The Perfect Day

Tuesday July 3

Today was the most satisfying and enjoyable day of our trip so far. We slept well and long from our hard hike on the North Kaibab trail the day before. After we got up we puttered around camp for a while and then went to the Kaibab Lodge, which is next door to the campground. Our campground host had said the Lodge had free wireless internet and wouldn't mind us logging on. We asked to use their facilities, and they said come on in. We set up in their dining room and spent about two hours writing and responding to e-mails and doing other internet chores, mostly researching the next leg of our trip through southern Utah. By that time it was lunchtime, and they were bringing out their daily special: hot open-faced turkey sandwich with broccoli and mashed potatoes. Thinking it would not be right to take advantage of their hospitality without spending a little money, we made the sacrifice and ordered the special. If you ever get to the North Rim stop in and visit the folks at Kaibab Lodge.

The remainder of our day consisted of tourist-like activities: driving around and short walks. We drove out on the Walhalla Plateau on the eastern end of the park and enjoyed the amazing vistas. The views from Cape Royal are the best from any place in the park, North Rim or South Rim. The only place the Colorado River can be seen on the North Rim is from near Cape Royal. There is one very unique view of the Colorado River through Angel's Window, an arch-like formation in the rocks. We did several short hikes including one to Cliff Springs, where water weeps out of the cliff wall and nourishes many lush plants.

This evening we attended a campfire program on fossils in the park and another program in the Grand Lodge on "Geologic Hikes", namely specific hikes from the North Rim where one can see great examples of the most unique geologic features in the canyon. After the program we sat on the back veranda of the Grand Lodge, ate ice cream as the nearly-full moon rose and watched shooting stars over the canyon. Can it get any better?

We also saw the most diverse wildlife we have seen in the park. In addition to numerous mule deer, we saw a small herd of wild turkeys with several chicks, Kaibab squirrels with their unique white tail and tufted ears and a coyote. The picture at left is the Cliffrose (Cowania Stansburiana)

We will be moving tomorrow and will spend tomorrow and the next day in Zion National Park.