Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
The US certainly has not disappointed. We ve been amazed by the diversity of this country. The environment, climate, wildlife EVERYTHING can change so suddenly, sometimes within only 25 miles. There is often rich foliage at the higher altitudes, and desert conditions in the valleys. We have had something of a National Parks fest so far: Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, Death Valley, (Lake Mead a National Monument), Zion - The Promised Land, and now, both the North and South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
We climbed Mount Dana on the edge of Yosemite on a Friday- as we were having breakfast near the col, an osprey and bald headed eagle visted the lake we were overlooking! On our ascent we were wearing everything we own including duvet jackets, hats and gloves. We had to dodge between patches of snow and ice on the summit ridge, but were treated to outstanding views for our efforts. With the wind chill it was minus 10 c on top.
By Sunday we were in one of the hottest places in the Western Hemisphere at Death Valley, and certainly the lowest places we ll ever visit. It was a cool autumn day in the Valley - temperatures of plus 28 degrees C! We are told that it regularly goes above 50 degrees C in the summer. It was plenty hot enough for us.
At Sequoia National Park we were treated to tranquillity and the BIGGEST trees in the world by volume. The National Parks in the US have experienced conflict through the years. They now put preservation above access for the people, to redress the problems that were created in the 1920´s when Sequoia became a virtual theme park. Masses of people drove their model T fords through the park, and in 2 cases, through tree trunks that had been hollowed out. It takes 2000 years to grow these giants, and within 50 years of the chopping they´d both fallen.
In Zion there were some beautiful walks. One was called Ángels Landing´You can imagine how narrow the top was! There were guide wires to help the public up and over some of the trickier climbing sections.
We were really looking forward to the Grand Canyon before our travels started, and we planned to walk down to the Colorado from the North Rim, a trek of around 28 miles. Once again the seasons intervened! We found that the services for tourists close on Nov 1, including the ranger station. A permit is needed to stay below the rim over night, and only a ranger can issue a permit. So, no can do. But, having looked forward to this walk since our first visit to the US we were not going to be put off so easily. We watched an amazing sun set from the view point and then set off to the South Rim. For a crow this journey is 16 miles. For a car it is 215.
Shortly after midnight we arrived to camp at Grand Canyon Village having avioded at least 2 mule deer intent on suicide on the road ways. Jim was up early the following day - the 7th of November, to arrange our camping permit. I was really surprised that we were able to get one, as the guide books always say to send off, at leat 6 weeks in advance due to the popularity of the routes. The walk was every bit as good as we hoped. We trekked down during the afternoon and camped near Phantom Ranch next to the river. Dusk fell early due to the high canyon sides, and the stars, without any effects of light pollution, were very bright. We joined a Ranger talk on bats that evening, learning about the essential contribution they make to every eco system, and were even rewarded by a sighting of a Ring Tail close to our camp. (No bears thankfully)
The long trek back up the following day, leaving the heat at the base of the canyon to the cool wind up on the rim. The canyon is as deep as Ben Nevis is tall (1400m) but the path is so well constructed and the ascent very gradual so you hardly notice the impact of altitude.
It was an amazing experience....to be recommended to anyone.
- comments