大峡谷国家公园

這是我第二次到大峽谷國家公園. 第一次只是經過。而這一次我就花了將近一個星期的時間在這裡。我要好好的看一下這個美麗的峽谷。讓我感到自豪的是這次我走到大峽谷谷底去了。五個小時走到谷底，十個小時爬上 來。雖然很累，但是壯觀的大峽谷卻然我感動到想哭。 (凌晨12.33 8/8/2011 從德州出發，早晨6點 8/13/11 安全抵達德州)

大峽谷分為North Rim 和 South Rim。我們先去了North Rim. 和South Rim比起來，North Rim比較少人去。因為去大峽谷的多數是觀光客，所以South Rim比較屬於觀光客的地方。

第一天: 8/8/2011 (North Rim)

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去大峽谷的高速上。我就是喜歡這廣闊的景，一望無際。

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遙遠的路程終於看到希望了。(11.45am 8/8/2011)

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I love road trip as I will have chance to stay away from buildings and see this beautiful sky and green.

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快到North Rim時，附近一帶的地形都是峽谷類。

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去North Rim的路上。

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就在進入 North Rim時，我們經過這個翠綠的meadow。這是我目前看到最美麗的天空和草原。我心裡真的感到很平安。

https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/picture.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201843 ('https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/album.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201843')
North Rim 的entrance. (5.20pm 8/8/2011)

https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/picture.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201844 ('https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/album.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201844')
Camped (Demott Campground) one night at North Rim because we planned to watch sunrise the next day morning at North Rim.

Second Day: 8/9/2011 (Point Imperial - sunrise, Cape Royal, Bright Angel Point Trail)

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This is the spot for watching sunrise in Grand Canyon NP. We woke up at 4am, driving in the dark, arrived here around 5am. Eating breakfast in the car while waiting for sunrise. Other people who visited this spot for catching sunrise were photographers. The sky were not very clear that day and we waited till 7am and saw this.

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Viewed from North Rim

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I felt very comfortable driving on this road. The scenery is therapeutic!

https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/picture.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201854 ('https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/album.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201854')
After camping one night in North Rim, we came to South Rim where we spent another 4 days 3 nights here. We stayed 3 nights at Mather Campground, the biggest campground in Grand Canyon.

https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/picture.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201855 ('https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/album.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201855')
There are many tours to Grand Canyon.

Third Day: 8/10/2011 Hike South Kaibab Trail to the Valley, 7.1m/11.5km, 5.5 - 6 hours

https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/picture.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201856 ('https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/album.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201856')
It is advised to hike down on South Kaibab Trail and climb up on Bright Angel Trail as South Kaibab Trail is steeper and has less shade.

https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/picture.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201858 ('https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/album.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201858')
Mules

https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/picture.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201859 ('https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/album.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201859')
Personally, I love this trail very much. You don't know where this trail goes to. It is so quiet that you can only hear your footstep if there is no wind.

https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/picture.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201857 ('https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/album.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201857')

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Tired! Let me take a breathe.

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Yeah! Almost there. When you see the river, you know you are almost there but it still took us one to two hours to get to the ground.

Winding trail. Be careful!

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If you are lucky, you will get a cabin because they are pretty booked during peak season! Actually, we booked hostel. When we checked in the hostel at the visitor center, the receptionist told us that there was one more cabin left and asked if we were interested. Just another USD 30 more. Why not!

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Cozy.....air-con....bathroom.....

Fourth Day: 8/11/2011 Hike Bright Angel Trail (leaving valley) 8.1m/13km, 10 hours

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Leaving. Bright Angel Trail is less steeper and has more shade. As climbing consumes a lot of energy, it is better to take this trail. Most important is there is water source on half way.

https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/picture.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201873 ('https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/album.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201873') https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/picture.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201869 ('https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/album.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201869') https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/picture.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201870 ('https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/album.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201870') https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/picture.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201871 ('https://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/album.php?albumid=18110&pictureid=201871')
Getting further from the valley.

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Indian Garden, where you get your bottle filled up.

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GC rescue team

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Hours passed. Felt cooler when we were getting higher and higher. However, it seemed a never ending trail.

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Finally, reached the top. See how much salt I lost. We drank gatorade and ate some salty cookies.

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After we reached the top, we took shuttle bus to another point to watch sunset.

How nice! Sunrise at North Rim and sunset at South Rim.

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Sunset.

Fifth Day: Bye Grand Canyon!

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On the last day, we went to GC visitor center to get official cancellations.

通常我喜歡在一個國家公園呆上幾天。對我來說，走馬看花的方式不適合我。因為那樣並不能然我真正的看到國家公園的美。我想要的是躲在公園裡，沒有網路，沒有電話，沒有煩惱，慢慢欣賞美景和享受這不一樣的生活。