Climbing Mount Trumbull (Peak #33)

Mount Trumbull as seen from the trailhead to Mount Logan.

To the residents of Bundyville it was known as Nixon Mountain, named after James W. Nixon, an early pioneer in the area. But officially it was known as Mount Trumbull, named in 1869 by John Wesley Powell after Illinois Senator, Lyman Trumbull.

I've always had a fascination with Mount Trumbull. There is nothing special with the makeup of the mountain, but I was more fascinated with its remoteness. To arrive at its flanks one had to drive seventy miles on a dirt or graveled road.

Mount Trumbull from a distance of five miles to the west.

From the highway, one can barely see it unless he knows what he's looking for. It's a low-prominence dome that can blend with other volcanic hills in the area. Its proximity to the Grand Canyon adds to the mystique.

I was also well aware that its tall stands of ponderosa pine were used for lumber in the building of the St. George Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This in itself was quite a feat.

Ponderosa Pine grows near Mount Trumbull. 

Work began in 1873. A road had to be built and sawmills were brought in. A loaded trip from the sawmill to St. George was backbreaking and tedious, which included a team of oxen traveling close to eighty miles for nearly a week. The lumber was eventually used for floors, walls and ornate stairways in the temple.

Over the next couple years, work from the sawmill was difficult. At one time it completely stopped when the snow fell so deep that the teams had no feed. The men got discouraged. Robert Gardner, one of the men in charge stated, “I would rather go to China than Trumbull.”

In 1875 the masonry work on the temple was completed. The work at the sawmill now had to be expedited. Gardner writes: “As soon as I could, I started back to Mount Trumbull with two cooks, men and provisions. Soon I had the mill running. I fitted it out with men and took six men with me into the woods; four with cross-cut saws and two with axes. I took my 'bill of lumber' for the Temple and my ax and measuring pole and selected and marked suitable trees for the choppers to cut. When they were cut down, I measured and marked them for the men with the cross-cut saws.”

Around this time James Nixon was called upon by the church to move with his family to Mount Trumbull. He was able to locate a spring and convey the water nearly a mile in a trough to the sawmill. Water was critical in running the steam-operated mill. Because of this they were more efficient in cutting board. This lumber was used not only for the temple, but many other buildings in early St. George. The water source still bears the name of Nixon Spring.

James William Nixon.

St. George Temple.

The trailhead to the top of Mount Trumbull is in the same area as the old sawmills. Nowadays there are kiosks that tell the history of the sawmills and native inhabitants, as well as a geological history of the mountain.

This area is higher in elevation than the Hurricane Valley to the west, Toroweap Valley to the east, and of course, the Grand Canyon to the south. Elevation is approximately 6500 feet. Mount Logan is directly to the south, and Mount Trumbull to the North. Between the two are green meadows and tall ponderosa pines in every direction.

Mount Trumbull is an ancient volcano whose first eruption happened approximately 3.6 million years ago. It is part of the Uinkaret Volcanic Field that stretches from the Grand Canyon all the way to the Utah state line. After this first eruption the lava cooled and turned into hard gray basalt. A second eruption at an unknown date spewed red cinder rock on top of the basalt. This rock is still visible on the trail.

There is a short trail in the vicinity of the old sawmills, but as far as I could tell, there's nothing left of the old structures. Trees are cleared out in a narrow line heading northward, which I assume leads in Nixon Spring. It was here that I met my first group of humans in two days, a trio of young Native adults who were hired by the forest service to fight invasive plants. One of them, I am sure, was Navajo.

A couple does near the old sawmill site.

The beginning of the trail with lots of little red cinder rock.

Part of the forest on top of Trumbull that was in a burn scar.

A flat Mount Logan as seen from the trail.

Looking southeast along the trail toward cinder cones, lava flows and Toroweap Valley.

The hike to the top of Trumbull was pleasant, but nothing extraordinary. The trail is steeper in the beginning, climbing the southern flank over small red cinder rocks. From time to time I would catch a glimpse of Mount Logan to the south, or other unnamed cinder cones to the southeast. Knowing what I was looking for, I spotted Toroweap Valley further afield.

Mount Trumbull is shaped like a low dome. Once I got on top of the dome the incline lessened. The density of the trees also lessened. I think there was a fire here several years ago, eliminating some of the stands.

The living and dead side by side.

Summit of Mount Trumbull, sans view.

Geological survey marker at the summit.

The trail wraps around the mountain until it comes to an end at the summit. Here there is a geological survey marker and a pile of rocks, but there is no view.

To obtain a vista I had to retreat down the trail 500 yards to a point that looked over the north face. Here the view was spectacular. I could see several cinder cones across the floor, all of which are part of the Uinkaret Volcanic Field.

In the distance, through the haze, I could see the Pine Valley Mountains by St. George. To my right was the upper Toroweap Valley.

Looking northwest from the north side of Trumbull.

Zoomed-in shot with Pine Valley Mountains in distance.

From the north side of Trumbull, looking northeast toward Toroweap Valley.

This was a pleasant little hike, although it started getting hot toward the end. I only passed one set of hikers, a man and women with their dog.

The scenery wasn't anything to brag about, but the history, isolation and geology of Mount Trumbull are all very fascinating. ♠

Mount Trumbull

Distance to peak: 2.6 miles

Net elevation gain:1,514 feet

Final elevation: 8,019 feet

Total roundtrip distance: 5.4 miles

View of Mount Trumbull from Toroweap Valley (east side).

Mount Logan (Peak #32)

I was running later than I had hoped, but the reality of the situation didn't kick in until I saw the sign: Mt. Logan – 7 miles.

I must have done a miscalculation . . . . . or no calculation at all! It was now nearly 5 pm and I was hoping for an easy, short hike. I could have driven the entire seven miles to the trailhead, but I've got this unwritten rule for myself that unless the peak is unique or special, I can't count it unless I climb at least 1,000 feet in elevation. I drove a couple miles and parked before the road turned uphill.

I should mention that I came a long ways to climb this peak, including over seventy miles on a dirt road and eighty miles from the nearest town.

Now I would be making a much longer hike than I had anticipated, in a forest I had never been. I grabbed my pack and threw in a fifty ounce bottle of water, a small bag of caramel popcorn, a bag of cooked Brussels sprouts and whatever was left from my cheese and onion sandwich. I grabbed two flashlights and a jacket. Then I locked the doors and was on the road.

And yes, I was literally on a road. My path would be the same dirt road that could possibly include four-wheelers and trucks, but luckily for me, I had it all to myself.

I was grateful that the GPS on my phone worked. I had no other service than that, but being in an unfamiliar place, it gave me the confidence I was on the right track.

It was a peaceful walk. I still had the forest to myself and all I could hear was the rustling of wind in the trees, the scampering of a squirrel and the soft crunching beneath my feet. All around me grew tall groves of ponderosa pine, towering high above the oak trees and sage brush.

The road steadily climbed along meadows and growths of wild grass. After two and a half miles the road came to a "T" with a sign pointing the direction of Mount Logan.

Time was of the essence. I felt sure that I'd be coming back in the dark. My steps were quick for an old man walking uphill. Although the evening was upon me, I wasn't worried about getting lost since I was on a road.

I was probably foolish, but I took two detours: one to the left and one to the right. The one to the left didn't take too long, maybe ten minutes. It led to an overlook that peered toward Whitmore Canyon. What a magnificent view!

Lookoff point toward Whitmore Canyon, a tributary of the Colorado River. 

The detour to the right took longer and was less impressive. At the top I found what I thought was a weather station. It had a view of Mount Trumbull, but only through the trees.

I pushed on. The miles were now piling up and I knew I was getting close. I will admit that I was tired and becoming light-headed. That worried me. Also, the wind picked up and sent a chill as it blew across my sweaty upper body.

At last, after four and a half miles, I came to the trailhead. This is where the road ended and the trail began. It was a half-mile trail that followed a ridge to the top. Near the trailhead was a look-off point with excellent views of Mount Trumbull to the north and an expanse of mesas and canyons to the west and south.

From the official trailhead to Mount Logan, looking northeast toward Mount Trumbull. 

Mount Logan, as well as Mount Trumbull and Poverty Mountain are the result of volcanic action in the area over 3 million years ago. They are part of the Uinkaret Volcanic Field that includes dozens of cinder cones in the area. Mount Logan is also within a couple miles of the Hurricane Fault.

The last half mile took me fifteen minutes and soon I was at the top of Mount Logan. It is interesting that both Mount Logan and Mount Trumbull were named by John Wesley Powell in 1869 after senators from Illinois, John A. Logan and Lyman Trumbull. I personally find it sad that two peaks were named after people that never saw them, let alone stepped foot upon them.

There was no sign at the top, nor a registry of who had climbed it. Just a grand vista and satisfaction for having arrived there.

Hells Hole.

The most notable landmark was Hells Hole, a deep pink amphitheater and canyon directly below me. Not the place I would like to fall. Hells Hole led my eye to the south where I could see the general area of Whitmore Canyon. At this point I was looking at the Grand Canyon, but from a non-traditional vantage point. I thought I could make out the gorge of the Colorado River, but of course I couldn't see the river itself.

I couldn't spend a lot of time at the top. I had to get down. I mixed an electrolyte powder into the remainder of my water and took a handful of popcorn. It was my plan to take a healthy swig of water at miles six, seven, eight and nine. I was now at mile five.

Whitmore Canyon and the Grand Canyon, as seen from the top of Mount Logan.

View west.

Down I moved.

The sun was still up. It was 7:36 when I left the top. I was feeling pretty good about myself. It was now my goal to make it all the way to the Bronco without using a flashlight.

I had my back to a sun that was now lost behind the trees. I thought it would be getting colder, but now with no wind and no sweat, I felt comfortable.

Once again, it was a very peaceful walk. Not a soul out here. Very little noise. I once saw the head of a doe staring at me over the sage bush.

I drank my water at mile six and again at mile seven where I also ate my Brussels sprouts. Both hit the spot and boosted my energy. By now the sun was probably below the horizon and my view was growing dim, but it wasn't dark yet.

I thought about mountain lions. I had just watched a video of a runner who killed a mountain lion with his bare hands. Could I do that? For a brief moment I imagined what I would do if I got attacked, but soon abandoned the thought because I didn't want to worry myself. Anyway, it was getting darker now.

At last I came to the T-junction. Only two and a half miles left. There was now a faint sunset in the west and a crescent moon above the silhouetted ponderosa pines. When I stood still I heard an owl hooting in the distance.

I was within a mile of my vehicle when I heard what I thought was the crunching of pine cones. I froze my step as a surge of adrenaline shot through my body.⸻I had just been thinking of mountain lions!

I removed my pack and grabbed my most powerful flashlight from the pocket. I aimed it toward the noise and flipped on the beam. Nothing. I moved the beam slowly to the left and to the right, then finally up the tree in case the cat climbed up there. Still nothing. I checked behind in case he had circled. Then I carried the beam forward with me until I concluded that the only cougar here was in my mind. I switched off the light and once again my pupils adjusted to the night.

By the time I arrived at the Bronco I had logged just under ten miles. Not bad for starting at 5:00 pm.

Shortly after turning the ignition, a brown cow came to my headlights and got so close that I thought he was licking them.

I backed up and drove around, then drove a mile down the mountain to another location.

I parked in a meadow with tall ponderosa pine and grass. I set up a chair and my little propane stove and cooked a can of chili in a mess kit. The warm beans were the best thing I had tasted all evening.

I sat in my chair listening to the night. There wasn't much noise except the flickering of the flames. Ahead of me was the crescent moon, a few stars, black figures of ponderosa, and a silhouette of the backside of Mount Logan. I still hadn't seen another person.

Now all I had to do was crawl inside my sleeping bag. This would be the first time camping in the back of my Bronco. ♠

Mount Logan

Distance to Peak (including detours): 5.1 miles

Net elevation gain: 1,184 feet

Final elevation: 7,851 feet

Total elevation gain: 1,407 feet

Total roundtrip distance: 9.59 miles

Flight Over the Grand Canyon

My beautiful and thoughtful wife arranged for me to go on a scenic flight for my birthday. We usually stay simple with our gifts, so I was surprised with her generosity. 

I've flown several times commercially over the years, but I believe the last time I flew non-commercially was in 1991 when I was 17 years old! Our wrestling team mixed up the dates of the State Tournament and when the officials called our principal to ask why we weren't there yet, he immediately recruited two pilots with planes to fly us ! Well, that's another story . . . 

This morning—in 2021—we met Eric at the Cedar City Regional Airport at seven in the morning. Eric's wife is a friend of Jenelle and he owns his own plane. 

1967 Piper Cherokee 180.

I will admit that I was a bit nervous when I saw the plane. It was much smaller than I thought it would be. The single-engine Cherokee 180 was built in 1967. It looked like a gnat compared to some of the other planes. Any bit of turbulence, I thought, would toss it around like a paper airplane! 

We stepped onto the right-side wing and through the only door. Jenelle sat in the back of the four-seat aircraft. She had almost no leg room. Eric and I sat in front with the controls, I on the left. 

A panel of gauges and buttons sat before us, with control yokes and brakes on each side. Laying on the dash was a headset for each of us. Soon we were ready to go. The thought crossed my mind that if I were to break down in my 1997 Chevy Silverado, then I would be stuck on the side of the road. On the other hand, if I were to break down in a 1967 Cherokee 180 while thousands of feet in the air, well then . . .

But there was no need to worry. Eric was an experienced pilot with several hours flying this very plane. Within five minutes the propeller was fired up and we were gliding above the houses and hills of Cedar City. 

Northern rim of the Grand Canyon.

I am blessed to live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The mountains, canyons and desert all come together to create a dazzling landscape. 

At our maximum elevation we reached 10,500 feet and traveled 120 knots (or about 140 mph). I am amazed at the aerophysics that can keep a plane of any weight up in the air. 

The Dome.

We traveled directly south, first paralleling I-15 and then cutting across Apple Valley and Colorado City. I will admit that it was harder to see than I thought it would be. The control panel came up high in front and the view out the window was partially blocked by the wing. The sun that rose in the east cast a shadow on much of the landscape on my side of the window. 

Even though I spend a lot of time on Google Maps, it is a whole different game watching the ground from an airplane. For one thing, everything is three-dimensional, especially with the morning sun casting shadows on every little contour. I noticed mesas, lakes, valleys and ranches that I never knew existed.

Road on the southern rim of Grand Canyon.

We continued south, flying over the Arizona Strip and approached Tuckup Canyon. This is where the Grand Canyon begins. This is part of the Tuckup Corridor, which is one of a few alleyways where you are allowed to fly over the Grand Canyon. Large swaths of the canyon are forbidden to aircraft. 

The Grand Canyon is gigantic! I have been hiking in it nearly half a dozen times, yet have barely scratched the surface. Most of the space within the canyon is so rugged that it has scarcely seen a human foot. 

A rare glimpse of the Colorado River.

Mount Sinyella.

At the very bottom of the sheer rocks the Colorado River flows like a ribbon. We caught a few glimpses, but it was so deep, usually blocked by cliffs, and my view was so limited that I didn't get too many looks. 

Our flight over the Grand Canyon reminded me how much more I need to explore. There are a few trails scattered throughout the canyon, but there is so much more that has no access: mesas with no way up and canyons with no way down. 

I saw monoliths I had never seen before. White-water rapids on the river appeared as silky webs. I saw unknown canyons that I yearned to know the name of and hike. 

Kaibab Plateau and Mount Trumball.

After making a couple loops, it was time to head back. The Kaibab Plateau on the north side of the canyon is heavily forested with tall pine trees. In the distance I could see Mount Trumball. Before us again lay the Arizona Strip, not looking nearly as big and long as it does when you're driving it. 

We passed over Zion Canyon and the Kolob region of Zion National Park. It certainly added a different perspective to this land of beauty. I don't know how anyone can look at these towering white and pink cliffs without a feeling of awe. It reminded me that even close to home, there are many places I have yet to traverse. 

Mt. Kinesava (left) and The West Temple in Zion National Park.  Pine Valley Mountain in background.

Timber Top Mountain in Kolob Canyon area.

Once again we found ourselves flying over the I-15 corridor. I watched out the window at the cars moving on the freeway, the dry lake of Quichapa, the Iron Hills west of town, and all the new subdivisions being built. 

In a subtle but sure manner, we descended toward the airport which sat directly to our front. Without having to turn to the right or the left, we set our wheels perfectly and softly on the white dotted lines of the runway. Withing two minutes we had safely stopped and were now on terra firma! ♠

 

 

Daddy-Daughter Date at the Grand Canyon

There are few things in life that I enjoy more than playing show-and-tell with my kids.
 
Thirty-five years ago, my grandfather took two sprightly boys to the bottom of the Grand Canyon where we spent the night at the Phantom Ranch before trekking out the next morning. Little did he know that he had planted a seed that would germinate and continue to produce life three decades later.
 
I have now taken all my kids—whether in body or spirit—into the depths of the Grand Canyon. My latest adventure involved my two youngest daughters, Jenna and Savanah. I was able to show. Now, they will do the telling . . .
 
[My first question is asked from the rim of the canyon, before having hiked down.]
 
Dad: Tell me your overall first impressions of the Grand Canyon.
 
Savanah: It's pretty. It's super steep, too.
 
Jenna: It is big. Cameras don't do it justice. It is pretty. There is a lot of variety, too. You could see different kinds of river bends, like rapids. Different rock colors, rock shapes, rock textures. Even on the way up we could see a big change in environment from forest to straight-on desert.
 

Near South Kaibab Trailhead, looking down.

Steps built into the trail.

Looking over Cedar Ridge and O'Neill Butte.

[We are now at Cedar Ridge, just 1.5 miles into the hike.]
 
Dad: Tell me about the hike down so far.
 
Savanah: It's kind of steep. And it's really clumpy and rocky. The view's really nice though. It's cool to see the different layers in the rocks and how big the Grand Canyon is.
 
Dad: Jenna, describe our travels of today.
 
Jenna: We woke up around 4:30, Arizona time. The sun's not out. It is very dark, very cold. We quickly packed up camp and moved it in our car. Then we tried to hurry as fast as we could to the shuttle, but by then it was already 5:30, so we had to wait in line for another ten minutes for the shuttle to come. We came over here. We had to rush to the bathrooms so we weren't stuck in line and then we started our journey. Now we are hiking it. There are a lot of people. But it's nice being here in the morning. It brings out a lot of colors and gives you a chance to cool down. The trail is a pretty good path. There are a lot of steps and everything is lined in stones on the outside, so that's helpful.
 

Skeleton Point.

Arch on the skyline.

[Now we have hiked 4.6 miles and are resting at a spot called The Tipoff. We have passed Skeleton Point, which gave us our first view of the Colorado River.]
 
Dad: How far does it feel like we've hiked?
 
Savanah: Like ten miles!
 
Jenna: Three.
 
Dad: Describe to me how your body feels.
 
Savanah: I don't know why my leg keeps shaking. Other than that I feel good. My feet kind of hurt.
 
Jenna: I feel amazing, like I could hike another ten miles. I have no problems other than a rock in my shoe, but I should be able to get that out.
 
Dad: What is the one thing that has stood out to you the most on the hike down?
 
Savanah: Three things—first of all the view, because the view is super good and you are able to see the Colorado River from certain spots. And second, it's kind of cool how there's a random arch in the middle of the Grand Canyon. And then the ethnicity of the people around us and how they come from all over the world.
 
Jenna: When you walk with the edge on one side of you and you just look straight, it feels like you are walking on the sky.
 

Howdy, partner!

Crazy Mexican lady loved to get selfies right next to the edge.

Good view of Colorado River and Black Suspension Bridge.

About to cross the bridge.

Indian ruins at the bottom of the canyon.

[We have crossed the Kaibab (or Black) Suspension Bridge and are momentarily resting on a sandy beach on the Colorado River.]
 
Dad: What are your impressions of the river?
 
Savanah: It's really pretty. It's really big, too. I thought it would be more blue, but it is greenish.
 
Jenna: It's pretty green. I'm surprised by the sand. And it's hot down here. Ninety-two degrees is the high today.
 
Dad: We just saw some Indian ruins. What do you think about Indians living way down here at the bottom of the Grand Canyon?
 
Jenna: They don't have any problems if no one else can come down here. So coming down to the bottom is a problem, but once they're down, they're safe.
 
Dad: Do you think it was tough to get down?
 
Savanah: Yeah. They were smart to do it, though, because they could plant their crops around the river and live around here and stuff. And the ruins are super close to the river.
 

Silver Bridge.

At the confluence of Colorado River and Pipe Creek.

[We take a lunch break at the confluence of the river and Pipe Creek. Just before we got here the clouds became dark and ominous and it felt as if a storm was about to hit us.]
 
Dad: Tell me about the recent weather we've been having.
 
Savanah: It was really cloudy, but now it's really bright and sunny, now that it's noon. It was pretty windy on our way here [hiking along the river], but now it's sunny.
 
Jenna: It's been really cloudy. About five minutes ago there were a lot of clouds and wind, but it's starting to go away, which makes me sad.
 
Dad: Tell me what you've done these last 45 minutes on this lunch break,where we are at and what you did.
 
Savanah: We're by the Colorado River. We're like two feet away from it. And we are sitting on these rocks and we had a protein bar, a sandwich and a homemade gatorade that Dad made out of this pile of stuff that he made. Super cool! And we did like a little photo shoot. It was really fun.
 
Dad: Jenna, can you tell me about your fall?
 
Jenna: I tripped. I can't remember how, but I went face-first. I didn't hit my face, but I scraped both of my legs. One leg is deep-cut and the other leg has tiny-spread little cuts. My hands are a little puffy and it temporarily stained my legs with red-rock sand.
 
Dad: Do your legs hurt now?
 
Jenna: No. They stopped hurting five seconds after I fell.
 
Dad: Did you have a hard time washing off the sand?
 
Jenna: Yes, it is a challenge to get the sand off.
 

Devil's Corkscrew.

Shaded alcove along the trail.

Photogenic lizard.

[The big shade trees at Indian Gardens have been cut down. We find shelter from the sun at a picnic table away from the crowd. I estimate we have hiked 11.8 miles to this point.]
 
Dad: Tell me about the heat on our hike up to Indian Gardens.
 
Savanah: The sun was out almost the entire time. There were barely any clouds. It was really hot. When we went in the cave it was a lot nicer. In the cave it was cooled off. Nobody could see us. Everyone was walking past on the trail and they couldn't see us or hear us or anything. But when we got out again it was still super hot and when we got to Indian Gardens it started to cool down a bit.
 
Dad: Describe the trail from our lunch spot on the river to Indian Gardens.
 
Jenna: It almost seemed like you were in the same place the entire time because it kind of looked the same throughout. We passed through the Devil's Corkscrew. That is where you have a lot of switchbacks, and after all the switchbacks and you look back, it looks like a corkscrew, and they named it Devil's Corkscrew. The trail doesn't have a lot of drop-offs near it. We came close to little creeks the entire time, passing over the creeks several times. During one time after the Devil's Corkscrew we had a look-off point. We passed some sort of watery something. It was like a trickling slide and it was wider and we had to go through that.
 
Dad: Describe Indian Gardens in as much detail as you can.
 
Savanah: Apparently there used to be two really big trees, but they cut them down where the water was. Where we were resting a bit, that was up the path a little bit from that and to the right, was like a little pergola and it had trees surrounding it and was really green and vibrant. There was a big rock where we ate that had a lizard on it. It [the lizard] was blue and looked like it did pushups.
 

Bright Angel Trail above Indian Gardens.

Endless switchbacks climbing out of the canyon.

Hair-pin turn on the Bright Angel Trail.

[From somewhere off the trail, in the midst of never-ending switchbacks.]
 
Dad: Give me a report on the trail since Indian Gardens:
 
Savanah: The trail after Indian Gardens was dry; it wasn't as green as Indian Gardens. Once we got to the switchbacks it was super windy. They've been going on [the switchbacks] for about an hour. I feel really tired. The only thing that actually hurts is my ankles.
 
Jenna: For a while there weren't any switchbacks. It was just a long trail with quite a few turns. After we hit the switchbacks they lasted for a good four miles, and we're still on them. An up-side is that we were in the shade for almost the entire time because we were along the wall and it was the first to get the shade along the canyon. My body feels good. I feel really tired, but I'm not exhausted, just sleepy tired. My feet hurt a bit. Also, we saw a helicopter fly in and out of Indian Gardens, from a bird's perspective.
 

At the top!

[Mission accomplished! Total distance: 16.7 miles. Total time: 11 hours 45 minutes. Elevation drop: 4,780 feet. Elevation gain: 4,380 feet. I am extremely proud of the girls. They did much better than I expected.]
 
Dad: How does it feel to be to the top?
 
Savanah: So nice! You feel so much more relaxed after an eighteen-mile hike that's super steep and rocky and goes back and forth a lot with all the switchbacks. So it feels super nice to be up at the top and relax. My feet still hurt.
 
Jenna: Amazing, but my feet hurt really bad.
 
Dad: What was the most memorable part of the entire hike?
 
Savanah: Probably going over the bridges and eating lunch.
 
Jenna: The hike! Also, looking down and knowing where you've gone.
 
Dad: Last question. Would you do it again?
 
Savanah: Maybe.
 
Jenna: Yes.
 

California Condor perched in a tree.

[After we think we we're done, we have one last experience while one the rim.]
 
Jenna: I looked over at a look-off point and I saw a pretty large bird flying around and I looked closer and looked at the bottom of its wings and saw white triangles, which means it was a California Condor. I saw its bald head too, so that helped. It had a little bit of white on the top of its wings, but that was a little hard to see. So I yelled, “Dad, it's a California Condor! Dad, it's a California Condor!” Then we watched it for a bit, but we weren't able to get too many good pictures until it got perched on a tree and covered in branches. We could see it, but we couldn't see it fly, which was sad.
 
Still Jenna: California Condors interest me because (1), it is my life goal to see one because they are an endangered species and there are like only 400 of them. And (2), they are only in this area and our area, which is the Bryce Canyon area. And (3), because they are the second largest bird in the world. ♠

Post-hike pizza party at Tusayan.