Grand Canyon - North Rim part IV

Sunday, June 16 – Father’s Day! We had a nice call from Kendra while we were out in the boonies! Technology is wonderful! (when it works!!)

We’d been checking out the park map and admiring the trail to Point Sublimity. Steve asked around about how rugged it was, as it’s posted on the maps as a 4WD recommended. Our campground host offered his recommendation, and we do have 4 WD, so off we went, picnic in hand, not knowing exactly what to expect.  

 The road is well maintained gravel as far as the trail head near the campground, then becomes somewhat more “rustic." The dirt road is at first a gentle grade and open meadow,  then it gave way to more rugged, rocky grade and dense, mixed forest. This certainly would have been a beautiful area in which to have a cabin in the "old days", if there were running water available. It looks from the grasses that in most years there are probably wet spots here and there, if not running creeks.

They work hard here at maintaining the health of the forest, so there is evidence along the way of prescribed burn and thinning. This treatment makes a healthier environment for the ponderosa pines and the aspens, both of which are coming in thickly in the treated areas. Aspen pines ferns and what we were finally able to identify as New Mexico Locust grow in dense profusion. The locust are small trees or large shrubs, and have clusters of beautiful pink-lavender flowers. They grow so thickly in some areas that they remind me of roses or rhododendrons.

There is a view point to stop at along the road, a rocky shelf you can walk out on if you have the nerve. There's quite a view, down, and that may not appeal to everyone. It's hard to grasp just how deep the canyon is, and in many of our photos you can't see the bottom as the angle of the canyon walls blocks it. The antiquity of the canyon is also hard to relate The base layers in this wedding cake arrangement are about 1,840 million years old, the top layer, practically brand new, are only 270 million years old, based on fossils and other geologic evidence.

After driving through dense, mixed forest very much reminiscent of what we knew from Oregon, we turned a corner about ¼ mile from the point and the scene changed suddenly from forest to desert. The ferns changed to sagebrush and yucca, the New Mexico Locust to Cliff rose, and the ponderosa pines to piñon.

We explored the rim and took way too many photos, then had our picnic lunch at one of the tables provided and then wandered around the point looking for more great photo opportunities. It's hard to pass up an opportunity, knowing we probably won't be back here for a long time, even if the distance is still blurred by smoke.

There is a restroom at the final stop, but nothing else along the way so be prepared. The 36 mile round trip takes about 4 hrs and really is suitable for 4 WD only. Passenger cars would be at high risk in many of the rockiest and steepest areas.

The road is very narrow in some places, so remember the proper off-road etiquette, the driver going up has the right-of-way in most states, but, keep your eye on likely places to pull over, or back up to, no matter which way you are going. There are some long stretches where only one car will fit in the lane, and the downhill side is soft and steep.

Steve was very happy with the performance of the Enterprise on this outing. It's the first time it's been off the pavement, and the transmission took to the hills and bumps like a duck to water, crawling smoothly in the toughest spots (had to try out the low range) and the exhaust break doing a great job on the downhill sections.

I only brought home one little souvenir from the day. I thought about coming up with a

story about wrestling a bob cat, or something exciting like that, but I'm not that creative. It's the result of wrestling with a dead yucca. A good opportunity to try out the piñon sap cream I bought last year, and it's done a great job of healing. Other than looking awful, it doesn't hurt at all and is healing quickly.

We made a final stop at the visitor’s center to get a National Park passport stamp in my copy of Brighty of the Grand Canyon, and have a final toast at the Rough Rider Saloon – with a Grand Canyon brewing company beer for Steve, and for me,  my new favorite drink, a “Grand Canyon Sunset.”  More photos of the day's drive here.

Happy Trails….. we’re off to Kanab for a one night stay at an RV park so we can get caught up on a few things, then back out in to the “boonies” again.  We’ll check in again when we have connections.