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| VLA/Pie Town: | [Day 1] | Tue May 10 | Drive day | Drive day · 7 videos |
| [Day 2] | Wed May 11 | The Very Large Array and Pie Town, NM; on to Grand Canyon Village | The Very Large Array and Pie Town, NM; on to Grand Canyon Village · 38 videos | |
| Grand Canyon N.P. (South Rim): | [Day 3] | Thu May 12 | Grand Canyon South Rim | Grand Canyon South Rim · 16 videos |
| [Day 4] | Fri May 13 | South Kaibab hike | South Kaibab hike · 22 videos | |
| [Day 5] | Sat May 14 | Bright Angel hike to Indian Garden | Bright Angel hike to Indian Garden · 13 videos | |
| Grand Canyon N.P. (North Rim): | [Day 6] | Sun May 15 | To the North Rim; Bright Angel Point | To the North Rim; Bright Angel Point · 27 videos |
| [Day 7] | Mon May 16 | North Rim: Walhalla Plateau | North Rim: Walhalla Plateau · 27 videos | |
| Zion N.P.: | [Day 8] | Tue May 17 | To Zion; Observation Point hike | To Zion; Observation Point hike · 19 videos |
| [Day 9] | Wed May 18 | The Narrows | The Narrows · 12 videos | |
| [Day 10] | Thu May 19 | Angels Landing and Kolob Canyons | Angels Landing and Kolob Canyons · 21 videos | |
| Great Basin N.P.: | [Day 11] | Fri May 20 | To Great Basin National Park; Lehman Caves | To Great Basin National Park; Lehman Caves · 14 videos |
| [Day 12] | Sat May 21 | Bonneville Salt Flats and Great Basin | Bonneville Salt Flats and Great Basin · 9 videos | |
| Zion N.P. (II): | [Day 13] | Sun May 22 | Second visit to Zion, then on toward Bryce Canyon | Second visit to Zion, then on toward Bryce Canyon · 25 videos |
| Bryce Canyon N.P.: | [Day 14] | Mon May 23 | Bryce Canyon National Park | Bryce Canyon National Park · 29 videos |
| Arches N.P.: | [Day 15] | Tue May 24 | To Arches via Capitol Reef | To Arches via Capitol Reef · 22 videos |
| [Day 16] | Wed May 25 | Devils Garden and Delicate Arch | Devils Garden and Delicate Arch · 14 videos | |
| [Day 17] | Thu May 26 | Fiery Furnace and Dead Horse Point | Fiery Furnace and Dead Horse Point · 8 videos | |
| Canyonlands N.P.: | [Day 18] | Fri May 27 | Canyonlands: Island in the Sky and the Needles | Canyonlands: Island in the Sky and the Needles · 22 videos |
| Monument Valley/Mesa Verde N.P.: | [Day 19] | Sat May 28 | Monument Valley and Mesa Verde | Monument Valley and Mesa Verde · 16 videos |
| Great Sand Dunes N.P.: | [Day 20] | Sun May 29 | Great Sand Dunes: Star Dune hike | Great Sand Dunes: Star Dune hike · 11 videos |
| [Day 21/22] | Mon May 30 | Great Sand Dunes backup day, then the drive east | Great Sand Dunes backup day, then the drive east · 4 videos | |
| Route Map: | [Route][all maps] | |||
| Day's Summary: Grand Canyon South Rim. Overnight: Bright Angel Lodge. |
It's hard to beat waking up in a campground knowing you're at the Grand Canyon.
I describe in this video how I used the RAV4 as a jury-rigged camper. I'm in spot #73 at Mather. All of the Mather spots are pretty good, from my experience. I've been in four of them, all told.
At 5:30AM Arizona time, I drive to the Bright Angel Lodge to find a parking spot. Bright Angel is where I would be staying for the next couple days. Parking is scarce so close to the rim, but early morning is the best time to find one. Don't hit the Escalade!
Filming right in front of the Bright Angel Lodge around 5:30AM or so. Obviously the Grand Canyon can't directly be seen from this video, but the knowledge that it's so close is pretty amazing.
Proof that I was indeed at the South Rim. Other than me being in the video, the view is breathtaking. Notice the 3-mile resthouse at around 1:16 (along the Bright Angel Trail).
Looking north.
Did you know there is cell phone reception at certain places along the Bright Angel Trail? I made a phone call while on this short walk to the first tunnel.
Very short video of tongue-clicking.
Short video of what looks like some sort of bear-like creature carved into the rock.
"Don't be afraid to use your motivator!" Yeah, show those mules who's the boss! This video gives a pretty good view of passing mules.
Near the end of the vid, the mules pass through the first tunnel.
The same mule team after they passed through the first tunnel.
The plan for the next day was to hike the South Kaibab Trail. It's one of the five corridor trails of the Grand Canyon. A corridor trail is patroled and well-maintained by the National Park Service. If you're hiking alone, or aren't a very experienced hiker, you really want to hike a corridor trail.
The corridor trails: South Kaibab, Bright Angel, Plateau Point, River, and North Kaibab. Both South Kaibab and Bright Angel arise from the South Rim and connect via the River Trail (along the Colorado River). Plateau Point Trail branches from Bright Angel. North Kaibab arises from the North Rim.
Another view of some South Kaibab switchbacks.
Expansive, beautiful view of the Canyon along the South Kaibab Trail. The South Kaibab offers some of the best hiking views of the Grand Canyon, bar none. I mention "Ooh Aah Point," an appropriately named vista along the South Kaibab.
A 360 degree pan near the trailhead of South Kaibab.
Slightly different perspective of the initial South Kaibab switchbacks. Hint: it's much harder than it looks to hike UP those switchbacks. Going down isn't all that difficult.
Ah, good ol' room 6130 of the Powell Lodge of the Bright Angel Lodge. It's not a luxury suite, but as you'll see in a future video, it's literally a very short walk to get to the South Rim.
The room isn't that expensive considering how close it is to the Canyon. Around $80 a night if I remember correctly. I think it's a bargain. You have to reserve (again, literally) 6 months in advance to be guaranteed such a great room, though!