The Colors We Choose: Much Grander

U.S. Road Trip 2013

Part Five

This beautiful place was much grander than anything we anticipated. We had such little time in the Grand Canyon, but it proved perfect. We made it to the South Rim one evening at 6:00 p.m., just an hour and a half before sunset. The cooler temperatures and opportunity to see the sunset brought out the crowds. There were so many languages being spoken all around us and we realized how truly special this place must be to have so many international visitors there to see it.

I had planned out a schedule for the short time we had at the Grand Canyon and we needed to get on the South Rim Trail right away and head west from Mather Point towards the lodges. Periodically I would look over and see the Canyon there at my right and be overwhelmed with amazement all over again. Maybe my awe would wear off, I thought. I was wrong.

Also not wearing off was my anxiety over having our kids this close to the a twelve-second fall to the bottom of the canyon. Eek. Their silliness made my toes numb, and they stayed safely on the trail for the most part.

We were at Havapai Point when things really brightened up. One moment things were hazy and muted and then the sun broke through as it lowered onto the horizon.

We spotted Bright Angel Trail and wondered when our turn would be in future years to zig-zag our way down the switch backs to the Canyon's floor and then back up again.

We hustled for two hours to make it all the way down the trail, looking right as we went to stay inspired. J wearied quickly and asked to slow down. "What is wrong with you? Where is my mom who makes us stop and learn things as we go?" For the record, I was stopping briefly to check out the rocks, but I found a brisk hike in that landscape super invigorating.

The main reason for the speed was my knowledge of the closing time of the ice cream counter in the Bright Angel Lodge. I promised my kids that if they made it the entire two and a half miles we would get cones. We slid in fifteen minutes before closing.

Just in time to enjoy a treat in this spot. It was an unforgettable bonus to a beautiful evening.

That night we were all tired, a great way to end a day on vacation. We tucked ourselves into our tent in the Mather Campground there in the park and enjoyed the cool evening air. With the exception of some worries in the night about javelinas and a horrible morning migraine, we were on our way the next morning before ten.