Grand Canyon, North Rim

Grand Canyon, North Rim

There is no point in trying to describe how incredible it was to be at the North Rim for almost a week since it is impossible for the human mind to make sense of how overwhelming the Grand Canyon is, even while standing there looking at it, let alone to try and explain it. 

 Instead, I’ll tell you about two experiences there.

1. Mule Ride Down into the Canyon

I took a 3 hour mule ride down (and back)  the North Kaibob Trail to the Supai Tunnel, 1,600 feet below the rim. Bob did not join me. He doesn’t like cliff edges.

My trusty steed, Teddy, and I

I hate horseback or mule riding. Mainly because by the end of the ride, my knees always hurt so badly that I can barely walk.

But I really wanted to go below the rim and riding a mule rather than having to hike back up 1,600 feet in the heat on a trail also used by mules (if you know what I mean) was the lesser of two evils.

I spoke to one of the wranglers about my knee problem and he told me that if my knees hurt, the stirrups are set too short, if my back hurts, the stirrups set are too long. And if everything hurts, the stirrups are set just right.

Just before the Supai Tunnel

Upon my return, (unable to walk) I was presented with this certificate declaring me a “Grand Canyon Master Muleteer”.

Read the hilarious text.

2. Sing Along with Ranger Doug

Ranger Doug. Photo credit, the internet

Bob and I attended the evening “Sing along with Ranger Doug,” ranger program in the Grand Canyon Lodge Auditorium. Featuring Ranger Doug Crispen and his original Grand Canyon themed parodies of hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s. Such as his wildly popular “(Don’t Be) Free Falling”, to the tune of Tom Petty’s, “Free Falling”. And the hiking song, “As My Old Knees Loudly Creak,” to the tune of George Harrison’s, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”.

Ranger Doug displayed the song title and lyrics on a presentation screen, karaoke style, and the audience sang along while he accompanied on guitar. Mostly everyone sang in a different key (or keys). And not knowing the tune didn’t stop anyone from enthusiastically singing along. In fact, for some of the songs, if the title hadn’t been displayed, I might not have known what song the parody was based on.

Watch this Facebook post of The Grand Canyon Rangers singing “Take Me Out to Grand Canyon,” and get a sense of what excellent entertainment the sing along was!

Sing Along Link

 And we were able to watch the sun set over the Grand Canyon through the big picture windows the whole time.

Some of the Places We Have Been So Far on This Trip Part 2

Some of the Places We Have Been So Far on This Trip Part 2

We’ve passed through centrally located Kanab a few times while crisscrossing the same couple of square inches on the map of Southeast Utah. 

Here of some highlights of the area, not as well known as the National Parks. 

Red Hollow Slot Canyon, Orderville

This place is still under the public radar and a little hard to find, so we had this short slot canyon almost to ourselves.

Belly of Dragon, Mt Carmel Junction

This tunnel was excavated as a culvert under Route 89 in the 1950’s and the soft sandstone was eroded by flood water into its current shape over the years. Recently a photo of it went viral and it has become very popular. There is a huge parking lot just outside, but no gift shop. So far.

Still, a very cool place that was fun to visit.

Sand Caves, Kanab 

An unmarked, very sketchy hike and climb takes you to this unusual place.

These man-made caves were mined for in the 1970’s. The sand was used for glass making. Not sure why they stopped mining. Maybe they were able to get cheaper sand from China? Maybe everything is made from plastic now?

The natural colors and patterns in the sandstone are like nothing I have seen before.

It was harder going down than coming up. 

No gift shop, but it is next door to the “The Moqui Cave", Tourist Trap par excellence, whose gift shop was larger than its exhibit space.

The Moqui Cave

The Moqui Cave, self-proclaimed “Ancient History Museum, 150 Million Years in the Making”, has some local history exhibits, Native American artifacts, and dinosaur footprints. 

The Moqui Cave was originally opened as a bar to serve the Hollywood actors who were in the area to film a ton of Westerns.

But my favorite exhibit was the photos of Thomas Chamberlain and his 6 wives and 55 children (taken sometime before 1918).

Although the gift shop is huge, they do have an excellent selection and variety of reasonably priced rocks for sale. Also, a café.

Check it out just for the air conditioning. And to add to your rock collection.

Some of the Places We Have Been So Far on This Trip Part 1

Some of the Places We Have Been So Far on This Trip Part 1

We’ve been hanging out mostly in the same couple of square inches on the map of Southeastern Utah for almost 2 months. (Plus the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.) Here are some of the places we have been not as well known as the National Parks.

Red Hills Desert Garden, St George

We were at the St George Chabad for Shavuot and took in this local attraction before the holiday started. A lovely garden which even had dinosaur footprints in a section of rock!

Navajo Lake and Cascade Falls, Duck Creek Village, Dixie National Forest

Navajo Lake, high up at an altitude of 9,000 feet in Dixie National Forest, was naturally formed when a lava flow blocked the eastern end of a valley. The lake is the headwaters of the Virgin River which carved Zion Canyon. The lake drains into sinkholes in the lava and part of the water emerges out of a cave in the rock at Cascade Falls. The trail to the falls has a wonderful view of Zion in the distance.

Candy Cliffs, Yant Flat, Dixie National Forest

A long sketchy road with beautiful views along the way led to this very out of the way place. Being out of the way meant we practically had the place to ourselves 😊

The trail started off with a walk though a mostly forested area with different types of cacti in full beautiful spring bloom. When we got to the overlook of the Dr Seussian “Candy Cliff” basin, we clambered down to the whimsical rock domes to play.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Kanab. One of the main attractions here is sandboarding down the dunes. We were happy just to watch.