|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
At the canyon rim, an easy walk from Yavapai Lodge.
LinksThe Bright Angel Trail is a popular trail from the canyon rim to the Colorado River. The trail is 7.7 miles in length, covering a total vertical drop of 4420 feet. At 1.5, 3.0, and 4.6 miles from the rim, drinking water is available. As day hikers, the best chance to see the river up close is via this trail. Refer to the day 3 timeline for a detailed breakdown of the length of the hike.
Some of these tips apply more to backpackers going on overnight trips on less than well-traveled trails. I have a flashlight, knife, and compass I can bring, if you think we could use them. There's almost no chance we'll get lost, but the flashlight (plus extra batteries) might come in handy, if we're forced to return late. The knife could also be used to cut moleskin, unless we use the cheaper alternative of duct tape.
I *strongly* recommend that everyone bring his own back pack to carry his own water, food, and other gear. We should each expect to imbibe at least one gallon of water during the hike, if not more. Despite the availability of water at isolated places along the Bright Angel Trail, no one should have to carry water/food/gear for two or more of us, especially on the way back to the rim.
I also recommend that everyone bring to Phoenix as much as he can. We should be able to purchase perishable foods like apples at local stores.
By the way, in case you plan to purchase new hiking boots just prior to the trip, make sure you break them in, or you'll almost certainly develop blisters which will dog you for the rest of the trip.
Also, I'm not sure when the shops at GC South Rim and Tusayan close, so on Day 2 we ought to schedule a grocery store stop (in Flagstaff, say) to stock up on food/water/supplies for breakfast on the day of the hike and for the hike itself. We may even be able to do this on Day 1, unless we also want perishable food like sandwiches on the hike.
There's an alternative to hiking down the Bright Angel Trail in the morning and right back during the afternoon: spend the afternoon resting in the shade (with plenty of water and perhaps a deck of cards) and return to the rim when it cools off a bit. This plan only works if we don't go too far down the trail, and we may not be able to make it back to the rim by sunset.
PO Box 219
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
Phone: (520) 567-3322
Links
Open daily 8am-7pm in summer, 8am-5pm the rest of year. One attraction in the Verde Valley is this 12th Century cliff dwelling, built 100 feet above the surrounding land. The castle overlooks Beaver Creek, and includes a 5-story structure with some 20 rooms. A visitor's center displays artifacts found there. Learn more.
Sedona, AZ
(It's a city. . .)
Links
Spectacular Sedona, a favorite spot for tourists and native Arizonans alike, is just 125 miles north of Phoenix and 27 miles south of Flagstaff. Situated in the heart of a unique, geological area that has mesmerized visitors for years, this charming community features massive red-rock monoliths that contrast beautifully with fresh, green patches of pinon, juniper and cypress trees. Sedona also is blessed with Oak Creek, which splashes through town at the mouth of a four-season paradise, Oak Creek Canyon. A drive up the winding, 12-mile road that passes through Oak Creek Canyon takes visitors along the path of sparkling Oak Creek. This creek, fed by springs near the switchbacks at the top of the canyon, tumbles down to Sedona and through Page Springs; farther south, it empties into the Verde River.
1400 West Mars Hill Road
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: (520) 774-2096
Links
Open daily 9am-5pm. Call for tour times. Admission: $3 or less. Located atop Mars Hill near downtown Flagstaff, Lowell Observatory is famous for both its history and its current scientific research. Founded by Percival Lowell, the observatory is where the ninth planet, Pluto, was discovered. Wonderful exhibit hall.
Walnut Canyon Road
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Phone: (520) 526-3367
Links
Open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily. Amenities: Visitor information, interpretive exhibits, restrooms, drinking water, disabled access, hiking trails, picnic areas. Cutoff of 4 p.m. for use of main trail. Ruins of Indian cliff dwellings used by the Sinagua who farmed in a 400-foot-deep canyon.
PO Box 181
Flagstaff, AZ 86002
Phone: (520) 289-5898
At the crater: (520)289-2362
Links
Open May-Sept 6am-6pm. Sept-May 8am-5pm. Meteor Crater is located 20 miles west of Winslow off Interstate 40. Take Exit 239 off I-40, then continue south 6 miles to the crater. Created about 49,000 years when a gigantic meteor impacted the area at almost 45,000 miles per hour! More information is available at the Museum of Astro-geology, located at the crater. If you're really into meteorites, visit the Barringer Meteorite Crater Web site for news, interactive quizzes and more.
PO Box 129
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Phone: (520) 638-7888
Backcountry permits: (520) 638-7875
Links
A mile deep and 18 miles wide in places, the 277-mile-long Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring destination for any visitor. Millions choose the South Rim as the vantage point for exploring this natural wonder.
PO Box 699
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Phone: (303) 297-2757
Links
Located at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the Yavapai Lodge is 1 1/2 miles from the Grand Canyon Rim. The lodge is adjacent to the bank, Post Office, General Store and the Visitor's Center. This comfortable, modern facility has two wings: Yavapai East and West. Both Yavapai East and West are nestled in the untouched wilderness in close proximity to the rim of the Grand Canyon. If you find that there is no availability for the dates that you wish to travel, please continue to check back; cancellations do occur. Sorry, we do not offer a waitlist. All reservations are guaranteed for late arrival.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
PO Box 360289
Monument Valley, UT 84536
Phone: (801) 727-3353
Links
| mv01.jpg | mv02.jpg | mv03.jpg | mv04.jpg | mv05.jpg | mv06.jpg |
| mv07.jpg | mv08.jpg | mv09.jpg | mv10.jpg | mv11.jpg | mv12.jpg |
| mv13.jpg | mv14.jpg | mv15.jpg | mv16.jpg | mv17.jpg |
Covering some 30,000 arces, the park's red sandstone buttes and spires have been made famous from countless films and television commercials. From Kayenta, travel north about 22 miles to the park. The 17-mile tour loops through the valley and visitors can often watch Navajo residents display their talents.
Holiday Inn: Canyon de Chelly
Chinle-Garcia Trading Post
Indian Route 9
Chinle, AZ 86503
Phone: (520) 674-5000
Links
At the Entrance to Canyon De Chelly. The Nations Second Largest Canyon. 11 Canyon Overlooks, Ancient Ruins, Petroglyphs, and Pictographs. In the Heart of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. Dine in Garcia`s Restaurant or enjoy room service during restaurant hours. Take a walk through our beautiful courtyard or go for swim in our outdoor heated (seasonal)pool.
Box 588
Chinle, AZ 86503
Phone: (520) 674-5500
Links
An amazing, 1,000-foot gorge carved eons ago by water and wind. Visitors can explore its wondrous sights from an easy rim drive or a journey inside the canyon on foot, horseback or in a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
PO Box 2217
Petrified Forest, AZ 86028
Phone: (520) 524-6228 x276
Links
Open 7am-7pm. Petrified wood can be found in spots around the globe, but nowhere is it in such colorful abundance as in Petrified Forest National Park, just off I-40 in northeast Arizona. Drive through the park, or get a closer look via one of the hiking trails.
