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At the start of the South Kaibab Trail heading
down into the Grand Canyon at 8:30 AM on
12/29/07. O'Neill's Butte is just in the sun in
the foreground. |
A view along the upper portions of the South
Kaibab Trail towards the North Rim of the Grand
Canyon |
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Vic Stanton, James Stanton, Owen Hoffman, and
Taylor Stanton, approaching O'Neill's Butte
along the South Kaibab Trail. |
A storm is brewing in the west as we hiked along
Cedar Ridge approaching Panorama Point. The
inner gorge with its dark 2-billion years old
rocks is visible
in the center right of the field of view. |
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Hiking down over thousands of log water breaks
was tiring. Great views, however, of the Tonto
Plateau and the inner gorge as light snow began
to fall |
A stop to rest and have lunch below the Red Wall
brought serenading Ravens to entertain us |
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Our first view into the inner gorge and of
brightly colored Fremont Cottonwoods of the
bottom of the Grand Canyon in Bright Angel Creek
that
have not yet lost their foliage. |
A gentle flat section of trail just blow the
Tonto Plateau and just before entering tilted
ancient sedimentary strata above the metamorphic
and
granitic rocks of the inner gorge |
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A view into the inner gorge, the Colorado River,
Silver Bridge, Bright Angel Creek, and Bright
Angel Campground. Note the fact that the leaves
on the Freemont Cottonwoods are just turning
color |
The switch backs along the South Kaibab Trail
entering the inner gorge and above the Black
Bridge |
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The bottom of the Canyon and the Colorado River |
Phantom Ranch, After breakfast at 6:45 AM on
12/30/07 |
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Hiking up the Bright Angel Trail in shirt
sleeves |
Putting on extra clothing while entering the
first patches of ice located in the shade of the
Hermit Shale and Coconino Sandstone along the
upper stretches of the Bright Angel Trail |
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Late afternoon light in the upper reaches of the
Bright Angel Trail near the end of the trail |
At the end of the trail, completing the hike at
4:30 PM on 12/30/07 |
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Morning view from the South Rim along the Bright
Angel Fault looking at the North Rim.
Photo taken on New Year's Eve, 12/31/07. The
trail to Plateau Point is in the sun in the
center of the photo. Indian Gardens is obscured
by shadow. |
