Grand Canyon :: Bright Angel Trail to Indian Gardens

This is the second installment, before continuing you might want to read the first part of the story! Snow and fog notwithstanding, we continued on down the Bright Angel Trail toward Indian Gardens.

After about 45 minutes on the trail. Still a little snow, though somewhat muddy and slippery the trail was mostly clear. We were still taking our time with each step. But look out into the Canyon – we're beneath the fog! And the sun is coming through!

And now we can see our destination! It's that grove of green trees in the middle of the photo - Indian Springs. But we still had 3 1/2 miles to go... The thin line crossing the “flat” area beyond Indian Gardens is the trail to Plateau Point, which provides wonderful vistas of the Colorado River and the Canyon.

Several slight delays were encountered. When the mule trains came along we had to step aside to let them pass. Some carried cargo, like these.

While other mule trains carried passengers. As they passed by us, I noticed that very few of the people had smiles on their faces. Some of them looked downright uncomfortable.

From whence we had come - the point of the “V” at the top of the rim. This was taken at about 11 o'clock, between 2 and 2 1/2 miles into the Canyon. Very little of the trail can be seen.

This series of corkscrew switchbacks greeted us upon leaving the 3-mile rest stop at about noon.

It seemed like they would never end.

Indian Gardens, only forty-five minutes away. Walking within the Canyon gives you an entirely different perspective. What looks flat from above, isn't. It is rugged. From the rim it takes on a blue hue, but it is colorful. It is amazing. Beautiful. Stupendous. Magnificent. Glorious. Impressive. Awesome. Sensational. Stunning. Awe-inspiring. Spectacular. Dramatic. Majestic. Astonishing. Dazzling. The Grand Canyon is all of those things and more. It is also challenging. Dangerous. Formidable. Imposing. Powerful.

Almost there, just another half hour to go.

Weary feet. Taking a short break. We made it down to Indian Gardens in a little less than four hours, arriving at about 1 o'clock. We had traveled 4.6 miles and dropped 2,985 feet in elevation. We had gone from fog and snow and below freezing temperatures to bright sun and 70 degrees. A world of difference. We would spend the night at the campground, but first there was another little trek to be made before nightfall.

To be continued... part Three