The "Big Ditch"

After a good night diving into the local culture in Zion by sampling the food, brew, and personalities, I pointed south toward Grand Canyon National Park (36 3'27"N 112 8'15"W). I chose the North Rim, which sits over 8,000 ft and is a little cooler and less "touristy" compared to the South Rim. It is also home to the Grand Lodge, an impressive structure filled with hotel rooms, gift shop, a restaurant and bar, and a very unique view. It is hard to find someone who does not know of the Grand Canyon and I had heard so many stories and discriptions from my geology friends that I felt I had been there. Within the first 20 minutes, it became quite clear that I had no idea what I was thinking. It is one thing to hear stories and see pictures, even movies, but it is something all together different to stand on the edge with that vast, abyssal void beneath you. I couldn't comprehend the size of the canyon. There are somethings in this world that the human brain has a hard time fully understanding, such as the outer reaches of space, Quantum Physics, and the Grand Canyon.


The Grand Canyon is the result of two geologic events; first, uplift of layers of sedimentary rock, second, weathering of that rock by natural occurences, but most of all by the Colorado River. The Grand Canyon is one of the most geologically studied areas in the U.S. due to its display of three of the four eras of geological time, ample fossil records, and numerous different rock types. The Grand Canyon also boasts environmental and ecological wonders due to the difference in elevation and climates. It averages 4,000 ft deep along its 277 mile route, 6,000 ft at its deepest point and over 15 miles wide at its widest point. Ecologically speaking, it is similar to traveling from Mexico to Canada. This makes for a very unique geography but there is still more to the area. The Grand Canyon is full of cultural history ranging from native cliff dwellings, to fearless adventurers, to runaway theives. It is easy to see why this beautiful place is one of the natural wonders of the world.

There was a family of mule deer that liked to come

and munch in the campground ever afternoon.

This was my first view of the canyon which came twenty minutes

after arriving and a short walk down from my tent!

This view displays the beautiful strata of the Grand Canyon.

As you can see, it is really hard to grasp the size. From what

I remember at this point, you can look across to the other side of the

canyon and the first half inch represents ~3,000 ft of elevation change!

With the camera zoomed way in, you can make out the summer flow of the

mighty Colorado. It is also a perfect example of a cut bank and point bar

illustrating how the river has cut this massive canyon.

A very unique formation in the rock called a picture window!

My usual shot!

Me sitting on a rock outcropping admiring the nice weather and beautiful landscape.

This is another canyon formation that winds down to meet the larger.

There are many of these "coves" along the canyon and some

form the same type slot canyons that are seen in Zion.

For the three nights that I was here, I would grab an adult beverage

and walk the 100 yards or so from my camp and enjoy this!

For the short time that I visited this magnificent place,

I learned one unmistakable truth; we are very tiny in this amazing world.