Grand Canyon
2006
around Memorial Day

Jim Wheeler's observations

take a hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
South Rim to Ranch back to South Rim
North Rim to Phantom Ranch, then out to the South Rim

Arches National Park, Moab, Utah
The Great Wall in Courthouse Wash
The Great Wall in Courthouse Wash, Arches Nat'l Park, Moab, Utah
Park Avenue Viewpoint
Park Avenue Viewpoint, Arches Nat'l Park, Moab, UtahPark Avenue Viewpoint, Arches Nat'l Park, Moab, Utah
South Window in Arches
South Window, Arches Nat'l Park, Moab, Utah
Fiery Furnace with Salt Valley in background
Fiery Furnace with Salt Valley in background, Arches Nat'l Park, Moab, Utah
Devil's Garden

Devil's Garden, Arches Nat'l Park, Moab, Utah
Dead Horse Point near Moab, Utah
The Colorado River carves its way southwest
The Colorado River at Dead Horse Point, Moab, UtahThe Colorado River at Dead Horse Point, Moab, Utah The Colorado River at Dead Horse Point, Moab, UtahThe Colorado River at Dead Horse Point, Moab, UtahThe Colorado River at Dead Horse Point, Moab, Utah
Grand Canyon
Sunset, with Colorado River, viewed from Hopi Point on the South Rim
Grand Canyon at sunset with Colorado River, view from Hopi Point on the South Rim
more views from Hopi Point
Grand Canyon, view from Hopi Point on the South Rim Grand Canyon, view from Hopi Point on the South Rim
view from Yaki Point
Grand Canyon, view from Yaki Point on the South Rim
O'Neill Butte, viewed from Yaki Point (200mm 1/750s f/4.5 20D body on sticks)
Grand Canyon, O'Neill Butte, viewed from Yaki Point (200mm 1/750s f/4.5 20D body on sticks)
view from Yaki Point (100mm 1/500s f/6.7 20D body on sticks)
Grand Canyon, view from Yaki Point (100mm 1/500s f/6.7 20D body on sticks)
view from Yaki Point (200mm 1/750s f/5.6 20D body on sticks)
Grand Canyon, view from Yaki Point (200mm 1/750s f/5.6 20D body on sticks)
view from Yaki Point (200mm 1/750s f/5.6 20D body on sticks)
Grand Canyon, view from Yaki Point (200mm 1/750s f/5.6 20D body on sticks)
view from Yaki Point (200mm 1/750s f/5.6 20D body on sticks)
Grand Canyon, view from Yaki Point (200mm 1/750s f/5.6 20D body on sticks)
Mather Point (110mm 1/500s f/5.6 20D body on sticks)
Grand Canyon, Mather Point (110mm 1/500s f/5.6 20D body on sticks)
O'Neill Butte viewed from Yaki Point. Note the South Kaibab Trail descending from the Butte.
Grand Canyon, O'Neill Butte viewed from Yaki Point.  Note the South Kaibab Trail descending from the Butte.
view from Yaki Point
Grand Canyon, view from Yaki Point
Mather Point
Grand Canyon, Mather Point
South Kaibab Trail, just below the South Rim trailhead leading down into the canyon

Shot from Yaki Point @ 7113 feet (200mm 1/45s f/5.6 20D body on sticks).
Grand Canyon, South Kaibab Trail, just below the South Rim trailhead leading down into the canyon.  Shot from Yaki Point @ 7113 feet (200mm 1/45s f/5.6 20D body on sticks).
Descent into Grand Canyon on the South Kaibab Trail, with O'Neill Butte on the right, shot @ 6414 feet
Descent into Grand Canyon on the South Kaibab Trail, with O'Neill Butte on the right, shot @ 6414 feet
South Kaibab Trail leading below O'Neill Butte, shot @ 6414 feet
Grand Canyon, South Kaibab Trail leading below O'Neill Butte, shot @ 6414 feet
South Kaibab Trail leading below O'Neill Butte, shot @ 6000 feet
Grand Canyon, South Kaibab Trail leading below O'Neill Butte, shot @ 6000 feet
South Kaibab Trail leading below O'Neill Butte, shot @ 5810 feet
Grand Canyon, South Kaibab Trail leading below O'Neill Butte, shot @ 5810 feet
South Kaibab Trail, shot @ 5308 feet
Grand Canyon, South Kaibab Trail, shot @ 5308 feet
South Kaibab Trail, shot @ 5308 feet
Grand Canyon, South Kaibab Trail, shot @ 5308 feet
First glimpse of the Colorado River from the South Kaibab Trail, shot @ 5154 feet

note the Plateau Point trail in the distance on the left
First glimpse of the Colorado River from the South Kaibab Trail, shot @ 5154 feet
South Kaibab Trail, the 'switchback' below O'Neill Butte.
This shot, from Yaki Point (115mm 1/500s f/5.6 20D body on sticks), lends perspective to the next photo --
of the mules on the trail -- which was shot, facing left, from the switchback right in the middle of the frame.
Grand Canyon, South Kaibab Trail, the 'switchback' below O'Neill Butte.  This shot, from Yaki Point (115mm 1/500s f/5.6 20D body on sticks), lends perspective to the next photo -- of the mules on the trail -- which was shot, facing left, from the switchback right in the middle of the frame.
South Kaibab Trail, waiting for mules to pass at the 'switchback', shot @ 4733 feet.
(see previoius shot for a perspective from Yaki Point)
Grand Canyon, South Kaibab Trail, waiting for mules to pass at the 'switchback', shot @ 4733 feet.  (see previoius shot for a perspective from Yaki Point)
South Kaibab Trail leads past 'The Tipoff', shot @ 3920 feet
Grand Canyon, South Kaibab Trail leads past 'The Tipoff', shot @ 3920 feet
South Kaibab Trail from just belolw 'The Tipoff', shot @ 3849 feet
Grand Canyon, South Kaibab Trail from just belolw  'The Tipoff', shot @ 3849 feet
South Kaibab Trail leads past 'The Tipoff', shot @ 3715 feet
Grand Canyon, South Kaibab Trail leads past 'The Tipoff', shot @ 3715 feet
The Colorado River viewed from the South Kaibab Trail, shot @ 3197 feet
Grand Canyon, The Colorado River viewed from the South Kaibab Trail, shot @ 3197 feet
The Colorado River and suspension bridge viewed from the South Kaibab Trail, shot @ 2820 feet
Grand Canyon, The Colorado River and suspension bridge viewed from the South Kaibab Trail, shot @ 2820 feet
Rafters depart on the Colorado River at the bottom of Grand Canyon, shot @ 2600 feet
Rafters depart on the Colorado River at the bottom of Grand Canyon, shot @ 2600 feet
Two hikers cool their feet after the walk down -- 1 mile vertical, 9 miles horizontal.
Bright Angel Creek near Phantom Ranch at the bottom of Grand Canyon, shot @ 2779 feet
Bright Angel Creek near Phantom Ranch at the bottom of Grand Canyon, shot @ 2779 feet
Bright Angel Creek near Phantom Ranch at the bottom of Grand Canyon, shot @ 2636 feet
Bright Angel Creek near Phantom Ranch at the bottom of Grand Canyon, shot @ 2636 feet
Mule stables, South Kaibab Trail bridge near Phantom Ranch at the bottom of Grand Canyon, shot @ 2625 feet
Mule stables, South Kaibab Trail bridge near Phantom Ranch at the bottom of Grand Canyon, shot @ 2625 feet
Mule Deer near Phantom Ranch, at the bottom of Grand Canyon
shot @ 2787 feet (200mm 1/180s f/2.8 20D body)
Mule Deer near Phantom Ranch, at the bottom of Grand Canyon, shot @ 2787 feet (200mm 1/180s f/2.8 20D body)
Hiking back out the next day
Garden Creek along Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 3439 feet
Grand Canyon, Garden Creek along Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 3439 feet
Mule Deer near Garden Creek along Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 3639 feet (200mm 1/180s f/2.8 20D body)
Grand Canyon, Mule Deer near Garden Creek along Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 3639 feet (200mm 1/180s f/2.8 20D body)
Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 4473 feet
Grand Canyon, Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 4473 feet
Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 4828 feet
Grand Canyon, Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 4828 feet
view of the South Rim, from the Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 6135 feet
Grand Canyon, Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 6135 feet
Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 6135 feet
Grand Canyon, Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 6135 feet
a hiker pauses on his climb out along the Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 6135 feet
Grand Canyon, Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 6135 feet
Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 6402 feet
Grand Canyon, Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 6402 feet
Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 6564 feet
Grand Canyon, Bright Angel Trail, shot @ 6564 feet
Ancestral Puebloan paintings, shot @ 6720 feet, on Bright Angel Trail
just below the South Rim trailhead, which is at @ 6835 feet

Native American paintings, shot @ 6720 feet, on Bright Angel Trail just below the South Rim trailhead, which is at @ 6835 feet
Grand Canyon: a California Condor
with a wingspan of 9 feet, soars above Bright Angel Lodge on the South Rim, shot @ 6888 feet (200mm 1/500s f/4.5 20D body).
This species disappeared from the Canyon decades ago, and nearly became extinct (only 21 birds left on the planet).
It was recently re-introduced to the Canyon and they're now reproducing 'in the wild.' Note the number '27' under the left wing...
this adult Condor was re-introduced... the wild-born individuals will have no number tag.
Grand Canyon:  a California Condor, with a wingspan of 9 feet, soars above Bright Angel Lodge on the South Rim, shot @ 6888 feet (200mm 1/500s f/4.5 20D body).  This species disappeared from the Canyon decades ago, and nearly became extinct (only 21 birds left on the planet).  It was recently re-introduced to the Canyon and they're now reproducing 'in the wild.'  Note the number '27' under the left wing... this adult Condor was re-introduced... the wild-born individuals will have no number tag.
Grand Canyon, viewed from Grandview Point, 7351 feet
Grand Canyon, view from Grandview Point, 7351 feet
Grand Canyon: eight views from Moran Point
Grand Canyon, view from Moran PointGrand Canyon, view from Moran PointGrand Canyon, view from Moran PointGrand Canyon, view from Moran PointGrand Canyon, view from Moran PointGrand Canyon, view from Moran PointGrand Canyon, view from Moran PointGrand Canyon, view from Moran Point
Grand Canyon: five views from Lipan Point
Grand Canyon, view from Lipan PointGrand Canyon, view from Lipan PointGrand Canyon, view from Lipan PointGrand Canyon, view from Lipan PointGrand Canyon, view from Lipan Point
so long, Grand Canyon, viewed from Yaki Point
So long, Grand Canyon, view from Yaki Point
large Kiva at Tusayan Ruin, near the South Rim of Grand Canyon
Large Kiva at Tusayan Ruin, near the South Rim of Grand Canyon
Lomaki ruins near Wupatki
Lomaki ruins near Wupatki
Ball court at Wupatki, Arizona
Ball court at Wupatki, Arizona
Ruins at Wupatki, Arizona
Ruins at Wupatki, Arizona
Walnut Canyon, Arizona
Walnut Canyon, Arizona
Cliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon, three views
Cliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon, ArizonaCliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon, ArizonaCliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon, Arizona
Meteor Crater
Meteor Crater
what's left of the meteor, excavated from the bottom of meteor crater
what's left of meteor
Petrified Forest Nat'l Park
Petrified Forest Nat'l Park
The Tepees in Petrified Forest Nat'l Park
The Tepees in Petrified Forest Nat'l Park
Puerco Pueblo in Petrified Forest Nat'l Park. Note the rock art glyphs in the middle of the frame.
Puerco Pueblo in Petrified Forest Nat'l Park.  Note the paintings on the rock (middle of frame).
Ruins at Puerco Pueblo in Petrified Forest Nat'l Park
Ruins at Puerco Pueblo in Petrified Forest Nat'l Park
Painted Desert in Petrified Forest Nat'l Park
Painted Desert in Petrified Forest Nat'l Park
San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos area, Taos, New Mexico
San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos area, Taos, New Mexico
Taos Pueblo
Taos Pueblo
The Rio Grande, north of Taos

The Rio Grande, north of Taos

take a hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
South Rim to Ranch back to South Rim - 2007
North Rim to Phantom Ranch, then out to the South Rim - 2010


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