Photography by Marilyn Price

Grand Canyon 2013

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Thursday, January 17, 2013

We had breakfast as usual. Those bunk beds were hard! And I couldn't quite get the blankets right.

Marilyn in front of cabin 7, Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ Creek water intake pipe, North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

It's another day of hauling water for the toilet. Especially since last night's chili hit pretty hard...

The photo on the left shows me, ready for our hike, ouside of cabin 7, our home for the last two nights of our stay. The photo on the right shows the intake pipe they rigged to bring creek water to a spigot for the flush buckets. The bucket is placed over the open end of the pipe and that end of the pipe is removed from the creek when pipeline water flow is normal.

We lazed around for a while, then walked up the North Kaibab Trail as far as the pipeline break.

Carl looks at Bright Angel Creek, North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ Bush growing out of the canyon wall, North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ Old telephone pole, North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

The three photos above were taken along this trail, which runs along the banks of Bright Angel Creek. The photo on the left shows Carl looking at the creek. The center photo shows a bush that fascinated me - it's growing straight out of the canyon wall! The photo on the right shows one of the old Trans-Canyon telephone poles. This telephone line was installed by the CCC in 1935. It's no longer in use, however.

Cascades on Bright Angel Creek, North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ 'Palm tree' at confluence of Phantom Creek and Bright Angel Creek, North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ Backlit bush, North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

More photos from along the North Kaibab Trail. The photo on the left shows a series of cascades in Bright Angel Creek. The center photo shows a "palm tree" on the bank where Phantom Creek empties into Bright Angel Creek. This one is an illusion. It's not a palm tree, but a collapsed agave plant after it has bloomed... The photo on the right is a backlit bush that was growing along the side of the trail.

Ice from water main break, North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ Ice from water main break, North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ Ice from water main break, North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

The ice formations from the spray were extensive! The three photos above show three views of this ice. The photo on the left is our first view of the area. You can see the ice across the creek. The center photo is from the trail in the vicinity of the break, looking across the creek with a Park Service person on the bank of the creek. The photo on the right is a closer look at some of the ice crusted plants.

Workers fix water main break, North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

And we saw the helicopters flying again. They must have made three or four trips up the canyon with supplies and people. From what we overheard, they were finishing up the final weld as we stood there. If so, then tomorrow they'll bleed the air out of the system and turn the supply back on. The photo to the left shows the workers down in the hole welding the new section of pipe into place. The greenish glow is from the arc welder - don't look at it directly!!!

As we were walking up the canyon, we were passed by the group of young men we nicknamed the Coneheads. It was a group of nine young men all dressed about the same with these woolen hats that came to a point about six inches above the top of their heads, and woolen pants. Looking at them, I wondered if they were Swiss, German, or Austrian or something like that, yet they were speaking English. Later, we found out they were Mennonites. Our other nickname for them was Larry, Darryl, Darryl, Darryl, Darryl, Darryl, well, you get the idea.

We ate lunch at the side of the trail on our way back south – the first sunny spot we could find. The Darryls passed us going south as we ate lunch.

Icicles under a log, Bright Angel Creek, North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ Cascades and ice, Bright Angel Creek, North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

This stretch of the canyon is very shady. Mother Nature made some interesting ice sculptures along the way. The photo on the left shows some icicles clinging to the bottom of a log near the creek. The photo on the right shows some of the fanciful ice sculptures that Mother Nature left for us.

Backlit cottonwood trees, North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

As we neared Phantom Ranch, these backlit cottonwoods caught my eye.

After dropping our stuff at the cabin, we stopped by the canteen for beers and pretzels. Then we started getting organized for the hike out, before taking time for a couple more games of cribbage.

When we went down for dinner, one group of hikers walked up to where everyone was standing around waiting for the door to open. They had a 12 month old baby with them!!!!! Proud Papa appears to be Latin (Spanish, Italian, or South American - picture a slightly younger Rozano Brazzi from South Pacific). When questioned about the kid, Proud Papa said “He's MY SON”. Papa carried him in a backpack carrier. Mama and Grandma carried all their supplies. Unbelievable!!

After dinner, we finished packing up what we could for the night and called it an early night.

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