Sharing the Canyon with Special People

Monday, April 2, 2012- We arrived at the Grand Canyon, set up the camper at our site at Mather Campground, and before we could turn around…..

Joann drove up in with her Casita. We had chosen campsite close to each other, and planned to spend the week sharing the wonders of the Canyon.

We spent Monday afternoon, walking along sections of Rim Trail. Tuesday, we walked all around the main Lodge areas in Grand Canyon Village.

I really love this architecture by Mary Colter……She designed several buildings at Grand Canyon National Park. This is the Look-Out Studio.

At the time, (1930’s) the traditional thought was to build the lodges (like the El Tovar Lodge here at the Canyon) after the style of large, European hunting or ski lodges….very nice, but out of place here in a rock filled canyon.

Mary Colter was a bit of a ‘free thinker’ of her day, and wanted to build structures that fit into their environment, like the Hopi House does. So innovative and forward thinking……..and beautiful.

While visiting the Canyon Village area, we even caught a ranger talk on the California Condor.The California Condor is the largest bird in North America, with a wing span of 9 1/2 feet. The Condor was almost extinct, by 1987, there were only 27 left in existence. Due to a very successful breading and release program, there are now 400 Condors, 79 of them live in Arizona. We were lucky enough to see 4 of them circling around us at Yaki Point.

We had gone out to Yaki Point to catch the sunset. The Canyon colors intensify with the setting sun.

And the sunset paints the sky……

With vivid splashes of color……..