Sunday, November 29, 2015

The Grand Canyon





Arizona is known as The Grand Canyon State.  If you have ever been to the Grand Canyon you will never forget it!  When we planned our visit to Arizona we knew we had to visit the Grand Canyon again.  In 1970 we had a brief visit.  We wanted to go back to experience it with mature eyes.

We left early in the morning for our journey to the South Rim of the canyon.  The trip through the elevations take us through the desert to elevations of well above 7000 feet.  Scottsdale's elevation is 1257 feet.  What a difference the vegetation is as we begin our drive and continue to climb.






Arizona's climate goes from tropical desert to sub alpine!  It's quite amazing to travel in a few short hours to see such variety of trees and plants.  The temperature difference is felt with each mile we travel north.

We immediately smell the wonderful fragrance of juniper and pine!  So refreshing!




As we climb in elevation, so does the vegetation climb the mountains.




I'm so excited to be returning to the Grand Canyon.  We are almost to the entrance.  The park has undergone many changes since our last visit.  They receive 5 million visitors a year.  You can imagine they needed to do something to control the influx of visitors.




The Grand Canyon was given federal protection in 1893 as a Forest Reserve.  It was later named a National Monument.  The Grand Canyon became part of the National Park Service in 1919.




After going through the entrance we see a mule deer alongside the road having his lunch.




There is now a huge visitor center and trails to view the canyon.  When we were here in 1970 the visitor center and surrounds were on a much smaller scale.  Now you can take a bus to view the South Rim area.

Walking up to see the canyon I am immediately struck with emotion as we see the most magnificent sight!!




The sun shining on the geologic color is pure joy to view!  The canyon is 277 river miles long and up to 18 miles wide and up to a mile deep.  I am overwhelmed by its majesty!








The Grand Canyon was named a  UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.   It has been home to Native Americans for thousands of years.  About 10,000 years ago, paleo-hunters were known to have hunted big game throughout the area. More recently, hunter-gathers lived in the area until about 1000 BC.  Archaeological findings, such as pottery found in the canyon, have been carbon dated to 4000 years ago.






 It's so difficult to stop taking photos and just drink in all of the beauty!




The Grand Canyon reveals windows into time with its rock layers. The geology is remarkable as we view the canyons and mountain peaks!  The strata reveals a record of the earth's changes throughout history.  I am in AWE!!!




Because of the extreme changes in elevation of this area, there are several communities of life within the Grand Canyon.  At the floor of the canyon is the riparian area, followed by the desert up to the pinyon-juniper forest, to the ponderosa pine forest, to the mixed conifer forest.  It is an amazing community all within relative closeness to each other.











"The whole canyon and everything in it is sacred to us, all around, up and down."

Rex Tilousi, Havasupai elder





The National Park Service has done an outstanding job of keeping the Grand Canyon a wonderful park to enjoy.  The movie in the visitor center brings the canyon to life.  From the Paleo-Indian era (12,000-9,000 years ago) to the Archaic era (9,000-2,500 years ago) to Basket Maker (2,500-1,200 years ago) to Ancestral Puebloan (800-1,300) to Late Prehistoric era (1,300-1,500) to NOW...

The Grand Canyon speaks about the life of the humans that inhabited this area and to those who continue to live here.  The very earth shows itself to us as we view the majestic Grand Canyon!








35 comments:

  1. Martha Ellen,
    Great pictures of the Grand Canyon. Jess visited the Grand Canyon a couple years ago, and she said it was, indeed, GRAND. Your pictures are so pretty that it almost looks like there is color in the rock formations. So beautiful.......I can see why you were in AWE.

    Have a good week ahead.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Sheri, there are indeed many colors in the Grand Canyon! You must go and experience the majesty of this awe inspiring place. The sun shining on the layers delighted our hearts and souls. ♥

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  2. Truly awe inspiring, Martha Ellen!! Your photos really highlight the beauty of the colors and layers in the Grand Canyon. It really does feel like a sacred space. Thank you for so many beautiful memories of this grand treasure! ♡Dawn@Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes

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    1. Dawn, the sun shining on the canyon was truly a gift to us that special day! The Grand Canyon is indeed a treasure for all to enjoy! I'm so glad we were able to see it again. Have a wonderful day, dear one. ♥

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  3. Dearest Martha Ellan ~~~ such sweet memories come flooding back of my own visit to this truly AWE~some and AWE~inspiring place. I visited back in 1985 with my darling Daddy on his 'Great Big American Adventure' as I called his visit. He travelled across America, from sea to shining sea, when I moved. I, like you, would love to revisit with mature eyes and viewpoint, for we do see, and appreciate things, so differently as we grow older.
    You talk about the changing colours ~~~ all I wanted to do was sit in one spot all day long and watch the changes happening.
    I will never forget, we were there on a snowy, wintry day in January and it was quite different to your sunny day.
    You didn't do the Skywalk then?
    Your words and pictures are so evocative of the great chasm, thank you for the visit! Deb xoxo

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    1. Oh Deb, I'm so happy you were able to take your Daddy to the Grand Canyon on his "Great Big American Adventure"! The special places I was able to share with my parents are so dear to me! The changing colors on the day of our visit was just so inspiring that my heart was full of emotion. I can only imagine what a gorgeous sight it must have been in the snow!
      The Skywalk was another 250 miles to the west--Grayden and I are not fans of heights, so we wouldn't be doing that! lol
      Thank you for sharing this visit with me,dear one! xoxo ♥

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    2. You have inspired me now to write about Daddy's Great Big American Adventure!
      After I'd hit enter I realised you were South and the Skywalk is West. Oh, to go on that, you could not stop me. It would be my highlight of the trip as I have no problems looking down, but have a rare phobia that I struggle to look up at a great height! I wonder why they don't allow cameras on the Skywalk?

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    3. Oh Deb, that would be wonderful to hear about your travels with your Daddy! Please do and if you can please share it! The older I get the worse my feelings get about heights. I can only guess cameras and such are not allowed on the Skywalk because of folks dropping things--maybe? xoxo ♥

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    4. I am with you on the height thing Martha Ellen. My father and my husband had to climb up to a ship's mast, NOT for me!
      When I take family lighthouse hopping, I do not go up with them into them!

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    5. Margot, I can go up into lighthouses--at least the last time I went up one! I don't particularly enjoy going out onto the platform, though. ♥

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    6. I was always afraid of lookout towers in State Parks, but I made it up one in NH. Perhaps I will try the lighthouses. There are so many around Lake Michigan.

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  4. I keep coming back to look at the amazing colours you captured. What a profound difference the bright sun has from the cold of a January day when I was there!
    Also, want to tell you how much I *love* your music. Nearly three hours on it is still playing and it is so relaxing! Thank you. ~~~Deb xoxo

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    1. I'm glad to hear you are enjoying it! The music just "felt like" the Grand Canyon and its people. xoxo ♥

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  5. Your photography is amazing! Of all the beauty that exists in this country, the Grand Canyon is the greatest. I was also overwhelmed by the Grand Canyon. It is one of those scenes that can not be adequately described...one must see it for herself.

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    1. Vee, the sunlight on the Grand Canyon gave us a real show on our visit. It is a place one must see to fully appreciate. It's a sacred place on our planet! ♥

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  6. Oh my. Like Vee, I am struck by your stunning photography!! You have captured so much of the beauty and splendor of this magnificent creation!!

    My son and his wife visited and hiked the Grand Canyon when they were newly married. They, too, were awestruck. I really do not like heights, so I never thought I could enjoy visiting the Grand Canyon. Then I saw in the previous discussion in your comments that you and Grayden don't like heights either, so now I am wondering...

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    1. Cheryl, even though we don't like heights, you don't have to get close to the edge to enjoy the beauty of this magnificent wonder. Deb was referring to the Skywalk that is a glass bottom overhang that allows viewing. There is No way we would be able to enjoy that! ♥

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  7. The Grand Canyon is one of the iconic places that I hope to visit one day. Stunning photos.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Amalia, I hope you do get a chance to visit the Grand Canyon! It has to be "felt" to fully appreciate its majesty! xo ♥

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  8. Awe is the only way to come close in describing the Grand Canyon. Photographs are beautiful, but as you can attest, being there is truly an experience. What struck me was the vastness and then the colors and then the quiet that seemed to emanate from the canyon. I went in search to find out why cameras (or phones or purses) aren't allowed on the Skywalk and several travelers said they were told that according to "the native indians who own it 'technology tarnishes the aura of the Grand Canyon'." But then they noted they had a photographer there to take your picture for a price. I'd have a problem stepping out over the canyon, too. The sensation is not at all comfortable! I brought back several CDs of native flute music. It really DOES express how one feels when in the desert or at the Canyon.

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    1. Cathy, I never knew I would have a bad reaction to heights until we were in Paris about ten years ago. We went up the Eiffel Tower elevator and Grayden was bravely agreeing to go with me. At the first level we stepped onto the platform and I had the worst feeling that I must go back down. It was a shocking experience!
      I read a similar article about the Skywalk. It's not for me. ♥

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  9. When we were at the Grand Canyon we were so impressed by the thought that you just can't conceive its grandeur without being there. It is just amazing and so majestic. Your pictures are great!

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    1. Thank you, Dotsie. The Grand Canyon has a feeling to it like no other! ♥

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  10. Wonderful and stunning!! Martha you are enjoying such lovely places! :-)
    I was there some 30 years ago and what struck me was the magnitude and vast size of the canon!!
    I had never perceived the hugeness from any of the the pictures I had ever seen!! I am still in awe!!
    Thanks for sharing all of your adventures!! Blessings warmth and love, Linnie

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    1. Linnie, you are so right-the size of the canyon can not be captured in a photo! It is a place one must experience to appreciate the size and wonder of this sacred place! Blessings to you, my friend! xoxo ♥

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  11. Your pictures are beautiful. We went to the Grand Canyon a few years ago, to the west rim. Totally different feel than park service property. The Sky Walk over the canyon itself is incredible ... as long as one is not afraid of heights.

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    1. Connie, I've never been to the West Rim. I'm shocked at my inablility to enjoy looking down on great heights. It came out of nowhere for me! ♥

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  12. Breath taking!!! We are hoping to go someday. My son John said I lived here in AZ 12 years and still haven't seen the Grand Canyon. He has a car, and feet in his shoes (to quote Dr. Suess). LOL
    Love, love, love that header! I told my sisters, last chance to go with me to Wmsburg. this month. Kathy will be here next Wednesday. I will drive her along the historic parkway to Wmsburg. on Thursday.
    Pack like crazy before then.
    Hugs,
    Margot

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    1. Margot, I love the Dr. Seuss reference! I do hope you get to visit the Grand Canyon! You will never forget it!
      Have fun with your sister in Williamburg-it will be decorated when you take her! One of my favorites at Christmas time. Good luck with the packing. xo ♥

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  13. Hi Martha, I was in the Grand Canyon over 35 years ago myself. How refreshing! Quite a different trip from England; Beauty of an entirely different kind. I grew up out west, those huge incredible skies bring back memories of my youth. Have you been to Yellowstone Park in Wyoming?

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    1. Jeri, I didn't know you grew up out west. We went to Yellowstone National Park on the return trip we went on in 1970! It is a gorgeous place to behold! xo ♥

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  14. thoroughly enjoying your Grand Canyon travelogue. the Richmond TD had a good article this week on the North Rim...the only side I've been to.

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    1. Sandra, I've only been to the South Rim. We no longer get the TD--maybe I can look up the article online. Have a cozy evening. ♥

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  15. Martha, oh, this is so beautiful! I've never been to the Grand Canyon! Such beautiful snaps. That amazing about the prices for those little ceramic trees! Thanks for popping in to see me.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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    1. Shelia, the Grand Canyon is a place you should plan to visit...it will take your breath away.
      I want to go shopping with you! You get the best prices! xo ♥

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