hiked from camp around to the west side of Horn Creek Canyon for the sunset
The next morning I packed up camp and headed 7 miles down to the river, Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch.
The Colorado from Plateau Point before dropping off the plateau and into the guts.
Down by the river
A blurry one from Bright Angel Campground. My spot was just to the right alongside the creek.
Coming in to Bright Angel Camp and Phantom Ranch from the river
Evening Colorado, just outside camp
Sunset at the bottom. This is looking east from one suspension bridge to the other.
The next morning I hiked 6 miles north up Bright Angel Canyon in search of Ribbon Falls
You walk through a narrow canyon most of the way before it opens back up. Ribbon Falls sits in the side canyon up on the left.
Ribbon Falls
Picture from above and behind Ribbon Falls
Bright Angel Creek on the way back to camp
Phantom Creek running into the Bright Angel. A side canyon to explore the next time.
Racing back into Phantom Ranch to get my hands on a cold Tecate before they closed to serve dinner to the rich folks.
Post Tecate chill out on the beach outside camp. The end of my second day in Bright Angel Camp. I would hike the 11 miles out the next morning on the Bright Angel Trail.
Back up on the south rim, looking down into Indian Gardens and across to Bright Angel Canyon. I got a lot of good comments on the socks as I hiked out.
