Enter the Grand Canyon

By Lawrence SutherlandDecember 18, 2019

The journey April 30 – May 10: Continuation “Grand Canyon Connector Spring 2019”

Strava: Grand Canyon_ To view Strava link a login is required.

https://www.strava.com/activities/2332020902

Photography

There is some really great photographers and great pictures of the Grand Canyon, but nothing is more capitvating than the real experience of seeing this. There is no way to capture the granduer in a single photograph.

Also don’t get stuck in the automatic camera features. It’s to much for the camera software to do correctly in particular with focusing. Manual settings with high depth of field, manual focus and a tripod is the only way to go. Plus the time to setup the photo capture.

Unfortunately the pictures of this chapter is a little disappointing. A return trip is needed to do this photography right and additional time to really experience the Grand Canyon is in order.

Bike Camping at Mather’s Campground

“A man on foot, on horseback or on a bicycle will see more, feel more, enjoy more in one mile than the motorized tourists can in a hundred miles.”
Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire

The roads along the South Rim are limited to tour buses and bicycles. Basically speaking one is able to enjoy the solitude of the vistas before the next bus load of vistors shows up. It’s kind of disturbing that the people on a shuttle bus don’t really get to absorb the senery. Where as taking the moment to absorb the scenery brings about a stronger attachment to earth and a lot more meaning to life.

Mather Campgrounds hiker biker section is very much an international experience. There’s people from all around the world at any given time either on a cross country bicycle trip or hiking the Arizona trail. Meeting the people from around the world sharing a common experience of nature is empowering.

Mathers camping fees $6.00 per night, showers about $4.00 and laundry typical fees…..

There’s also Canyon Village Market with deli and General Store. Everything at the market and general store is reasonably priced. The general store has outdoor equipment and trail supplies for the Arizona Trail hikers going through. Actulally quite impressive selection available.

Also there is a post office for recieving general delivery of backpacking supplies. Next time I ride up I’ll have gear sent to general delivery for hiking down into the canyon for a minimum 7 days.

Interestingly there’s more foriegn campers than Americans. I feel Americans are stuck at thier jobs and are for the most part disconnected from the world. …..

The South Rim

Bicycle is the only way to see the South Rim. If you need to rent a bicycle Bright Angel Bicycles is the way to go.

Kevin @ Bright Angel Bicycles & Rideabout57

Anytime of the day is a good time to see the many vistas. The trick is to have the time to sit back and enjoy the show at any given time. By not being bound to any schedule and the freedom to stay as long as one’s liking.

Enter the Canyon

Three days of riding around to all the vistas on the South Rim I realized to get the full spectrum of the Grand Canyon one must hike into the canyon and camp.

A vist to the Backcountry Information Center to inquire about the permit process brought about a pleasent surprise of how easy it is to get a permit. Also the park serviced offered to store my bike and lend me a backpack.

The park services always have campsites available for lottery draw. It’s pretty much a guarantee to get a permit I went to the Backcountry Information Center and they issued a lottery ticket for the next morning 8:00am drawing and acquired permits for the next two nights. The first night at Bright Angel Campground and the second night at Indian Garden Campground.

All I have to say is that was barely enough time. In fact it was somewhat rushed. With this said it’s highly recommended to spend a minimum of two nights at each location.