Taking the Southern Route in 1966 - A Cold Sunrise at the Grand Canyon - Day 5

Day 5

We got up before dawn to take photos of the sunrise. It was really COLD. A lot of people warn about heat and dehydration. Because this is the desert, and heat, sun and dehydration are life-threatening problems. The top of the Grand Canyon is up at altitude (6,790' Elevation for the South Rim), so not only are you closer to the sun (better sunburn), so there are altitude problems as well. But sometimes people forget the other side of the desert - the cold side - the fact is that the desert and high altitudes get COLDer when it is cold.

My dad and my daughter got up with us to take pictures at sunrise. We had come from California and didn't realize how cold it would be.

Before Sunrise My dad in his overcoat and my daughter in her old winter coat which she hadn't needed so much on the California coast

So in addition to packing for heat and sun, put something in to protect you from the cold at night, even in the summer. In August, the high will average 83, and the low will average 47. And in the fall or spring, what you pack ought to be really warm because it will go down to the low 20s and be windy.

It is also really dark out in the desert in the early morning before sunrise

The sign says Hopi Point - Elevation 7,071

But it is definitely worth it. You must go to see the Canyon at sunrise. It is awesome to see the sun first touch the tops of the rocks, and gradually travel down into the Canyon. It is almost as good at sunset as the shadows creep up the Canyon walls.

My dad bundled up against the cold. He was so cold he borrowed my scarf

My parents standing on the edge. My mother is wearing her wool cape from Germany

Since it is such an arid climate, you won't have too many days where it is overcast and drizzly all day long.

There are many places along the canyon rim to stop and go out on a point such as Mather Point. It is tempting to keep snapping away , but it is hard for a photograph to give a sense of how enormous the Canyon.

You CAN capture some of the color.

And if you can include some foliage to frame the shot it will help

The people on the point give some scale to this picture which helps a little.

Mather Point

Dad and I at Powell Point - Elev. 7,050

The John Wesley Powell Monument is located at the South Rim and honors Powell and his expedition's historic 1869 journey through the canyon. But it doesn't look like my photo so the actual memorial is probably out of the photo (which must have been taken by my mother)

We don't really know how the Grand Canyon was formed. It antedates all of us living today. We suspect that it was primarily carved by erosion, from water (and ice) and the wind. The course of the Colorado River itself was probably a major part of it. Also vulcanism, continental drift and slight variations in the earths orbit which in turn causes variations in seasons and climate have been indicated as possibilities.

Colorado River Below

Looking directly down from an overlook, it is almost unimaginable (especially to someone from more humid climates where the air is thicker) how far down it really is.

How wide would that tiny stream be if we got up close to it?

Dad's photo of me and daughter

Bob and me at an overlook

I really wanted to take a One-Day Trip to the bottom of the canyon and back on the mules. But my husband did not really want to go and my children were too young. I didn't feel I could go by myself and leave everyone at the top, so I didn't do it.

Mules being led out in the morning for the ride down the canyon

Current restrictions are:

" Riders Must Be:
♦ At least 9 years of age.
♦ Be at least 57 inches (4'9") tall.
♦ Weigh less than 200 lbs. or 225 lbs fully dressed (depending upon the trip)
♦ Be able to understand instructions in English.

Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Hermits Rest is a structure built in 1914 at the western end of Hermit Road at the south rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The Hermit Trail, a hiking trail down to the Colorado River is about a quarter mile from here.

The Desert View Watchtower was designed and built by the architect Mary Colter in 1932

t2274129-Native_Americans-Grand_Canyon_National_Park-027.jpg

BB walking toward the Desert Watchtower

Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter was born on April 4, 1869, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When her father died, she persuaded her mom to let her attend the California School of Design in San Francisco. Afterwards she taught mechanical drawing until she signed a contract with the Fred Harvey company to decorate the Alvarado Hotel in Albuquerque.

Mary Colter was an admirer of native American architecture and she tried to integrate native American designs into her own, as she has been very successful here.

Someone at the watch tower window (Mother and youngest daughter)

We left the park by the East Entrance (Desert View), so this tower was one of the last things we saw.