The only destination I had in mind as I drove across the country, chronicled in my blog and the previous photo gallery, was the Grand Canyon. I've never been, my parents have never been. In fact I really didn't have any idea what to expect. It was incredible!
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i thought i was looking at my first glimpse of the grand canyon
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turns out it was only a canyon, east of the national park
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this was my first glimpse of the grand canyon
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just as the sun was setting
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the next morning, at the bright angel trailhead
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bright angel trail history
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bright angel trail map, and icons of danger!
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one of two "underpasses" at the beginning of the trail
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the task at hand, replete with beautiful vistas
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closeup of the rock layer striations on the north rim of the grand canyon
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i didn't know it yet, but that fine line in the distance is the trail to plateau point, my eventual destination
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my first mule sighting! after seeing lots of droppings
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the trail
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me and the grand canyon
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a view of the canyon wall to the left
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a view back up from whence i came
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constant switchbacks
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this is great, i didn't even read it when i took the picture, but it shows i've descended 2256 feet below the rim--about 900 fee
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more mules!
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level with the plateau, heading out to the rim of the inner canyon
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strange plant life on the plateau (anyone know what this is?)
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looking back at all the ground i've covered
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almost there! i can see people looking at the colorado river from plateau point
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the river! the inner canyon! i am triumphant!
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the colorado river to the left
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i have conquered plateau point!
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gorgeous vista, clouds finally breaking, and time for me to head out of the canyon
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the entire place was a bloom
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long road ahead
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view from the plateau
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looking back at the canyon
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interesting concave shapes in the canyon wall (i'm sure there's a name for this other than "cave")
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what was i thinking?! (notice i've barely ascended at all at this point)
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getting up there---it just got more and more stunning at every switchback
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breathtaking (literally)
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close up of plateau point, where i was earlier
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coated with red sandstone dust, taking a break
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the grand canyon in the early evening, nearly at the rim
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woo-hoo! 8-9 hours later i make it out (notice i'm holding myself up with the railing)
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the sun sets on the grand canyon as i head towards zion national park
