Hermit's Rest and Bridget becomes a Jr Ranger!

Hermit's rest is on the west end of the South rim and you can only get there by shuttle bus this time of year.  We met a Ranger at 8:00 and had our own private session. The mornings are so beautiful, cool and mostly clear, and the light entering the canyon from the rising sun is like no other time of day. Sunsets for us have been relatively non existent because of late day storms but we've been getting up early and taking advantage of the mornings.

This bell has been there since the 1930's when travelers by Stagecoach from Flagstaff would come to spend a night and hike below the rim for the equivalent of 5 grand round trip per person in today's money! 

The hearth in the lodge looks exactly as it looked then and still smells of cinders.

This is Nancy. We had a fossil hunt on these rocks that were once below sea level and were quite successful! 

An afternoon bike ride to South Kaibab Trailhead at Yaki Point before the rain set in.

Bridget and I perched near the edge. You would not believe the precarious positions some people get in to take photos!

We stopped here so Bridget could have a quiet time near the edge of the canyon to finish her Jr Ranger book. She had to listen and watch and draw a picture of her observations. We wanted a spot where no other tourists were around :)

Mark looking mighty nervous from his vantage point. 15 people die a year at the canyon...most from suicides or not respecting the safety rules of hiking below the rim....so exposure, dehydration or jumping in the river and getting swept away can take people's lives. Animals bites ( especially Rock and Abert squirrels) are common too. Even though it is illegal to approach and feed wildlife, people do it and end up in the emergency room. Many of these squirrels carry plague. 

Ranger Joe swearing Bridget in as an official Jr Ranger!!