Bright Angel Historic Cabin
Inside our cabin located about 300 feet from the Bright Angel Trailhead and the South Rim. These cabins book out at least a year in advance.
The view of the street from our cabin. The cabins are situated on the South Rim along several small streets.
Bright Angel Lodge
A quiet moment in the lobby of this historic hotel.
South Rim
The Fountain is a popular place on the back side of Bright Angel Lodge for hikers and tourists to get an ice cream cone. It's location along the South Rim makes it a busy stop. This is an early morning shot before the tour buses arrive en mass.
Morning light hits the Lookout Studio (left) which is perched on the South Rim at the Bright Angel Trailhead. More about the Lookout Studio at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lookout_Studio.
A cloudy early morning along the South Rim.
My husband sits on the wall overlooking the South Rim.
Bright Angel Lodge Restaurant
Bright Angel Lodge is used to servicing hikers with big appetites. The breakfasts at Bright Angel are big, tasty, and fast.
Another view of the South Rim. The Bright Angel Trail can be seen along the canyon floor. Follow the greenery along the crevice in the middle of the photo.
Bright Angel Trail
The Bright Angel Trail is one of the most popular and well-traveled trails in the Grand Canyon. Here, we pulled over to take in the vista from a bend in the trail.
This photo of me on Bright Angel Trail is remarkable for one reason: I am 23 days post-op from breast cancer surgery and I am carrying a pack filled with my own stuff.
Mule trains are a constant presence on Bright Angel.
Another view from the trail.
Hiking Bright Angel Trail is beautiful. As with many other trails here, you always have a view of the canyon on one side of you.
This view will never get old to me.
Here's a view of the trail on the ascent.
Here is one of two tunnels that you will pass through on the upper part of the trail.
The view from this angle was amazing. The canyon seemed perfectly framed between two rock walls.
This sign seemed like an odd placement as you are already on the trail for over a half mile and there is nowhere else to go but over the side.
Mule Ride
Here are our mules lined up for an afternoon canyon vista ride. The 3-hour ride follows the rim along the East Rim Trail.
My view from the saddle.
I had to talk him into it. He was in good hands (hoofs) with Cher.
This view was a constant companion on the mule ride along East Rim Trail.
A view of the canyon from my mule.
Another view of the canyon during our mule ride.
The mules ride in formation - a single file line - without much direction. You are instructed to keep them nose to bum and are given a whip (or "motivator" as the wrangler calls them) to keep them on pace.
Another view of the canyon from the East Rim Trail during the Canyon Vista ride.
"I'm on a mule!!!"
Simon, our trail guide, would stop us and have us turn our mules toward whatever he was explaining (geology, history, landscape, etc.)
