Grand Canyon: Bright Angel Trail

Monday, September 22, 2014 

A hearty breakfast at Bright Angel Lodge. 

    replica of menu from 1937

                                                    Harvey Girl uniform
                                           http://www.oerm.org/harvey-girl-historical-society

                                                            Fred Harvey Courier

Mary Jane Colter designed seven structures along the south rim of the canyon, including Bright Angel Lodge.

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/vision-quest

                                              Desert View Watchtower designed by Colter
http://www.nps.gov/grca/photosmultimedia/colter_wt_photos.htm

The following five photos show our first view of the canyon from the Desert View Watchtower.

                                   

                                                                 inside the tower

                                       

                                                       Top of Bright Angel Trail
The patch of green in the middle of photo is our destination, Indian Garden. We covered the first three locations noted in the pamphlet: 4.8 miles each way for a total distance of 9.6 miles.
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/bright_angel_trail.pdf

                                                                 Buckey's Cabin
 http://grand-canyon.untraveledroad.com/SouthRim/462CSign.htm

                                                                 

                                      

the first stretch of trail

                               view by arch

 

                                                                  rock layers (strata)

                                                      Getting closer to Indian Garden

                                                      the stretch leading to Indian Garden

Lots of cacti on this part of the trail

                                     Trees in Indian Garden, fed by an underground aquifer

                                            Return to the top! We started our return at 2:30.

                                       We followed the change in light as we ascended the canyon.

                                                                   Almost there!

                                                   Colter's Lookout Studio

El Tovar Hotel designed by Charles Whittlesey
http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/lodging/el-tovar/

http://grandcanyonhistory.clas.asu.edu/sites_southrim_hopihouse.html 

Grand Canyon Railway station

                                              Scene from an Arizona grate

                                                                 
Then, as we were approaching a stop sign, an elk strolled by!