Day 5 Hualapai Hilltop, Seligman, and Grand Canyon

Linda displays our cool, tasty strawberry reward.

2008-06-17T16:13:56Z

elf1
Linda displays our cool, tasty strawberry reward.

The strawberries that we left in the cooler also survived our two-day absence, and we munch those in celebration.

2008-06-17T16:13:58Z

elf1
The strawberries that we left in the cooler also survived our two-day absence, and we munch those in celebration.

In the van, we were thrilled to see that our cooler still had ice and cold drinks in it. But we were already pondering warmer things.

2008-06-17T16:14:00Z

elf1
In the van, we were thrilled to see that our cooler still had ice and cold drinks in it. But we were already pondering warmer things.

I gave up on my hiking boots, as they were so heavy and I was such a wimp. I wore my tennis shoes for the 8-mile trip out and they worked fine. They and my pants (and presumably Linda's legs ...

2008-06-17T16:14:18Z

elf1
I gave up on my hiking boots, as they were so heavy and I was such a wimp. I wore my tennis shoes for the 8-mile trip out and they worked fine. They and my pants (and presumably Linda's legs ...

It's just before 10:00, and we have just made it to the top of the Havasu trail and are very, very happy. It's also a little weird to discover how cold it is. We dump our packs and Linda imm ...

2008-06-17T16:27:47Z

elf1
It's just before 10:00, and we have just made it to the top of the Havasu trail and are very, very happy. It's also a little weird to discover how cold it is. We dump our packs and Linda imm ...

Experiments in using the camera's timer. This one is a little posed.

2008-06-17T16:27:47Z

elf1
Experiments in using the camera's timer. This one is a little posed.

I like this one--we're done hiking, we're tired but happy and proud of ourselves, and spontaneously laughing.

2008-06-17T16:27:47Z

elf1
I like this one--we're done hiking, we're tired but happy and proud of ourselves, and spontaneously laughing.

The high five for our spectacular success!

2008-06-17T16:14:40Z

elf1
The high five for our spectacular success!

Looking back at the beginning of the trail where it cuts across the cliff before heading into its downward switchbacks.

2008-06-17T16:14:40Z

elf1
Looking back at the beginning of the trail where it cuts across the cliff before heading into its downward switchbacks.

Thee's the lower part of the trail down into the canyon, and then it heads off to the right in the bottom of the canyon.

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
Thee's the lower part of the trail down into the canyon, and then it heads off to the right in the bottom of the canyon.

There were regular portapotties that everyone used, but these older composting toilets (with no doors) are still there behind the portapotties.

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
There were regular portapotties that everyone used, but these older composting toilets (with no doors) are still there behind the portapotties.

Here, we're just leaving Hualapai Hilltop. Hilltop is a bit of a misnomer, as actually it's on the side of a hill. You can see how the road comes in along the side of the canyon.

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
Here, we're just leaving Hualapai Hilltop. Hilltop is a bit of a misnomer, as actually it's on the side of a hill. You can see how the road comes in along the side of the canyon.

We were interested to see more horses wandering loose just after we left Hilltop. I learned later that horses who are getting a break from working the trail go graze, and there are known wat ...

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
We were interested to see more horses wandering loose just after we left Hilltop. I learned later that horses who are getting a break from working the trail go graze, and there are known wat ...

The 60 miles of road through the Havasupai Reservation crossed quite varied terrain.

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
The 60 miles of road through the Havasupai Reservation crossed quite varied terrain.

The 60 miles of road through the Havasupai Reservation crossed quite varied terrain.

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
The 60 miles of road through the Havasupai Reservation crossed quite varied terrain.

These paintbrush type flowers dotted the plains and I had to stop and take one's picture.

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
These paintbrush type flowers dotted the plains and I had to stop and take one's picture.

Back on Route 66 headed towards Seligman, I stopped to snap the beginning of some BurmaShave signs. This one: Cattle crossing... means go slow... That old bull... is some cow's beau... Burma ...

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
Back on Route 66 headed towards Seligman, I stopped to snap the beginning of some BurmaShave signs. This one: Cattle crossing... means go slow... That old bull... is some cow's beau... Burma ...

We had promised ourselves rootbeer floats at the A&W in Seligman if we made it out of the canyon alive. So what if it was a little coolish--we sat at the counter and had lunch and floats. Yu ...

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
We had promised ourselves rootbeer floats at the A&W in Seligman if we made it out of the canyon alive. So what if it was a little coolish--we sat at the counter and had lunch and floats. Yu ...

Seligman is a Route 66 town revitalizing itself as a tourist draw.

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
Seligman is a Route 66 town revitalizing itself as a tourist draw.

Evening at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Linda gets the stove going for dinner. Already we're c-c-cold.

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
Evening at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Linda gets the stove going for dinner. Already we're c-c-cold.

We even broke down and bought firewood at the general store, so that we could stay defrosted long enough to eat our meal. We huddled close.

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
We even broke down and bought firewood at the general store, so that we could stay defrosted long enough to eat our meal. We huddled close.

Glorious, warm campfire.

2008-06-17T16:15:46Z

elf1
Glorious, warm campfire.

Linda continues to fiddle with the stove.

2008-06-17T16:15:46Z

elf1
Linda continues to fiddle with the stove.

My handy-dandy camping box and some of its content.

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
My handy-dandy camping box and some of its content.

Water heats for dinner.

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
Water heats for dinner.

Of all the things that it never occurred to me to bring--because it was going to be HOT, remember?--was hot chocolate. So I bought some of that at the general store, too. Boy, was it good.

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
Of all the things that it never occurred to me to bring--because it was going to be HOT, remember?--was hot chocolate. So I bought some of that at the general store, too. Boy, was it good.

Me, huddling by our small, smoky fire.

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
Me, huddling by our small, smoky fire.

Then it started hailing. What had we gotten ourselves into?

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
Then it started hailing. What had we gotten ourselves into?

It was nice to see that the park has invested itself in recycling. There was an equally large recycling dumpster near the regular trash dumpster.

2008-06-17T16:13:34Z

elf1
It was nice to see that the park has invested itself in recycling. There was an equally large recycling dumpster near the regular trash dumpster.

This is where photo sorting got really hard. The Grand Canyon is so beautiful, and every angle gives you a whole different picture. How can I choose just a couple?

2008-06-17T16:27:47Z

elf1
This is where photo sorting got really hard. The Grand Canyon is so beautiful, and every angle gives you a whole different picture. How can I choose just a couple?

We were there for sunset, but it wasn't a spectacular sunset; the sun peered out from behind gathering clouds for only a brief while, just enough to bathe things in golden light for a few ph ...

2008-06-17T16:27:47Z

elf1
We were there for sunset, but it wasn't a spectacular sunset; the sun peered out from behind gathering clouds for only a brief while, just enough to bathe things in golden light for a few ph ...

But, while the light lasted, I took a bunch of photos. Good thing, because there was no sunset the next evening. Snowing.

2008-06-17T16:27:47Z

elf1
But, while the light lasted, I took a bunch of photos. Good thing, because there was no sunset the next evening. Snowing.

More sunsetty photos.

2008-06-17T16:27:47Z

elf1
More sunsetty photos.

I love the way the sunlight makes the rocks glow. You can see the different layers here; the shale layers are the ones that slope rather than going straight down.

2008-06-17T16:27:47Z

elf1
I love the way the sunlight makes the rocks glow. You can see the different layers here; the shale layers are the ones that slope rather than going straight down.

More sunset. All these photos were taken from basically the same place, at Yavapai Point outside the observation station/museum.

2008-06-17T16:34:10Z

elf1
More sunset. All these photos were taken from basically the same place, at Yavapai Point outside the observation station/museum.

There was a lower overlook than where I was. That was too much dangling out in thin air for my taste, plus it was already crowded with viewers and photographers. So I stayed back on the main ...

2008-06-17T16:27:47Z

elf1
There was a lower overlook than where I was. That was too much dangling out in thin air for my taste, plus it was already crowded with viewers and photographers. So I stayed back on the main ...

As the last light left the canyon, the whole feeling changed.

2008-06-17T16:27:47Z

elf1
As the last light left the canyon, the whole feeling changed.

With no direct light on it, the canyon looks mysterious and misty.

2008-06-17T16:27:47Z

elf1
With no direct light on it, the canyon looks mysterious and misty.

Just another shot of the same area. And now we can go to bed into our warm sleeping bags.

2008-06-17T16:27:48Z

elf1
Just another shot of the same area. And now we can go to bed into our warm sleeping bags.