by Jennifer Uhlarik
So…I had the
great fortune to take a two-week road trip with my family this summer. We were
able to see a lot of great things on our cross-country travels, stopping in
several states along the way, but our big destination was Arizona’s Grand
Canyon. I’d been to see it when I was roughly 10 years old, but neither my
husband nor my 18-year-old son had been. So that was the anchor location that
we built our trip around, and while we didn’t attempt going down into the
canyon, we were each awed by the splendor and beauty we saw from the South Rim.
If you have never been, let me just say it is so worth the trip.
Grand Canyon At Sunset
© Jennifer Uhlarik
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Here’s a few
facts. Grand Canyon is 277 miles long. At its widest point, it is eighteen
miles wide, and at its narrowest, it is four miles wide. It is approximately
one mile deep. Temperatures at the South Rim can range from 30-40 degrees in
winter, with a good chance of snow at times…to 100 degrees or above during
summer, though the nighttime temperatures can fall quite a bit, causing a big
discrepancy. Inside the canyon, temperatures are known to reach 120 degrees
easily.
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Ancestral Puebloan granaries high above the Colorado River at Nankoweap Creek, Grand Canyon. (Photo: Drenaline, Wikimedia CC BY-SA 3.0) |
Grand Canyon was
the seventeenth national park to be established within the United States, and
was granted that honor in 1919. But long before it was discovered by white men,
Grand Canyon and the surrounding area was home to various tribes of Indians. Ancient
Puebloan Indians, the ancestors of the modern Pueblo people, were thought to be
some of the earliest settlers to Grand Canyon. Like I said, my family didn’t hike
into the canyon, so we didn’t see them in person, but this photo of Ancient
Puebloan granaries found within Grand Canyon indicate the Indians’ presence from
long ago. In addition to the Ancient Puebloans,
the Cohonina, the Sinagua, the Hualapai, and Havasupai—among many others—lived
around or in the canyon long before the white man came along.
With that in mind, it was a real pleasure for us to see an authentic
display of Native American dances
A Young Native American man performs a dance honoring the Navajo Code Talkers of WWII. © Jennifer Uhlarik |
A young girl and her grandmother perform a traditional women's dance. © Jennifer Uhlarik |
A Native American Man performs the Grass Dance © Jennifer Uhlarik |
A young woman performs the Butterfly Dance © Jennifer Uhlarik |
A Native American man performs a traditional Hoop Dance. © Jennifer Uhlarik |
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Francisco Vazquez de Coronado |
So how did the white or European settlers come across Grand Canyon? In
the mid-1500’s, the Spanish found their way to the area as they searched for
the Seven Cities of Cibola under orders from Conquistador Francisco Vazquez de
Coronado. The small band of Spanish soldiers followed a Hopi guide about a
third of the way into the canyon, but were forced to turn back because they
lacked water. In their notes on the foray, they expressed concern that their
guide purposely didn’t show them watering holes along the way for fear that the
newcomers would stay. In 1776, Spanish priests returned, this time to the North
Rim, as they searched for a way to reach California from Santa Fe, while others
spent time attempting (unsuccessfully) to convert the Havasupai Indians to
Christianity.
In 1826, a group of American trappers and mountain men traipsed into
the area and “discovered” Grand Canyon. By the mid 1800’s, Lieutenant Joseph
Ives led a military survey party into the canyon, only to deem the area “altogether
valueless” and a “profitless locality.” (Doesn’t that make you laugh when you
consider that five million people visit Grand Canyon National Park each year?)
Grand Canyon at Morning © Jennifer Uhlarik |
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John Wesley Powell |
In 1869, John Wesley Powell, who later founded and ran the U.S.
Geological Society, explored the Colorado River with a team of men using wooden
boats, and went back to explore the river again in 1871. Soon after, lead,
zinc, asbestos, and copper deposits were found in the canyon, which led many to
stake mining claims across the next two decades. Unfortunately for them, the
process of mining in such inhospitable conditions proved to be difficult, if
not deadly, and Grand Canyon finally shifted from a miner’s playground to one
of the most sought-out tourist attractions within the United States.
There are lots of great things to do at Grand Canyon today. Both the
North and South Rim areas are run by the National Park Service today. You can
hike or ride a mule into the canyon, or white-water raft down the Colorado
River. Helicopters rides are available for a price to those who want to see an
up-closer view of the canyon floor without the hike or mule ride to get there. Hiking
along the rim provides many scenic and beautiful views, and there are many
historic buildings with interesting stories to be explored along the South Rim.
The North Rim is much more rugged with fewer services than the South Rim. And
the Western Rim, which is run by the Haulapai Indian Tribe rather than the
National Park Service, is where tourists can go to experience the “Skywalk”—where
they can walk out over the Grand Canyon on a crystal-clear pathway that
provides a view into the canyon like no other. (Unfortunately, as one who has a
very healthy fear of heights, I doubt I’d be able to experience the
Skywalk or a hike/mule ride into the canyon).
Rugged terrain at Grand Canyon © Jennifer Uhlarik |
It’s your turn: Have you ever been to Grand Canyon? Did you stay on the
rim or did you hike into the canyon? If you haven’t been, would you hike down?
Why or why not?

Jennifer
Uhlarik
discovered the western genre as a pre-teen, when she swiped the only “horse”
book she found on her older brother’s bookshelf. A new love was born. Across
the next ten years, she devoured Louis L’Amour westerns and fell in love with
the genre. In college at the University of Tampa, she began penning her own
story of the Old West. Armed with a B.A. in writing, she has won five writing
competitions and finaled in two other competitions. In addition to writing, she
has held jobs as a private business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing
director, and her favorite—a full-time homemaker. Jennifer is active in
American Christian Fiction Writers and lifetime member of the Florida Writers
Association. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, teenaged son, and
four fur children.
I think that if I traveled to the Grand Canyon, that I would want to go down into it. I'm not afraid of heights, but hiking isn't too thrilling for me. I would opt for the helicopter ride down. I've always wanted to see the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore. Who knows, maybe someday I may get the chance. Thanks for sharing about your trip and the pictures.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by, Debbie. If you ever get to Grand Canyon and want to trek down into it, you might consider the mule ride down to the bottom and back. Of course, the helicopter ride would be great also.
DeleteFantastic and informative post about the Grand Canyon. Thank you for sharing all the pictures--especially the Native Americans dancing. Their colorful and traditional clothes speak volumes. I've never been to the Grand Canyon but definitely would not mind hiking.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you enjoyed the post, Marilyn. I had a lot of fun taking photos in such a picturesque setting!
DeleteThank you for your very interesting and informative post, Jennifer. I wish everyone could see the Grand Canyon. It is a spectacular sight to see. I visited the southern rim first and later the northern rim. I have never been down in the canyon..no desire there!
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie. Thank you for stopping by today. I have the desire to see the canyon from below, but I have such a fear of heights that I'd have a hard time getting there. LOL
DeleteWhen I would take my son to his weekly PT appointment at the Oklahoma Choctaw Center, I met an older couple who shared fascinating stores about those who lived at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Their daughter and husband were doctors, who were helicoptered in,for their 1 or 2 month (can't remember) stay down there, serving the Indians. When they came out, they'd take their RV to a campground till the next round. I loved hearing these stories of a different world.
ReplyDeleteHow absolutely fascinating, Melody! I would have loved to talk with that couple and hear their stories. Thank you for sharing!
DeleteWhen I would take my son to his weekly PT appointment at the Oklahoma Choctaw Center, I met an older couple who shared fascinating stores about those who lived at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Their daughter and husband were doctors, who were helicoptered in,for their 1 or 2 month (can't remember) stay down there, serving the Indians. When they came out, they'd take their RV to a campground till the next round. I loved hearing these stories of a different world.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping to see the Grand Canyon one day but I will probably choose not to hike it.
ReplyDeleteConnie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com