Grand Canyon, The North Rim

Leaving Zion we headed to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We'd been to the South Rim for a quick visit fifteen or so years ago when we drove a car cross country to Ben while he was in school at Chapman, but this was our first visit to the North Rim.

The North Rim has a much different feel than the South Rim. It isn't nearly as developed so there are fewer tourists which means it's less crowded than the south rim. On the other hand, it also means that it doesn't have some of the iconic viewpoints one is used to seeing from the South Rim. You know how it goes, the one thing I remember from my econ 101 class, there's no such thing as a free lunch. 🤷

The North Rim has more snow and a bigger watershed which has resulted in more erosion on that side. Over the eons this erosion has caused the Colorado River to  be 7 miles from the north rim and only three miles from the south rim. This extra erosion and the 7 miles has resulted in small side canyons and more formations like temples, etc. I don't think it is as dramatic as the south rim, but one could argue that it is more interesting.

One of the things I find so different, so fascinating in the southwest, in canyon country, is the difference between canyons and mountains. I know, I know, it seems obvious. But when you're in a canyon the walls seem like a mountain. They seem like they should be a landmark you could see from far away. But when you're on the surface, walking or driving or biking, there is no hint that there is this great geologic feature nearby. It just looks flat. Whereas with a mountain, you can see it for miles. You know it's there. It is a landmark. With canyons it's flat and then the earth just disappears. I kept trying to figure out what struck me as seeming out of place to my Vermont perspective  and I think that was it. That you couldn't see the  canyons from a distance like you can mountains even though when you're in them they seem like a landmark one could see from miles away.  

On to pics:

View of the canyon with side of the lodge in the foreground.

The Colorado River, way down there

Inspiration Point

I thought the window shape resembled the shape of Vermont! ( Well, ok, you do have to use your imagination a bit, but remember ... I'm starting to really miss Vermont and might be seeing it in places where it isn't ...😂)

Roosevelt Point

I love the banding and colors on the south wall. 

Sunrise over the canyon 

Flora

Parish Goldeneye 

Hoary Tansy Aster

Purple Arizona Thistle 

Red Arizona Thistle  

Paintbrush 

As for fauna … 

We saw several deer, chipmunks, a red tailed hawk (likely) soaring over the canyon, a hummingbird, a helicopter (not totally sure if a helicopter should count ... but it was flying over the canyon 😂) white throated swifts and a Western bluebird and we heard a yellow rumped warbler, red breasted nuthatch, a Townsend's warbler, a chipping sparrow, a white throated sparrow, a northern flicker and a Hammond's flycatcher. (according to Merlin, my bird app). Alas, what I most hoped to see, a kaibab squirrel, only found here, on the north rim, eluded us. They are similar to grey squirrels, but their coat is darker and they have these ridiculously long tufts of fur that shoot off of their ears. Sigh. Something to save for another day…

Martin, sitting at the fire.

Next stop: Bryce Canyon NP, UT