The Grand Canyon is Awe Inspiring

When I visited the Grand Canyon 12 years ago, it was before they had the skywalk.  So I cannot speak to that feature of the experience, except that I’m pretty sure I would chicken out and not do it.  Don’t get me wrong, I sat on the edge of the North Rim and watched as first light hit the canyon with no fear, but walking on that man-made thing looks intimidating to me.

We stayed in a cabin on the North Rim and it was wonderful.  The cabin wasn’t much, it was fine, just nothing fancy.  But being right up against the canyon wall was amazing.  If you want to stay in the park, make your reservations a year out.  There aren’t that many accommodations, and they go fast.

Early October can be a gamble for weather, but when we went it was perfect!  65 to 70 degrees on the rim and 85 or so on the canyon floor.  Although I would have loved to have ridden a mule down into the canyon, my travel partner was over “mule hauling weight” so we walked.  It was amazingly beautiful and it takes all day.

As you walk down through the different layers you see the changing colors and landscape up close and personal.  I thought the beach was awe inspiring . . . but this beat it!

Coming back up, I thought I might drop over, and I was only 41 then.  There is no way I will visit the bottom of the canyon again unless a mule takes me or someone carries me.  When we got back to the rim, even though it was dark, I couldn’t go inside.  I never knew there were that many stars in the sky.  It was completely spellbinding.

The next morning, I got up while it was still dark, ran out to the rim and waited for light.  I was alone, at first, and was disappointed to see other people joining me.  I was afraid they would interrupt the moment.  I was glad what’s his name had stayed in the cabin.  He had a tendency to complain about everything, and this was something I wanted to experience in peace.  I shouldn’t have worried.  People slipped out to the rim, quietly, and everyone whispered, or didn’t speak at all.  It was if by some silent arrangement, we had all decided to treat this like church.  As the canyon slowly lit up, showing different layers and colors, with stark shadows accenting the scene, my breath was taken away.

The restaurant right there on the rim was wonderful, and the gentleman that seated us for breakfast said, “You walked down yesterday.”  I asked how he knew and he said that when they ride the mules down, the limp is different.  It would not be a bad idea to train for a hike down to the canyon floor.

All in all, it was one of the most memorable trips I have ever taken.  The only flaw was that I split the trip with half a week at the Grand Canyon and half a week at Las Vegas.  I could have easily spent the entire week at the Grand Canyon, just sitting there, looking.  Be sure to give yourself time if you plan to go so you can really enjoy the wonder.  I only saw a very small portion and know I could go back again and again and never be disappointed.