Touring the North Rim Scenics

It's our kid's first day on the North Rim and if the weather is cooperative that means a trip to Bright Angel point first thing.  It's monsoon season so isolated thunderstorms and all day rains are a real possibility.  But for now luck is with us and we are on our way to one of the best overlooks on the North Rim.

The quarter mile walk to the point takes you down the rim of Roaring Springs Canyon.  When the wind is just right you can hear the springs almost two thousand feet down.

Just a little further out and it is possible to look to the southwest and see the Grand Canyon itself.

Justin quickly established his mode of operation for the whole visit, if there was an edge he was going to get out on it.

Scrub oak and juniper grow right out of the rock.  Apparently no soil is necessary for these gnarly trees.

After telling the kids how breathtaking the views can be out here, they are finally getting to see for themselves.

If there is an accessible edge, Justin is on it.

And even some not so accessible edges.

A good part of the day was done by the time we got off Bright Angel Point.  The remainder was spent around the lodge and back at the camper.

Day 2

The weather was looking to be a little less cooperative today but we are heading out to Cape Royal on the chance that the rain will hold off until later in the day.  Lucky for us, it did.

I've photographed this scene several times but the light was exceptional on this day.

Getting on the edge was not left totally up to Justin to do.



Angels Window.
One of about two places you can see the Colorado River, even if it is only a tiny sliver at the bottom of the window.

 

It's not all about scenic vistas up here.  There is a lot of interesting paleontology too.  Below Shauna and Cyndee explore a 900 year old village ruin that was one half of a settlement that was split between the top of the rim and a bend in the river at the bottom of the canyon.  The ancients would migrate between the two.  Summer on top, winter on the bottom.

 

After exploring Cape Royal we had worked up an appetite and it was beginning to rain.  Our original plan was to have lunch at the Kaibab Lodge, just five miles outside the entrance station to the park.  But the Kaibab Lodge has a limited serving time and we were past their 1pm cutoff.  We went to plan B and headed the 45 miles out to Jacob Lake Inn for a late afternoon lunch.

Day 3

We are off to Point Imperial today, the highest point on the North Rim.

Cyndee and Shauna take in the canyon from Point Imperial overlook.

That is the South Rim off in the distance.

Justin had lots of access to edges (much to Shauna's displeasure) out here at Imperial Point.

Shauna was already holding her breath when she would see Justin pop out on a ledge ever further away, but when he appeared on the rock outcropping below that was the limit of her danger tolerance.

A calling of Justin's name in a tone that must have meant something to him brought him back from his edge crawling.

The weather was beginning to close in so we headed back to camp and were hoping for a break in the rain long enough for us to get in a campfire hotdog roast dinner.  Back at the rim it was drier and we got a campfire going but just as soon as the coals were just right, the skies opened up.  We ran for the camper as our coals were being drowned.  But as soon as the rain started, it stopped and we got a do-over.  Best hot dogs and roasted marshmallows ever.  Not to mention the full-contact game of Monopoly.  That Justin plays for keeps!

Day 4

It's all too soon, we knew it would go fast but the day for the kids to go back to Atlanta is here already.  With a 10:30 flight departure we are going to have to hit the road at 4:30am to get them there on time.  At least we should be crossing Navajo Bridge early enough to have a good chance of seeing some condors.

But that was not to be again.  It should have been a perfect morning for condors on the bridge but there was not one to be seen anywhere.  Still, looking for the condors afforded us some beautiful scenery.  The morning light on the cliffs of Marble Canyon was sweet.

Classic!  Baby bump, hands on lower back.

The Flagstaff airport is a small regional.  It is so small that they do not even have jetways, you get on a plane the old fashioned way, by walking across the tarmac and up a ramp.

It's bye for now kids but we'll be seeing you in November.