The early morning Grand with the River Colorado winding through its way at the bottom
The Sun's playground- the Game has just started
A Surreal sight.
A Canyon that seem to stretch till the horizon
With a Nikon 200 mm lens, the river comes much closer!
The Game has started- First Goal- The Sun
More Goals
Yet another connoisseur
The Steep walls of the Canyon- The Canyon Rim is around 6820 Feet above the sea level at times.
Magnificent!
At an Angle! The Color rendering of the DSLR adds to the beauty
Far Flung Horizon
Treat for the eyes- yet again!
These are some of the first pictures of the canyon at around 5:30/6.00 in the morning.
A closer look courtesy:Nikon 200 mm. Has a look of a wall painting. Isn't it?
Cant believe these are sand stone mountains!
Yet another awe inspiring scene
Surreality with Nikon!
This is a very interesting scene- simply amazing. Couple of awesome shots got spoiled because they were taken from a moving car!
Early Morning in the Canyon
Just another shot- Cameras were continuously clicking!
Decide for yourselves!
Surreality with Canon![:)]
Sometimes, you can't help but keep clicking at the same thing- just with different cameras!
These are a treat to watch!
Wonderful- ain't it?
Wonderful- Ain't it-Part II!
Winding Colorado!
Sun's play!
Nice Shot!
Trying to ape the Nikon 200 mm- Impossible when you have the 18-55 mm Lens!
A bit of over exposure is what I would say of this picture!
This looks better!
This is at the City of Page. Glen Canyon Dam Bridge- The Bridge was amazing!
A Sand Stone (Hill actually)- How do you call it - Sand Stone or Sand Rock?[;)]
Krish with a Sandstone backdrop
Glen Canyon Dam and Powel Lake- Visitor Center
Bridge from another angle!
A Navajo Tribe Girl- she was the guide for the soft water rafting trip that we went to. She was pretty - but not so well informed about her own traditions. I couldn't help but laugh at factual errors that she made about her own tribe!
Dudes[;)]
Krish striking a pose
Vivek Smiles!
Now, thats the dam and the bridge!
Cant You see??
This is Colorado River and the river is clean because of the Dam- the silt and sand is filtered for power generation and so the river is crystal clear!
The river meanders through the Glen Canyon- and the canyon walls raise majestically on both sides!
Thinking about the near freezing waters, when the temperature around is hovering at around 110F
Everyone's thinking- some daring!
A brilliant, sunny day for the soft water raft- Should go for the white water rafting sometime there- heard its one of the most difficult rafting course in US!
These are again some early morning shots of the Canyon.
Look at the valley and the river in front!
And the one illuminated in the fore ground is Krish!
Isn't this better?
A Soft Glow!
Thats the Wall of the Glen Canyon
Seems like these rocks resemble a praying hands- so the place is called praying hand!
Can you spot the would-have-been water level at the top end of the picture?
Early Morning never tires us!
Greenery after hours of Sand Stone Brown!
Can you decode the age of these rocks by the segments?
I like the Sun, rays, mountain and the Shade!
Towards the end of the rafting course!
The same with less exposure!
Nice shot!
The two Nikons were at full force!
Wonderful!
Captions Dry Up!
Thats for you!
Perfect Shot!
Amazing- aint it?
Clouds hovering around...
This looks good!
Picture Perfect!
Near perfect!
Nice one..can you see the shade and ray?
Cool!
Gives a magnificent view
All looks the same isn't it?? Look at the Details![:)]
This is a nice one!
Nice one too!
Good!
Colours of the Grand in all its glory! Doesnt look to me camera shot but a wall painting?!
Look at that!
Didn't I tell ya?
This is how the real Colorado looks like- the guide called it the Chocolate Milk Shake River
What More to Say?
Your Opinion?!
No Caption!
Nice Long Shot!
Class!
Misty!
Thats the bottom(think so) :D
One of the cliffs!
Distant Sun!
Ravines
Smooth from Far, Far from Smooth!
Thats the base!
Can you see the magic of colours?
Perfect
The watch tower or something....thought of going there- but a 100 mile drive to Page would restrict us!
A Closer Look
Do I need to say something?
This is wind erosion- as I have studied in my geography class...when I studied them, I thought, how in the earth can wind erode a rock..now I know!
Just an added safety!
Bright Sun to accompany us!
Thats the Glen Canyon Dam close up!
Nice..aint it?
So happy to sit next to__________!
Yet another arch bridge scene!
Do you get bored?
You would def be bored by now!
What to say!
This is supposedly Little Niagara!
True Majesty!
All set for the Hike down to the river! Happy and cheerful unmindful of the back breaking hike down the canyon.
Seems like a distant Sand Storm
Mist- Sand Storm-Truly, Grand Canyon is a treacherous place
This is the scale model of Grand Canyon at South Kaibab Trail displayed at the National park office!
A map of the Canyon
Long Shot- What else![;)]
Now, thats something- this is the view of the Canyon as we descended into its bowels!
Arrr..that pose!
Can you spot the people in this picture?
Didn't I say its magnificent?
Awesome!
A better shot!
Yet another
Look at the landscape
This is a desert cacti...
Thats Steep!
Steepness from other angle!
Some desert flower
The plant with the flower
A lone flat mound!
Wind Eroded Sand Stone
Misty Mountains
On the Way!
Can You spot trails in this?
Remember this picture before?
Half Way Down!
I liked the Sun's rays with the polarization
The Same Flat Mount- this time with Canon
Desert Flower closer!
Can you spot the moon?
Distant Sand Storm
The Mule Track
Mules
Closer
Mule Rider
They are long Gone
Spot the river
River is visible at last, after 4 hours of hiking!
River in the back ground!
Steep Rocky, horrid, hot.....
Clouds- Can't you bring Rain?
It was supposed to be cloudy that day- prolly, the clouds are yet to move into Canyon!;)
Bright Future
River Closer, Closer, Yet Far!
See the clouds covering up a part of the mountains....just that we are yet to be covered!
River...
See the Swirling Flow
At Last at the Base- after 6 hours of hiking and immense sweating later, near freezing waters await! The Bridge on top is the South Kaibab bridge from which this trail takes its name. A dip in the freezing waters of Colarado brings you back to life!
These were a group of people on an 18 day trip(rafting trip) in the river Colorado!..They were a bunch of fun loving people- should definitely admire the resolve and patience these guys had!
Roving, they are gone!
Far, Calm Colorado!
Male Dorm at the Phantom Ranch. I was lucky enough to get a bed for the evening of 9/1 after the Hike down South Kaibab trail. Krish and Vivek couldnt get a bed and hence they proceeded to hike up Brigh Angel trail. Photo courtesy - One of dorm friend.
Inside the Male Dorm. There were 6 beds on two racks like Railway Berth!
The Cafeteria @Phantom Ranch. Pick of the things on offer was a glass of lemonade. Wow!! what a taste! after a horrendous trail down, taste of lemonade was God like offering. It was instant energy. Note the Bag hanging on the right side of the wall - thats the Mule Mail box!! and the post cards (placed below the board) would have the "carried by Mule" stamp on it!! (Photo courtesy: One of Dorm friend; we were to hike up together the next day)
Tortuous Route up! The Brightangel trail up the South Rim.
This is the group I had joined for the Hike up the Grand Canyon - Brightangel Trail. From left - Johnathan, his wife Beth, James (James Hiked down North Kaibab trail on the North Rim and hiking up the Brightangel towards the South Rim), Wiley (Japanese Doctor working in Arizona)
Putting up a brave face!. Actually I had lost my energy in total to move up and started taking frequent breaks on the way up. This is somewhere between Indian gardens and the three mile stop. This is the climb up trail - BrightAngel trail.
Rest at the Indian Gardens. Indian Gardens is 4.5miles from the Bottom.I was barely able to stand at this stage. It was struggle from here!! It was arduous journey from here to the next resting point - Three mile stop. With Sun reaching its peak (it was around 11am) and temp moving going up beyong 100*C, I might say I was lucky to reach the next point. I took a break at the three mile stop (next) and waited till the evening for the Sun to go down before climbing up. The hike party continued their journey and moved up.
Oh..thats the water hole, resting place...the 3 mile stop (at the Bright Angel trail)...which means there is still 3 more miles to go for the Rim! And the Temperature reading in the clock like thing near the board reads around 100 F (at 4.30pm!). This was my abode from noon till 4.30pm when the Sun was at its phenomenal peak (The Forest Ranger indicated that it was indeed 110*C at one point; Dont ask me what the Ranger was doing at this place!). The resting place had plenty of water, just this hut for resting, Emergency phone but no restroom.
Return Back Journey!
The Same spot, the same view as previous photos...this is while going down.
Misty Mistress!
Dont know what to say!
Nice!
Something same thing!
Cedar Ridge on the South Kaibab trail
Old Times!!
Oldies!
That Flat Little Mount!
Well...Posing!
Taking me taking the desert flower!
Look at the elevation-Its there we need to reach!
We can reach there too..but no use! We cant get back!
