The Glorious Grand Canyon

We entered the Canyon on the East Side, but stayed in Tusayan just south of the South Rim Village. We spent a week having lots of time to do all the rim hikes and overlooks we wanted, mostly looking forward to the 2 day mule ride down to the bottom of the Canyon/Colorado River and Phantom ranch for an overnight stay.

We got to spend time going to the different Village buildings, learning how the Conservation Corps made the trails and touring the park on the shuttles. We rode out to the farthest western stop, Hermit’s Rest, and walked a 5 mile rim trail at sunset to get some magnificent end of the day pictures of the canyon. Before day break a couple of mornings later we got up extra early to go to Yavapai Point for the most magical sunrise. There were only 8 people present at the point whispering good morning greetings. It was so serene watching and waiting the sky turn grey white to amber/orange to a piercing orange/yellow. It was truly a gift to welcome the day even before the ravens, squirrels and insects awoke. To see the pinpoint of the sun peeking out behind the mountain peak was just awe inspiring. It seemed like we were all holding our breath as we watched the sun appear before us. To be in that glorious moment of a new day will be a memory of a lifetime.

For our mule ride we started early on the Bright Angel Trail leading us about 10 miles to the bottom of the Canyon to the Colorado River. It was an amazing journey, especially traversing “Oh, Jesus” point with the mules hugging the trails edge of a deep canyon wall. Sallie kept asking where the scary part of the trail was, she found it. It really wasn’t that bad. “You just keep looking ahead and trust in the mule”. The scariest part was the stupid hikers that wouldn’t follow the rules of the head wrangler and could potentially spook our otherwise calm mules.

After 6 hours on the mules, with one short lunch stop at Indian Gardens, we arrived at Phantom Ranch and our cabin, a welcome respite. We were welcomed with ice cold water and a good orientation to the ranch. We were able to enjoy some time at Angel Creek, a beautiful sunset from the Colorado River,  a nice family style dinner before a Park Ranger lecture about the Kolb brothers history of the canyon, a scorpion hunt and then a gorgeous display of the Milky Way and brilliant stars in the night sky.

The next morning we had another early day, to head up the South Kaibab Trail to beat the heat of the day. We passed the Mule Team that brings supplies down and up from Phantom Ranch every day.

We were in complete awe of the views, switchbacks and vista points we encountered at every turn of the trail. For both of us, this was another check off our bucket list!

We got certificates officially naming us Grand Canyon Mule Skinners. “Having  faced the precipices, descended Bright Angel Trail and ascended South Kaibab Trail, the perpendicular walls at and in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, endured the vicissitudes of this magnificent journey, and bourne the whims and caprices of our gentle, educated, individualistic, long-eared mount-part horse, part jackass and all mule named Dingus and Truman. We are now members of the renowned Order of the Master Mule Skinners of the Grand Canyon Trails, with rights and privileges to boast of this accomplished feat forevermore”.