Ramble = to wander around in a leisurely, aimless manner; to take a course with many turns or windings.
     ERM = Energy Required Miles. A mile is added for every 500' elevation gain or loss. It's a very serviceable method of estimating energy required miles.

Angels Window (Click the image for a full-size view)	Angels Window (Click the image for a full-size view)	Sister of Angels Window (Click the image for a full-size view)
Walhalla ruins (Click the image for a full-size view)	Vishnu & SF Peaks from Walhalla (Click the image for a full-size view)	Vishnu & SF Peaks from Walhalla (Click the image for a full-size view)

     Day 1: Very Vishnu: (drive, visit Cape Royal and Angel's Window, camp at DeMotte FS CG).
     The distant canyon walls glow, and I'm seeing them through the portal of Angel's Window at Cape Royal on the North Rim of THE Grand Canyon. Evening is definitely the time to photograph this gem. Back along the serpentine road, we stop at Walhalla Overlook and ruins - to see the Vishnu Temple and beyond it, in the distance, the breast bump of the volcanic San Francisco Peaks, partly obscured by the smoke from a controlled burn. Very Vishnu Vista. We return to a FS CG just after sunset. The temperatures plummet into what we guess are the mid-30Fs.

pano from North Rim, with "Son of Angel's Window" on right, Vishnu Temple center right - scroll L-R to view it all (7051 pixels wide; 731kb) (Click the image for the full-size image)

Transept from Widforss (Click the image for a full-size view)

Coconino Overlook- N Kaibab (Click the image for a full-size view)

Redwall Bridge - N Kaibab (Click the image for a full-size view)

     Day 2: Wild Widforss - Transept Tour; 10 miles, 16 ERM.
     The ice flakes off the fabric above my head, announcing that it is morning. After drying off the flipster, we drive to the Widforss TH and begin hiking. It's a fairly quiet and lovely trail, affording delightful views of the Transept, a plunging cleavage that intersects with Bright Angel. A dull thudding comes from across the canyon - it's the water treatment plant. Views evolve to include Vishnu, Angel's Gate, and out near Widforss Point, vistas to the South Kaibab and aspects of the Tonto Platform.
     The trail bobs through vanilla-laced P-Pine freshened air and also through old musty fire damage.
     We return to the North Rim CG, where we had managed to get an abandoned reservation for tonight. Ahh, a concession shower is enjoyed. A P-Pine fire cuts the cooling air as a rotund moon climbs through the sentinel forest. Deluxe.

Click here to go to our GPS track of Widforss Trail. It will appear as a Google map on a USGS topo background. Change the scale of the map (the "+") to better see the route. Move around on the map with the 'hand.' Click here to enjoy a full-screen view. Enjoy

Redwall Bridge - N Kaibab (Click the image for a full-size view)

Supai Tunnel - N Kaibab (Click the image for a full-size view)

Supai Tunnel - N Kaibab (Click the image for a full-size view)

     Day 3: Redwall Rumination: North Kaibab to Redwall Bridge; 6 miles, 14 ERM.
     The gulch drops away beneath the bridge, first crossed by Brighty the donkey many years ago. The trail continues toward Eye of the Needle, Roaring Springs, Cottonwood, Ribbon Falls, and on to THE River and the fig trees of Phantom Ranch. But not today. The heat is gathering, so we begin the slog back to the rim.
     The narrow aperture through Supai Tunnel focuses attention on the variegated Coconino SS walls, stained from layers above - perhaps the Kaibab Limestone? A scenic toilet waits nearby. From here, the travel is pleasant, even with the poofy powder of the trail ground to talc by the mules and many visitors. Still, it's far quieter than the over-bustle of the South Rim.
     There are no openings in the NPS CG, so back to a FS CG we drive, where temperatures are cooler. A fire is needed, or at least enjoyed, to take off the nip created by a clear sky.

Click here to go to our GPS track of North Kaibab to Redwall Bridge.

Scenic Toilet - Supai Tunnel (Click the image for a full-size view)

Saddle Mtn Wild view (Click the image for a full-size view)

Saddle Mtn Wild view (Click the image for a full-size view)

     Day 4: North Canyon Thrasher , (Saddle Mountain Wilderness); 6 miles, 12 ERM. East Rim Viewpoint to Arizona Trail to Trail 004-007 and back to the rim.
     Suddenly - water! Delightful water appears in the North Canyon streambed. It's wild and getting wilder.
     We start out with a slight touch of frost on the pumpkin, then warm quickly as we head nearly across the road from DeMotte CG and up to the E Rim Viewpoint. Views to South Canyon and Marble Canyon, a dark gash across the flats below the Vermillion Cliffs.
     A kettle of Turkey Vultures reel overhead as a guided phalanx of mountain bikers stop for a view. We follow, hiking the Kaibab Plateau section of the Arizona Trail. On to a trail junction where we encounter some simpering Spruce Grouse strutting through the dry grass. Doubling back, we see the North Canyon Trail going through an old log fence. After inspecting the map, we follow trail 004 into increasing wilder country. A grouse inspects us, clucking to K and doing a little shuffle like the Plains Indians do, head down, tail up, strut.
     The trail switches down toward Saddle Mountain and the North Canyon Spring. Here's where the water joins in. Deep old growth forest, a great contrast to the ravaged pines along the rim. Deeper. We're now 1000' below the rim and lilting down more. After 4 miles, we reach the trail junction and eat lunch by the burbling creek which reportedly hosts the rare Apache Trout. Then, up trail 007, soon encountering fallen logs, then lots of brush. Steeply up, past nettles and such. Once, this was an excellent trail, and the tread seems mostly OK. After fighting half the way up, the vegetation changes - drier, and we walk to the top. A deluxe hike.
     We have to return to Jacob Lake because we run out of propane. We find showers at the RV park near Jacob pond and the historic Jacob Lake Ranger Station. Then, continuing West on this road, we get to FR 22, the main drag coming up from Fredonia, and then drive to the Snake Gulch TH. We are a few thousand feet lower as we watch the thunderstorms build over the plateau we earlier departed. It's very dark after sunset and warmer than up high. It's nice to have the place to ourselves.

Click here to go to our GPS track of North Canyon in Saddle Mountain Wilderness.

pano taken from Walhalla Overlook - scroll L-R to view it all (2618 pixels wide, 484kb) (Click the image for the full-size image)

Jacob Lk. Historic RS (Click the image for a full-size view)

Jacob Lk. Historic RS (Click the image for a full-size view)

Snake Gulch TH (Click the image for a full-size view)

     Day 5: Snaking Snake Gulch - Kanab Creek Wilderness TH to Table Rock Spring; 14 miles, 18 ERM.
     Ancient images beckon. Kokopeli, the Testicular Man, a string of big heads (head dresses?) holding hands, faces with earrings. Lots of features, mysterious, from the Basketmaker Era.
     We're strolling down Snake Gulch, and like yesterday, we don't see anyone else all day while hiking. Here, we don't see anyone for over 36 hours. Lots of Russian Thistles (?) to wade through and other signs of severe overgrazing. Cow burnt. Petros in the rock shelter, pictos scattered all along, with a higher concentration as we near the canyon sheltering the spring.
     We eat lunch under a small overhang, it's ceiling decorated with a few images and child hand prints. I check the spring and find one of the tanks full with clear water. Water. A desert delight. Nearly 3,000' lower than yesterday, it's warmer, hot in the full sun, but comfortable when we drag ourselves back to the TH for a shower, drinks, salad, tapenade, and dinner. Scrumptious. Thick clouds blanket and pile against the Kaibab Plateau.
     On the way back, we shoot some panos of the Vermillion Cliffs.

Click here to go to our GPS track exploring the Kanab Cr. Wilderness - Snake Gulch to Table Rock Spring.

pano of Vermillion Cliffs from road to Jacob Lake - House Rock Valley junction (buildings) can be seen in left bottom of open area - scroll L-R to view it all (1638 pixels wide, 140kb) (Click the image for the full-size image)

Snake Gulch TH (Click the image for a full-size view)

Snake Gulch TH (Click the image for a full-size view)

In upper Snake Gulch (Click the image for a full-size view)

Table Rock Spring (Click the image for a full-size view)	Snake Gulch Picto 1 (Click the image for a full-size view)	Snake Gulch Picto 2 (Click the image for a full-size view)
Snake Gulch Picto 3 (Click the image for a full-size view)	Snake Gulch Picto 4 (Click the image for a full-size view)	Snake Gulch Picto 5 (Click the image for a full-size view)
Snake Gulch Picto 6 (Click the image for a full-size view)	Snake Gulch Picto 7 (Click the image for a full-size view)	Snake Gulch Picto 8 (Click the image for a full-size view)
Snake Gulch Picto 9 (Click the image for a full-size view)	Snake Gulch Picto 10 (Click the image for a full-size view)	Snake Gulch Picto 11 (Click the image for a full-size view)

Vermillion Cliffs Pano (Image is wide - scroll left-right to view it (3630 x 500; 435kb) - Click the image for the full-size image)