This experience was both successful and disappointing at the same time. Toroweap at GCNP is on the north rim west of the popular visitor location. It is 400 miles from home as opposed to the 240 mile trip to the south rim where we usually go. The extra miles result from having to cross the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry north of Flagstaff. This is the bridge across and head west and when you get to Fredonia you head south on a 60 mile dirt road. The last 7 miles are marked "primitive" on the park's signpost.
Our last trip to this remote location was in our minivan and the door open bell malfunctioned and ding donged the whole 60 miles in and out. So this time we have the 4 wheel drive vehicle Larry has always envisioned but the road is poorer so...the trip in took the same 2 hours! We got there at the tail end of sunset and were hoping for sunset the next day to catch the whole thing.
I love the natural vegetation at the park and never tire of seeing the views. There is a volcano which erupted 4 times and blocked the river. The photo on the left shows the smooth looking result of the lava flows.
The camping area has 9 campsites, first come, first serve. We needed to get past this rock formation to get to the next available. I abandoned Larry, chicken that I was. Another camper played traffic controller and the Honda came through.
The next morning was beautiful and we spent time on the rim which has no guardrail. You can stand on the edge and look down 3000 feet.
While waiting for Larry to finish his photo session I amused myself farther back from the rim. Remember, I'm a chicken! This Canyon Wren sat down beside me and brushed my sleeve but he realized I had no food. He did stay close by just in case. Then he explored the inside of our car through the open window. I found a bird soaring over his domain. "get out of here, you humans" he squawked.
Now we come to the sad part of our trip. Clouds had gathered and looked threatening. After the first sprinkling of raindrops we start to wonder what it would be like trying to drive out tomorrow if there were a deluge this afternoon. Would driving out be possible? After all, one spot of the road was 2 feet of loose sand which was fun dry but wet? Then the clay dirt sections which when dry are okay, but wet? And....now it's raining on our tent...we must be getting elderly...no sense of adventure by living on the edge.
We packed up and headed out. The misty landscape is still another beautiful sight. That's the beauty of the Canyon. What you see is always changing but always beautiful. We met a camper while we were there who worked as a mule wrangler on the trail down the canyon about 30 years ago. (Ha! He looked older than us). Then I remembered we rode down the canyon 40 years ago on the mules and it was the experience of a lifetime. I remember many details of that ride as if it were yesterday. Hmmm, we'd really have to work on ourselves to do that again!
No comments:
Post a Comment