Up at 5:30am this was the first day of my trip to the Grand Canyon and to the Phantom Ranch at the bottom. Light breakfast finish packing the truck. Headed for Anne's my daughter house to pick her up at 6:30am and take her to work so she could bring my truck back. Anne would get someone from work to take her to the train station in Goleta to pick up my truck after work so that she did not have take off from work. We got Anne to work around 7:15am.
I headed off to breakfast at Carlos, but it was closed and becoming a Denny's. So I went to Cody's Café in Goleta.
I was just driving around Santa Barbara take up time. So around 9:30 I went to a friend house Dave Lambs. Gloria answer the phone Dave was working at his daughter. So Gloria had me come up and we talked about my trip that I was going on. She then called Dave. We set up lunch for noon.
I went to Costco to kill some time. Then went to meet Dave a few miles away. Dave works on the U of Santa Barbara Campus. Boy no parking around the office for blocks. After going around a number of blocks, I found one, walked back to Dave. We got lunch two blocks from work.
Around 1:15pm head for the train station in Goleta. The train was to leave at 1:45pm. Train left on time and the first stop Santa Barbara about 5 to 6 miles. Got into LA at 5:00pm track 12 next to last track.
Leave Los Angels at 6:45pm for William Jct AZ. I got too broad early. A porter ask me were I was going. He picked up 7 of us. So I did not have to walk all the way back down the tunnel to my train. He said that we could broad early and took us all to the same trains. I had seat 26 in a coach car.
The lady in seat 28 was already on broad she was the first one on are car. Her name was Nan Smith from South Carolina or Georgia. She had been out here for three week with her daughter and was going to Kingman. AZ. to see a friend then fly home.
Around 8:00pm Nan and I, when to the last call for the dinning car. We both had a light dinner. Then some time after 10:00pm we tried to get some sleep sitting up.
 Los Angels Union Station. May 10, 2005 |
 Buzz broading Amtrak Southwest Chief train # 3. May 10, 2005 |
 Nan Smith my seat partner to Kingman. May 10, 2005 |
We were an hour late into Kingman AZ. like 3:30am.
I got to William Jct at 5:50am. There were 7 of us that got off in the woods. It was about 3 miles on a dirt road back to the Highway and a few miles into William AZ.
The Fray Hotel is now called The Grand Canyon Hotel. The hotel got us all set up for checking into the Grand Canyon and set up for our return trip home.
We had to weight until 6:30am for the New coffee shop to open. It called Max and Thelma's. After breakfast and some more weighting for the train station to open at 8:00am to get my train ticket to the Grand Canyon.
Went down to the Western show at 9:30am. After the show we all broaded the Grand Canyon Railway for our 2hour and 15 minute ride to the Grand Canyon. I was in the Club car.
Check into the Transportation Desk in the Bright Angel Lodge lobbie. Pick up my rain gears this is my ticket to the Mule Ride at 6:45am the next day and your water bottle for trip to the bottom.
Next stop checks into the Bright Angel Lodge, my room was not ready so I would have to back at 4:00pm.
Got some lunch and then walk around taking some picture of the Canyon. Went to Lookout Studio and went out on the observation platform on the north side offers exceptional views of the canyon. Watch nine Condors flying around and a talk about them from a ranger. The Condors were reintroduce to the Canyon in 1988. There are now 22 of them here with 3 pairs.
After the talk I went to see if my room was ready. Got my key and put the rain gear in my room. When looking to see where I had to going in the morning. Had dinner and put out what I needed for the morning.
Up at 5:30am pack the plastic bag that is to go down with me. Check by bag at the deck and went to the coffee shop which was the only then open. Got a cup of coffee and a roll.
Head down to the Stone Corral at 6:30am and the Bright Angel trail head were we are to meet. The Mule came in around 6:50am. We all were given a safety talk before the group were but on there mules. We had four group going out that morning. The first two were going to Plateau Point. The first was the largest group of around 20 rides. The second group was a tour. The Phantom Ranch was two small groups the first 8 rides and second 7 rides. I was in the second group.
The first group loaded up and off they went. The last group load up. We where line up as they looked you over, they give you your mule and it name, my was Cyris I think it was a smaller mule. I was to ride next to last. All group were on the train my 7:30am.
First stop about a half mile down the trail, we had to put our name and mules name on a piece of paper. As Frank our mule skinner fix each saddle. Started down all through switch backs. At 1 ˝ miles is a rest house for the hiker and other at 3 miles. We stop few time going down, at 4 ˝ miles is Indian Garden and a Ranger Station. Just passes that we stop for about 45 minute for are box lunch at 10:30.
Next stop at the Devils Corkscrew to rest the mules. This was the start of a number of switch back that we could see to the bottom of this canyon. The first group was at the bottom of these switch backs. And the second steam. At the end of this canyon was the Colorado River and we turn up steam for over a mile to the first silver Bright Angel Suspension Bridge. As we started up river there were five rubber raft tied up on our side of the river. We climb up high and then down to the Bright Angel Bridge.
We did not stop we were to cross on the Black Kaibab Suspension Bridge, up steam. We started climbing again, when we saw the bridge we were about 500 feet above it and started up a canyon to a T in the trail. Down the last switch back into the tunnel, then we came out of the tunnel you were on the bridge and crossing the Colorado River. Right turn then under the bridge and a ˝ mile to the Phantom Ranch. There is the Bright Angel Camp ground a long the Bright Angel Creek.
We got to the Phantom Ranch at 1:20pm. Our cabin were a signed I had #6 and they let us know were the hot shower and Canteen also the dinning hall, what time dinner 5:00pm and breakfast at 6:30am. Ranger talk 4:00pm just out side my cabin and another one at 7:30pm. Your cabin key got you into shower, hot water, that was great.
As you went in for dinner you had to give your name, then you got your table number. All of us that were on the mule ride had the same one. Geneal sat across from me. Dinner is served family style. Dinner Steak, bake potato, carrot and peas, corn, salad and corn bread with chocolate cake.
I went to both of the ranger talk. The first was on seven of the 1500 plates in the canyon. The second was on some of the animal that there. The ranger had to two scorpion about one inched long. With a black light they were fluorescent blue in the dark. You can see all kinds of stars with light around.
Up at 6:00 got thing ready to go. Had to take your bag down to were the mules were, so that they could be put on the mules.
Up to the canteen for breakfast, at 6:30. Egg, hot cakes, bacon, fruit, coffee, and hot tea. After breakfast down to the mules to start back up to the top.
Cross over the bridge, up the switch backs, left turn on to the South Kaibab Trail, 7 miles to the top. We had to stop for the pack train coming down. With 6 to 8 mules, each one had 200 pound of supply. Every thing that goes down has to come back up my mules.
We had a 60 year hiker pass us as we stop to rest our mules. Some time later we saw he had passed the lead group. The last time I saw him he was 200 yard a head of the lead group.
Stop to rest the mules ever 15-20 minute. About half way stops and got off for a 20 minute break.
Started up an easy climb until you came around this corner, then started up switch backs, the lead group was up about 10 switch back, we stop to rest the mules twice on this set of switch backs. I do not know how many switches back there were. Across a narrow path, called the Back Bone, wall to left, drop off to the right, then turn back and cross back over at top of the Cedar Ridge and you could see all the switch back you had just come up.
About an hour later we stop for a second rest of 20 minutes. Just before a hard climb. There 100's of hikes on this trail. The South Kaibab Trail has no water on it, so you have to take your down with you. The trail now falloffs along the side of a cliff, with lots of switch backs and very steep sides. The last part is about 8 switch back and you're at the top. We ride down to the Stables a few 100 yards. It's 12:20pm.
After we get to the stables and pick up every thing you took down, a bus comes to pick us up. They handed out our Master Mule Skinners certificate with your name and your mules name and date. The bus take us back to the Bright Angel Lodge to turn in the yellow rain gear.
I stay around the Bright Angel for most of the after noon. Around 4pm I walked the Rim Trail to the east for almost a mile very slowly taking picture of flowers. Then turn around headed back to get dinner and then soak in the hot tub in my room.
Got up around 8:00am. Went out to the Rim to see if I could see today mules going down, Around 9:45 I could see the first group neat the Indian Garden Ranger Station, this is 4 ˝ miles down the trail. The next two groups showed up a few minutes later. Time to head for breakfast.
After breakfast head for the free shuttle bus, red line, my plan was to go to Hermit Rest first and work my way back. Some one told me that the bus only stop twice coming back. So I worked my way out to Hermit Rest.
Trail View Overlook - You can see the start of the Bright Angel Trail Head and most of the first 3 miles.
Maricopa Point - Trail below to Ranger Station, and Indian Garden to Plateau Point and were Bright Angel Trail goes to the right.
Powell Point - A monument honoring Powell and the members of his expedition stands here.
 3rd stop, Powell Point, Monument. May 14, 2005 |
 Dane butte 5034 ft. May 14, 2005 |
 Hopi Point. May 14, 2005 |
Hopi Point, 7043 ft - Hope wall, The Inferno.
 4th stop, Hopi Point 7043 ft., Colorado River 2400 ft. May 14, 2005 |
 North Rim, Colorado River. May 14, 2005 |
 Colorado River. May 14, 2005 |
Mojave Point, 6974 ft - Colorado River, Layer's and The Alligator.
 5th stop, Mojave Point, 6974 ft. Buzz May 14, 2005 |
 The Alligator. May 14, 2005 |
 North Rim, Hopi Point. May 14, 2005 |
The Abyss - Hermit Rapid, Granite Rapid and Mojave Point.
 Flowers. May 14, 2005 |
Pima Point, 6798 ft
 7th stop Pima Point, 6798 ft., Hermit Rapid. May 14, 2005 |
 Granite Rapid. May 14, 2005 |
 Looking back at Mojave Point. May 14, 2005 |
 North Rim, Tower of Set 6026 ft. May 14, 2005 |
Hermit Rest, 6650 ft - End of road, restroom and sack's.
I had lunch here at Hermits Rest around 2:30. The shuttle bus comes every 10 minutes. Got back to Bright Angel around 3:30pm. Walked a long the South Rim for awhile and then went in to dinner late.
Last day, catch the train at 3:30pm to William AZ.
Today I'm going to take the Village Blue Line out to catch the Green Line to South Kaibab Trail Head were we came up from the Phantom Ranch. Got some picture of the trail head and walked about 200 feet down the trail.
Next the bus to Yaki Point (7265 ft.) got picture of the switch back about two hours plus from the top with the mules.
Next stop Pipe Cheek Vista were I set for 45 minute hoping to see the mules coming up the trail hear the top. No luck, so I hop the 12:15 bus and ask the driver. She said that they were up. One more stop and then back to Bright Angel for a quick lunch and then down to the Train Station. My bags are check to William and Amtrak to Los Angeles.
As we came into the Market Plaza, the bus driver named some shops and a place to eat. So I got off the bus and walk back to the sandwich shop for lunch. Had to cross the parking lot to get back on the bus to the Train Station.
We boarded the train at 3:00pm. It was a warm day. The train pulled out on time for a very nice ride back to Williams. There was a group that vacationing in Sedona that drove up that morning to take the train to the Grand Canyon for the day. So we were talking on the way back. They did not know that the train was to get robbed on the way back. They had good time. This time we had three train robber come on broad. The train got into Williams at 5:45pm.
I had a late dinner at Max and Thelma's in Williams. Check into Grand Canyon Hotel to see about the train at 9:00pm. It was going to be on time. So around 9:20pm into RV for the trip back to Williams Jct. We were there just a few minutes before the Southwest Chief trains number 3 heading for Los Angeles. Had to sleep sitting up so time after Barstow I move to another seat so that I had more room.
The train was an hour early getting into Los Angeles. I just missed the 7:30am. Pacific Surfliner to Santa Barbara by two minutes. Next one out at 9:05am into Goleta, CA. at 11:55. I was not to leave Los Angeles until 12:45pm. Called Gloria to let her know that I would be early to Goleta so that Dave could pick me up at 11:55am and not at 3:30pm.
I talked to Dave on our Ham Radios just before I arrived in Santa Barbara. He was on his way to the Goleta Station to pick me up. We went to lunch, after word we headed to Anne's work were Dave drop me and he went back to his work.
Had to set around and go for walks to kill time until Anne got off work at 4:30pm. After Anne's work we head to Buellton and my house. We got there, then remember that my truck was at Anne's house, so off to Solvang to pick my truck. Then back home around 6:30pm.
End of Trip
Buzz
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