BEST GC TRIP EVER

Best Grand Canyon Trip.....EVER!!!
To read events in order...scroll down and read from bottom to top.

After disembarking from our group we took a ride down some of the forest service roads around The Canyon. All in all we had a wonderful time and we will definately be back for some more Grand Canyon Field Institute guided trips! My new saying is you can go to the Canyon and do it or you can go to the Canyon with the GCFI and LEARN it with style!

After breakfast our guide gave us a tour deep into the bowels of the Kolb Studio...what a treat!

We reached the top in splendid style where we promptly ate a large non dehydrated breakfast at the Bright Angel restaurant!

Pictographs along the trail.

Day 7 We headed up the remainder of the Bright Angel trail taking in the beautiful views along the way!

And the moonrise...it was a fantastic evening!

...The sunset...

That evening we took a walk out to Plateau Point where we took in the views.

After the indian ruins the group headed on to Indian Gardens to have a nap while I took a jog out to Horn Creek. Here is a shot of the landscape from out that way.

Some 900 year old mini corn cobs! Our guide taught us a lot about how the indians were able to live in and out of The Canyon.

After resting in the shade for a while our guide took us to some indian ruins where we viewed some granaries, a kiva footing and.......

After our side trip we headed up the Devil's Corkscrew to meet up with our group.

The end of the road...Huge chokestone and falls...thanks Wayne for the encouragement to go all the way it was definately worth it!

A short ways up the trail our guide sent Kandi and I up the Pipe Creek drainage. We scrambled upstream and up a few falls till we arrived at a huge chokestone with a beautiful secluded waterfall where we lounged around for a while soaking up the sounds and sights of a special spot for us!

Day 6 We awoke and started making our way up to Indian Gardens via the River and Bright Angel trails. Here is a shot upstream of the Colorado River with Zoroaster Temple looming in the background. What a great morning to be in The Canyon.

This evening we walked the River trail and crossed the 2 bridges while our guide explained the geology, flora, and fauna of The Canyon to us until our brains exploded! This guy has an intimate relationship with The Canyon that is a real treat witness...here he is playing the part of the Mule Whisperer!

After making my way to Phantom Ranch and having a lemonade with the group I did a little side hike up the Utah Flats route. I didn't make it all the way to the flats but I did snap this shot of Bright Angel campground from high above. It was neat to see the campground from this side in contrast to seeing it from the Phantom overlook on the Clear Creek trail last year!

I meandered upstream for a mile or so swimming the pools, splashing up the creek, and climbing the waterfalls along the way!. That canyon was mine this morning and I relished in the solitude.

The rest of the group headed on to Bright Angel Campground and I decided to drop my pack at the confluence with Phantom Creek and hike up the side canyon. This waterfall proved to be a great place for a shower!

It wasn't long before we found ourselves yelling to each other over the roar of Bright Angel Creek in The Box!

Day 5 We found ourselves strolling down the North Kaibab trail at a much easier rate of descent...taking in the views!

And another set of falls!

After visiting Ribbon Falls our guide took us to a little known place where we visited old indian ruins....

A moss covered travertine stalagmite? Any how a beautiful formation in an alcove by Ribbon Falls!

After cleaning up and lunch we took a hike to Ribbon Falls, what a sight, the waterfall made a beautiful mossed covered travertine formation!

After picking a site at Cottonwood Camp we cleaned up in the rushing Bright Angel Creek.

A shot of our group taking a break at the old Aiken place.

The Canyon Gods were with us as the weather was perfect and the cacti were blooming profusely!

Our destination for the day was 7 miles down the North Kaibab trail to Cottonwood Camp and there were many wonderful sights to see along the way!

Day 4 We awoke to a chilly morning and headed for the North Kaibab trailhead.

There were snow drifts present upon our arrival to the North Rim and the forests, meadows and lakes that we saw were beautiful.

We saw some cool sights along the way..the one above a good example of wind erosion with the Vermillion Cliffs where the California Condors are released in the background!

Day 2 or 3 really we met with the other folks in our group and our guide at the S Rim reconfigured our packs and were on a vanride around to the North Rim!

We finished up our day at Grand Canyon Village with a look at the California Condors.

Kandi with Red Canyon in the background.

View of the Desertview Watchtower. After our hike we drove the East Rim Drive visiting various locations along the way.....

After cruising around in the brisk morning air to all the various points of interest on the S. Rim we decided to take a dayhike down the S Kaibab trail to test out our packs for our big hike!

DAY 1
My wife Kandice and I decided to take a guided trip for our 10th wedding anniversary from the North Rim to the South Rim through the Grand Canyon Field Institute. On the 13th of May, 2008 we left our home and embarked on a 16 hour drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. We got there at 3:30 am and parked our car in the Yavapai Lodge parking lot and rested our weary eyes for about an hour when twilight was upon us. As we were too excited for sleep we went to Yavapai point for some sunrise photos and Kandi's first view of The Canyon that I love was magnificient!