When we first got here, we went to the Visitor's Center and I asked one of the Rangers about a hike I had read about in the literature. He told me that it was a good hike but he would recommend a different one that was about the same type of hike. He said to hike down to Ooh Ahh Point. I bet you can figure out how it got its name. Yep, when you get there, you pretty much say Ooh and Ahh the entire time you are there. He said it was a little steeper than the hike I asked about. He said it was equivalent to walking down the stairs of a 70 story building and then walking back up those stairs.
This is a 3/4 mile hike on a very steep trail. So, that is 1 1/2 mile round-trip. Granted, going down is not the problem. Coming back up is. But, this morning we decided to go. After Mr. W asked me was I sure that I wanted to do this, we took off. We caught the shuttle bus as the campground, rode to the Visitor's Center, changed buses and then reached the trailhead. We had our water, our snack, our rain poncho, the camera, the extra lens, layers of clothing and a few first aid items. :)
We started down the trail. We had not gone very far when we reached workers on the trail. They were doing a little work to the trail and were very friendly to all the hikers walking by. They were fixing rough spots on the trail, places that had eroded on the trail, and shoveling out mule poop that was on the trail.
Of course, I'm scared of heights and getting too close to the edge was not going to be fun. But the views you see walking below the rim are awesome.
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| The pathway |
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| Can you see the round stone sticking out and someone is standing on it? That's our destination. |
I had gotten about half way down and heard a helicopter. At first I thought it was just flying over. But, then the sound stayed there. I looked up and a very long rope or ladder or something was hanging from it. It tried to get really close to a ridge on the area across the canyon from me. It ended up having to fly over the ridge and come back around to the same place.
It stayed this way for quite a bit. When it lifted back up, there was something attached to the end of the rope. I couldn't tell what/who it was but it flew off. I always thought that if I ever went on a hike on a trail on the Grand Canyon that helicopter would probably have to come rescue me because I would probably freeze and not be able to move (fear of heights). I'm glad that helicopter wasn't for me.
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| We finally make it. It took us 40 minutes to walk down. That is including the time we stopped to take a few pictures and watch the helicopter. |
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| It's a l-o-n-g way down. |
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| Views from the point |
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| View from on the rock |
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| Remember the rock with the person standing on it in the previous picture? Guess who is standing there now? |
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| He has no fear. |
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| Mr. W talked me into walking out here for a pic. Can you tell that I have a death grip on the rock and I'm about to hyperventilate! What you can't see is a separation between the rocks where you can see all the way to the bottom. I had to keep telling myself, "Don't look down." |
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| Another shot |
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| This little guy walked right up to me. I think he was wanting something to eat. I wasn't going to feed him. There was a whole family standing behind me bending down trying to lure this guy to them. For some reason he wasn't interested in what they had to offer. |
After a few pictures, we decided to head back up. Everything I read said to rest often, at least every 10 minutes, and not push yourself on the way back up. That is exactly what I did. Believe me, I did not go as long as 10 minutes before I rested. One young man came walking up and passed us. He was walking like it was a stroll on a level surface. In fact, he started jogging up the trail shortly after he passed us. Oh, to be young and in shape! It took us 1 hour 5 minutes to get back up. That's really not bad. The Ranger had told me that the normal time is about 1 hour 30 minutes to do it round trip. 1 hour 45 minutes for an old girl, overweight, and not use to hiking is not bad.
I was glad that I went on this hike. I may not be able to walk tomorrow from my legs being so sore, but glad I went. :) It actually was just the right amount and the views were spectacular. However, at dinner tonight, Mr. W asked me if this didn't make me want to hike to the bottom of the canyon and walk back up. Do what? I think the hike and the high altitude have affected his brain. Not just no, but %$@# no!
Tomorrow is my last day here. Got a lot to fit in on that last day.
More pics from the trail:
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