Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA 8th June 2023

We had a few days in Anchorage at the end of our Alaskan leg of the trip before flying down to Las Vegas where we spent the night before collecting our rental car for the next 26 days.  From the cool temperatures in Alaska we flew into 30 degree heat in Vegas.

It was about a five hour drive from Vegas to Maswik Lodge in Grand Canyon Village.  Originally we had booked to stay at the North Rim but a couple of weeks ago we received notification that a landslide had taken out the water pipeline necessitating closure of the Lodge.  Luckily we were able to find a room at Maswik Lodge on the South Rim.

Yesterday we started early and took a helicopter ride over the Canyon.  This was a special treat thanks to Sue's NHS colleagues who made this possible by contributing to her retirement collection.  Thank you all very much, it was amazing.  Our first time in a helicopter and would definitely recommend it.  As we still had most of the day left, we took a shuttle bus to the eastern end of the Canyon and walked the Rim Trail for 2.7 miles back to our Lodge.  It took much longer than expected due to the photo stops along the way.  In the evening we walked back to the Rim and in the warm evening light, even more photos were taken.

Today we hiked part way down into the Canyon on the Bright Angel Trail (there's a photo where you can see the trail zigzagging down the canyon).  Not too difficult going down but rather more challenging coming back up.  Very different from our usual hikes where we struggle uphill to start and then have the easy return.  Also having to dodge the mule trains on a path which isn't wide enough for passing (and staying well away from the precipitous edge).  This afternoon we took another shuttle bus in the opposite direction where, you've guessed it, even more photos were taken.  It was difficult to decide which photos to publish here, so there are many.