Mister Fixit's World

 December 15, 2020 Today's hike was just to climb the rest of the way out to the south rim. I took very few pictures because my past experience told me it wasn't worth the bother. In winter the top of the BA is continually shaded and the contrast between the sunlit and shaded canyon is just too great for either my camera sensor or my limited editing skills to overcome. If ever there was a scene that begged for the latitude of C41 print film this is it! I have hundreds of photos coming up BA from my previous trips and all either have blown out highlights or blocked up shadows. The geography of this particular place is such that midday in summer is the best time to photograph it because the sun is high enough in the sky to light it evenly and fully. But, for the sake of completeness here are a couple of photos from near the top. I did quite a bit of fiddling with the second photo to preserve as much detail as i could. Upon reflection I can't say that bringing the 10mm lens wa...

 December 14, 2020 Today I headed up the Bright Angel Trail to camp at Indian Gardens. The first time we came to the canyon we hiked BA all the way to the rim, but we weren't carrying camping gear or heavy packs. I wasn't in any hurry so staying at IG makes the trip a lot easier, and it gives you the bonus of being able to hike out to Plateau Point which IMO is the best view in the canyon. The first two miles are actually not on the Bright Angel Trail. When you cross the silver bridge you are on the River Trail until it ends at the base of BA. This is looking back toward the campground and Phantom Ranch. You can see the silver bridge and then the black bridge beyond it at the base of the SK. The water pipeline of the south rim crosses the river under the silver bridge. Another view from the River Trail. Here's where the BA trail begins. After about a mile you arrive here, and this is where the real fun begins. This is the bottom of a section called the Devil's Corkscrew...

 December 13, 2020 Today's hike was the return to Bright Angel Campground back down the North Kaibab. I started the morning with frozen water bottles so I couldn't get a drink until I thawed them out. Ever stick a frozen quart of water under your armpit in December? After the disappointment of being turned back the day before I added another disappointment because my planned side trip to Ribbon Falls was hampered by the same rain that fell the day before. The creek was running so high I couldn't find a place to cross that wasn't over my boots. Since the air temperature was near freezing I wan't about to take them off and wade it in my camp shoes. I suppose visiting Ribbon Falls is something I'll just have to add to my "If I ever get back to the Grand Canyon" list. Naturally the sun came out on my way back down thru The Box. You can see how direct sunlight in August could really be a problem here when temperatures can reach 120 degrees in midday. Passin...

 December 12, 2020 The goal for today was to see how far I could go up the North Kaibab trail. I had hoped in my most optimistic dreams to make it all the way to the Supai tunnel. I was a little sore from the two days of walking but I was otherwise optimistic. Alas, it was not to be. I have precious few photos from the whole day because I had barely left camp that morning when the wind began picking up and a wintery rain/snow mix began falling. I had to put my camera in my pack to protect it from the rain and only took it out for a few seconds to grab a couple of quick pictures. The water was off at Cottonwoods so I had to filter water the night before. Amazingly it was still on at the Manzanita rest area so I drank like a parched rhino even though I was freezing once I stopped moving. Looking up toward the rim I caught a glimpse of what was headed my way. Notice how the snow is obscuring the detail up near the rim. I only made it as far as Roaring Springs (a little over two miles ...