The Ride Of Their Life – The Grand Canyon Mule Experience – (Part 1 – The Day Ride)

As sunrise begins to unveil the magnificence of the Grand Canyon every morning, every day of the year, a group of forty to fifty Canyon visitors gathers around the mule ride check-in desk in the lobby of the historic Bright Angel Lodge. The old lobby is the picture of comfort and security with its rustic beam construction and fire roaring in the huge rock fireplace. But the smiles and cheerful banter of this group mask the anxieties which lie beneath. They are about to embark on an adventure that only a fortunate few people in the world will ever experience.

Probably never having been to the Grand Canyon, they made their reservations over a year ago and have patiently enjoyed the anticipation ever since. However, having arrived early this morning and made their way out to the patio behind the lodge which overlooks the Canyon, reality has just set in. Big time! On the other side of the short, rock retaining wall the Canyon begins – and it goes straight down. The sheer magnitude of the Grand Canyon couldn’t possibly have been grasped through the pictures they admired at home. Even now, as they stand beside it, they are struggling to grasp the reality of it. Everyone is awestruck and some even suffer a degree of shock. It would be easy to conclude that only an experienced parachutist could safely make that descent.

They are checked in now, and have been issued their rain slicker (Canyon weather is fickle) and their bota bag for water (a souvenir of the trip), and have made their way a quarter mile along the Canyon rim to the round, rock corral next to the trail head. While the anticipation remains as high as ever, for most, the anxiety level drops slightly when they get their first look at Ron Clayton and his wranglers. Even though they resemble a picture out of the old wild west, they are for real. One look at Casey, Dave, Jack, Sean, or any of the seven or eight others (including several equally competent lady wranglers) will rightfully calm their nerves. These are some of the best cowboys in the world. They love what they do, they do it well, and they instill trust at first sight.

As Ron gathers the riders around for instructions, a crowd of other tourists gather also, out of curiosity. Unexpectedly, both the riders and the spectators are treated to a first class monologue with twenty minutes of instructions and education woven into a humorous presentation which further calms a few jitters. He stresses safety and reassures them that if they simply obey their wrangler, all will be well. He also assures them that if they don’t obey their wrangler, they will quickly become hikers. Every single soul standing in that crowd believes him. The riders are now ready to go.

A sharper trail boss doesn’t exist than Ron Clayton. With an eye gained only from a lifetime of experience, he looks the riders over as they walk toward him into the center of the corral, one at a time. As they approach him, he calls out the name of one of the sixty mules tied up around the corral perimeter, a mule which will inevitably turn out to be a perfect fit for that rider. Ron is that good. After each group of eight to ten riders has mounted and been given last minute reminders by their wrangler, they follow the wrangler through the corral gate. Fifteen feet farther and they are at the Bright Angel Trailhead and over the edge they go.

YeeHaw!! Hearts are pounding!

It is rumored, and it is true, that the first quarter mile of the descent is the scariest. Anxiety is at its peak now, as many of the riders have never been in a saddle in their life. The trail is narrow, and the vertical drop-off along the edge of the trail is frightening to say the least. The first turn in the trail is almost a u-turn and, forgetting that a mule’s head is some distance in front of its front legs, they may feel like their mule is going to go straight over. Never fear. In spite of their apparent nonchalance, these mules don’t miss anything, and the very last thing they want to do is go over the edge. The turn will be successful, an audible exhale can sometimes be heard, and a tiny bit more anxiety will subside.

A short fifteen minutes down the trail they will come to a wide spot which, by now, looks as safe as the plains of Kansas. The wrangler will stop and all the other mules will automatically line up beside him, facing the Canyon. He will remind everyone to put on their “parking brake” and then he will dismount and begin a rider to rider equipment check, tightening cinches, checking stirrups, etc. All the while, he will once again be stressing the most important rule of safety – keep your animal up close to the one in front of you! The mules make this trip every day and they are so comfortable on the trail that they will sometimes lose focus and lag behind. If not reminded by the rider’s use of a “motivator” to stay close, at some point the mule will realize his sin on his own, and will run to catch up. While it is somewhat humorous to watch a wide-eyed rookie rider bouncing up and down on the back of a mule cantering down the narrow and rocky trail, hanging on for dear life, this is how accidents happen. So the riders are reminded once again that repeat offenses of this nature will surely turn them into a hiker.

It is here also that any rider who has already become totally convinced that death is just around the next corner, can dismount, leave their mule where it stands, keep their bota bag, and hike the short distance back out of the Canyon to enjoy a longer life. Only pure terror can be the basis for this decision, however, and it rarely happens. The trail below looks much less ominous and most of them will already be visibly more relaxed. The adventure which they have dreamed about has just been vividly previewed and the lure to continue is almost undeniable. The wrangler mounts up and the ride of their life resumes.

It is impossible to describe the sensations which they will experience for the next two hours as the trail drops some three thousand feet in altitude, and no attempt to do so will be made by this writer. This aspect of the “once in a lifetime experience” is different for every rider. Some will later recall the breathtaking vistas as the trail winds around the Canyon walls and occasionally yields glimpses of the vast valley below. Others will recall “interesting” parts of the trail itself. Perhaps Jacob’s Ladder, the seemingly endless series of swithcbacks which scale what appears to be a thousand foot vertical rock wall. Entering the Indian Garden oasis with its hundred year old cottonwood trees shading the quaint atmosphere will also be a memorable occurence for some, not just for its serene beauty, but also because they are more than ready to get out of the saddle for a rest.

A camaraderie will develop among the riders even though they are from different parts of the world and just met one another in the mule corral. Without fail, they will be party to humorous incidents along the trail. They will all laugh more today than they ever thought possible. Some will quickly develop a bond with the animal they are riding – talking to it and calling it by name. In fact, the most lasting memory for some will be the animal they rode. They will always remember its name.

Upon arriving at Indian Garden, they will welcome the chance to dismount and stretch. Some will now be noticing the first signs of soreness in a place where they are not accustomed to feeling it. Others will just be happy for the opportunity to walk around and straighten their legs. If it is summertime, the wrangler will line all the riders up and hose them down – no exceptions – with cool water piped across the Canyon from Roaring Springs over on the Canyon’s north wall, and it turns out to be fun for everyone. Mid-day temperatures in the Canyon can be extremely high and the symptoms of overheating are sometimes difficult to recognize. The wrangler will once again check everyone’s tack, and they are off to Plateau Point. By now, a few of them will even fancy themselves real cowboys.

The trail out to Plateau Point is flat and uneventful, giving no hint of the spectactular view they are approaching. Even as they are dismounting at the pipe hitching rail they are still largely unsuspecting. Only when they clamber up on the huge flat rock and make their way out to the pipe rail at the far edge, do they get their first view of the Colorado River peacefully wandering along the Canyon floor. It is still so far below that it resembles a piece of blue string lying on the ground. A brief reverential silence usually occurs, and then the exclamations begin. This will be what some will always recall first. It is breathtaking for sure. One last look, a few thoughts and comments about the beauty and power of mother nature, and they mount up and head back to Indian Garden for lunch. Everyone is always ready for lunch.

They were all given sack lunches when they checked in at the lodge this morning. A light lunch, but tasty. There won’t be any complaints as they relax on a short rock wall, munching away, discussing the natural wonder they have become a part of for one memorable day in their life. They will all be feeling some level of physical discomfort by now, and when the wrangler says “OK riders, let’s hose off once more and mount up”, most of them will be thinking they would rather sit right where they are just a little longer.

The trip back up the Canyon wall will be quieter and probably uneventful. It has been a long day and they will be tired by now. With their backs to the valley, they will trudge up and out of this mystical world and back to the civilization to which they are accustomed. When the wrangler announces a rest stop for the animals, they will sit quietly and gaze back down into the Canyon. Their comments will be predictable – “It’s just gorgeous” or “I’m so glad we made this trip” or “We were all the way down there?!”. Whatever the comments, the appreciation in their voices is clear.

As they dismount for the final time, back on top in the corral where it all started, their mood will be somber and appreciative. They will be glad to get out of the saddle for the last time, but subdued by the realization that the adventure has ended. They will express their appreciation to their wrangler with uncommon respect and they will remember his name forever. They will return to their homes with memories which will never be dislodged, and in some cases, never even diminished. They understand full well that they were priviledged to experience the ride of their life.

As sunrise begins to unveil the magnificence of the Grand Canyon the next morning…

Guide to the Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona – Part 8

“Wow, fantastic, that will be an amazing trip, and you are taking Henry, you are very brave”. These were the general type of comment I received when I explained to friends that my husband and I were taking our 33 month old son to the Grand Canyon on holiday. Never one to be daunted by the mere fact that I could not find one article on the internet suggesting this may be a good idea; we approached the holiday with enthusiasm tinged and in trepidation.

Despite the recommendations from friends to put Henry in reins during our trip, I totally forgot them in the packing frenzy that always precedes our trips away. However, we carefully wrapped our all terrain buggy in bubble wrap for its trip, and it arrived safely at its destination for us to strap our tear away toddler into as we walked the rim of the canyon.

With a toddler, our experience of the Grand Canyon was to be vastly different to that of an experienced walker traveling below the rim. However, my expectations were (I thought) realistic; experience one of the natural wonders of the world, sharing the experience with my husband and son, and to see the sun set or rise over the canyon. I had also always imagined the experience to include taking a helicopter flight over the canyon.

To ensure that our trip was as inclusive as possible (within our time and toddler constraints), I planned for one and a half days at the canyon. Our first day started mid afternoon after a drive north from Sedona. On arrival at the canyon, early afternoon we were pleasantly surprised by the lack of crowds (it being mid September).

With guide book, maps and brochures in hand, and Henry safely strapped into the buggy we caught our first glimpse of the canyon from Mather Point. It was an awesome sight. The clouds moving across the sky, changing the colors of the canyon before our eyes. However awed we were by that first look out point, the walk along the rim west via Yavapai Point back to park HQ (and car parks) was even more impressive. It was during this walk that it became imperative that Henry remained in his buggy, as any sign of a chain link fence or barrier disappeared. This added to the experience for us, as you were right on the edge of “that great big hole” as my son so correctly identified.

One of my aims of the trip was to see the sun rise or set over the canyon. With sun set at 6.30pm and sun rise at 6am I opted for the setting of the sun! We watched the sun set from Mather point as it was easily accessible

Arizona the Grand Canyon State. Grand Canyon National Park and Monument.

Since there are no bridges over the Colorado River anywhere near the Grand Canyon, the shortest distance by road between the South Rim and the North Rim is 215 miles. The hike down one side of the Grand Canyon and up the other takes two days and a vast amount of effort. The temperature on the rim is often in the 90’s in mid summer and increases quite considerably as you descend from the rim. Therefore the two rims must be considered as effectively forming two separate areas, although they are within sight of each other. The statistics of the Grand Canyon are staggering: LENGTH: 217 miles (not all of which lies within the Grand Canyon National Park). DEPTH: One mile. The world’s tallest skyscrapers would fit inside the inner gorge of the canyon. WIDTH: Varies from 4 miles to 18 miles. The Grand Canyon is so vast and so complex that it is often difficult for the mind to comprehend what the eyes are seeing. Unless you are prepared to undertake an extremely strenuous hike or take an expensive mule trip or plane ride then your views will be limited to those from the rims, but these are magnificent in their own right. At sunset or sunrise, you can’t tell where the heavens end and the earth begins. Everyone should visit the Grand Canyon National Park. ARIZONA the GRAND-CANYON-STATE

Traveling The USA: The Grand Canyon

When you visit the Grand Canyon, you will find that it is much larger than you have ever imagines. It is 18 miles wide and 277 miles long and the depth of the canyon in some points is more than a mile from the rim of the canyon to the river below. The Grand Canyon National Park includes much of the canyon. The Grand Canyon is separated into three areas: The inner Canyon, the South Rim, and the North Rim. When planning and researching your adventure, you will want to include the following tips.

1. The first thing that you need to do when you are traveling the USA is to determine how you are going to get to the area that you want to see. Will you drive or fly? Keep the price of gas in mind when making your decision.

2. Planning Yourself or a Travel Agent? How long do you have before you are making your trip? If you do not have much time, then you may want to enlist the help of a travel agent. Whichever way that you choose to plan your trip, get ready for an adventure in the Grand Canyon.

3. Child friendly. You will want to choose a destination that is appropriate for all of your children. If you have a baby, then you will want to make sure that you have a crib and/or childcare at your destination. Make sure that the Grand Canyon is the right adventure for your family at this time.

4. Care of pets. Taking pets with you on vacation is the choice of many people, but if this is you, then you need to ensure that where you are staying allow pets. You will also want to make sure that the attractions that you are visiting are pet friendly as well, because you do not want to have to keep your pet shut up in a room while you are out sightseeing. If you choose to leave your pet at home, then a kennel or pet sitting service is a good choice to help baby-sit your pet.

5. Care of home. When you are visiting the Grand Canyon, you will most likely be gone four days or more. That is why you want to make sure that you protect your home while you are gone. Ask your neighbors if they will watch your home or check with a friend or family member to check in on your home every now and then.

6. Packing. You want to choose appropriate clothing when packing, including pants, gloves, jacket, hat, bandanna, sweatshirt, and more. Depending upon the time of year that you visit, you will need the right seasonal clothing.

7. First Aid. Accidents happen at the worst time and you want to make sure that you are prepared for any accident with a first aid kit. Depending upon the age of your family, a first aid kit should include chapstick, bandages, compression bandage, antiseptic, sunscreen, first aid tape, gauze, and more.

8. Other items. Other items that you may need on your adventure to the Grand Canyon include maps, earplugs, a compass, fire starter, blanket, antibacterial soap, toilet paper, wet wipes, paper/pencil, and more.

9. Sunscreen. You will want to make sure that you get and use a sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or more. A sunburn can ruin a vacation while traveling the USA.

10. Toiletries. Taking your toiletries with you can save you money while traveling. You will want to include a mirror, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth, laundry bag, sleepwear, and more.

It is a good idea to not carry all of your credit cards or cash in your purse or wallet at the same time. This can cause you to spend more than you planned or your cards or cash could get stolen. A vacation can be ended instantly when this happens. That is why you want to be prepared, so that you will have a great vacation at the Grand Canyon.

What caused the Grand Canyon – Part 7

The most awe inspiring of all the beautiful canyons, The Grand Canyon is the result of millions of years of mother nature at work. As the water flows, gently at times. It never stops its gradual process of erosion. This is the beauty of the world.

As mother nature takes her time on each detail. A magnificent master piece emerges. But it is a work that will for ever be in progress. As the deer scurry through the valley, stirring up a little dust. A slight breeze carries the dust into the nearby river. The river is brown now, and running very swiftly. A thunderstorm one hundred miles away has cause the river to rage. unleashing its fury on the underlying soil and stone. Carving it’s own path. Rich silts and topsoils flow into a great sea, enriching the rivers great delta, and being lost to the land forever.

The grand canyon was carved out of the earth by the Colorado River. Over millions of years or erosion, this mighty river has managed to dig over a mile into the earths surface. Rain falls into puddles. These puddles then freeze, expand and brake up the canyons walls. Wind and rain do there part to widen the canyon.

There are many sources of erosion that contribute to the canyon. Can I remember, As I walked up to the edge as an anxious child, did I stir up a little dust?