Grand Canyon – Day Two

June 17, 2009

On our second day at the Grand Canyon we spent most of our time on the shuttle bus route to Hermit’s Rest.  We did a combination of bus riding and hiking along the roadside.  The crowds were not too bad since we got there relatively early.  Being a monday didn’t hurt either.  At the first stop we found a cooperative ground squirrel that stopped to point out the sites for us.  Or maybe it was looking for a handout…

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“Tour Leader”  –  South Rim, Grand Canyon, AZ

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Grand Canyon – Day One

June 16, 2009

Thankfully we still have internet access at our new site!  This means not having to sneak over to the nearest hotel to “borrow” theirs.  On Sunday, we made it to the South side of the Grand Canyon from the eastern entrance.  There was some controlled burning just to the west and the prevailing winds were pushing the smoke into the canyon.  Thus the atmospheric conditions were pretty hazy, to say the least.  As we drove further west, we made it past the burn area and things improved considerably.

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“Distant Dome”  –  South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

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Ravens – Grand Canyon

June 15, 2009

Even though I rarely get to see them where I live, ravens are one of my favorite birds.  Their intelligence and aeronautical skills are particularly impressive, in addition to the wide variety of calls they make.  Most ravens that I come across are very wary.  What a stark contrast to those I found along the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

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“Raven I”  –  South Rim of Grand Canyon, Arizona

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