South Kaibab - Bright Angel Hike

ALL HIKERS

DAY 4: INDIAN GARDEN TO SOUTH RIM

Keith and I are in no hurry to get away this morning, but we finally leave before 8:00. The rim looks so close, but always takes a lot longer than you think it will.


Ranger Station, Indian Garden 4-29-2011 @ 7:48	The view to the rim 4-29-2011 @ 8:07

I find a nice variety of blooming flowers today.


Trailing Four O'clock 4-29-2011 @ 7:55	Desert Senna 4-29-2011 @ 7:57


Indian Paintbrush 4-29-2011 @ 8:13	Scarlet Penstemon 4-29-2011 @ 8:54	Unknown blooming bush 4-29-2011 @ 9:10

We move over to the side of the trail as the morning pack team heads our way. This is the same pack team wrangler I saw yesterday and he's wearing the same shirt.


View toward Indian Garden 4-29-2011 @ 8:20	The daily mule pack team 4-29-2011 @ 8:42

The Park Service has added a bathroom at the 3-Mile Rest House since I was here last. Keith decides to head on for the rim unhindered by my slow uphill speed, so we agree to meet at the top.


3-Mile Rest House 4-29-2011 @ 8:51	3-Mile Rest House sign 4-29-2011 @ 8:50	A new bathroom 4-29-2011 @ 8:53

I never tire of the views looking back toward Indian Garden.


View toward Indian Garden 4-29-2011 @ 9:05	View toward Indian Garden 4-29-2011 @ 9:48

Pretty soon I pull into the 1.5-Mile Rest House. After a bathroom break, I continue the slog to the rim.


1.5-Mile Rest House bathroom 4-29-2011 @ 10:08	1.5-Mile Rest House sign 4-29-2011 @ 10:20	1.5-Mile Rest House 4-29-2011 @ 10:20

Somehow the phrase, "Giddy-up Daddy," comes to mind when I see this father and daughter hiking down.


	Father and daughter hikers 4-29-2011 @ 10:36

I always think I'm nearly there when I reach the first tunnel, but there's still some work left. However, reaching the second tunnel really means you're there.


First tunnel 4-29-2011 @ 10:57	Kolb Studio 4-29-2011 @ 11:27	Second tunnel 4-29-2011 @ 11:37

The Kolb Studio is such an impressive feature on the rim. I first visited the Grand Canyon in 1974 when Emery Kolb was still alive. At that time, I didn't know anything about the history of the Canyon and missed a great opportunity to meet him in person. The studio usually has some kind of art display downstairs.


Kolb Studio 4-29-2011 @ 11:39	Kolb Studio 4-29-2011 @ 11:42

I meet Keith near the Bright Angel Fountain and we jump in his car. He drops me off by my car at the Visitor Center and we say goodbye. He's headed for Phoenix and a flight back to Houston while I'm driving to Oklahoma.

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