Grand Canyon, Arizona: South Rim

Today we spent time exploring and hiking the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Photographs simply do not capture the majesty and grandeur of the Grand Canyon (and yet I still took a lot of pictures).

Most people understand and appreciate the fact the Grand Canyon is wide and deep; it takes your breath away when you first approach the canyon rim and see the earth simply drop away in front of you. Over a mile deep, up to 20 miles wide in places, the size of this hole in the earth hits you right between the eyes. Then the colors and complexity of the main canyons and side canyons begins to enter your thoughts.

The whole time you can't help wondering how a river only a hundred yards or so wide could carve such an immense and deep hole in the ground. Plus you realize the mighty Colorado river carved this canyon for over 220 miles. It's impossible to fully comprehend how the river could carve something this massive.

Mary Lynn, Kasey, Jenna and I had the opportunity to get as close as possible to the edge of this giant chasm. Incredibly steep canyon walls fall away from you. In some areas the rock you are standing on is undercut slightly; you actually stand on a point of rock that projects out over the canyon.

Of course, there's something in human nature that calls you to get closer to the edge, just to see how high you are or how steep the fall would be if you fell. Over and over again you see people irresistibly drawn to the edge.

MLA tells me there's no way she would have survived bring the kids to the Grand Canyon when they where young. All of them (almost all kids for that matter) are fearless, pushing themselves to get closer. Add a little adolescent clumsiness and maybe an unpredictable wind and you have a real recipe for disaster.

In fact, many books are written (and sell briskly) about people who were killed at the Grand Canyon when they went beyond the safety barriers or marked paths.



We had a great day there and enjoyed every minute. We discussed coming back and rafting the Colorado through the canyon. There are trips that last from 1-3 weeks. I suggested two weeks as a compromise however MLA said she would be willing to 'rough it & camp under the stars' for a week max. Still, a weeks better than no trip at all.

Tomorrow we move to Sedona, one of MLA's favorite places in the US (so far).



See Ya!