by laurelbf

Grand Canyon – view from the top.

We had an absolute ball for our second visit together to the Grand Canyon. Not to get too cheesy, but, as I’m sure any of you who’ve made the Grand Canyon pilgrimage will agree, I think it may be the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to, and despite my best attempts, no photo can do its grandeur justice. I’ve been there three times in my life now. Once as a teenager, on a trip with my family. Great intro, but as a whiny teen, who couldn’t be bothered to continue to get in and out of the car, I’m not sure I quite “got it”. The last two trips, however, with my sweet partner Ryan by my side, have both felt like a spiritual “coming home,” and I’m not at all embarrassed to say I’ve been moved to tears on multiple occasions looking into the depths of the Canyon.

I hope to update this post soon with some more details of our visit and journal excerpts, but for now, I’m just going to get this out there and let you get a glimpse at some of the beauty we encountered. Big ups to the Grand Canyon, who is still out there, just doin its thing. Also, shoutout to Linda “Libertad” Sevilla, a like-minded friend we met on our hike on the South Kaibab Trailhead and who makes a couple of appearances in our pics. Hope your trip’s treating’ you well, girl!

Wild skies as we approach our campground.
Wild skies as we approach our campground.
Purple rain from our campground in the Kaibab National Forest.
Purple rain from our campground in the Kaibab National Forest.
Proof we made it up before the sun broke free of the horizon.
Proof we made it up before the sun broke free of the horizon.
Ryan's Led Zeppelin tee kind of blended in with the Canyon theme.
Ryan’s Led Zeppelin tee kind of blended in with the Canyon theme.
Looking down on the switchbacks of the South Kaibab Trailhead in the mid-morning shade.
Looking down on the switchbacks of the South Kaibab Trailhead in the mid-morning shade.
Still enjoying shade.
Still enjoying shade.
Ryan and our new friend Linda were patient as I brought up the rear.
Ryan and our new friend Linda were patient as I brought up the rear.
You can't really tell from the picture, but this vantage point pretty much dropped straight off into the canyon.
You can’t really tell from the picture, but this vantage point pretty much dropped straight off into the canyon.
Crossing with caution
Crossing with caution
Made it, babe.
Made it, babe.
Ryan enjoys the views as only he could.
Ryan enjoys the views as only he could.
Nice.
Nice.
Great flowers alongside the rim trail.
Great flowers alongside the rim trail.
Flowers and a view.
Flowers and a view.
Jes' takin' it all in.
Jes’ takin’ it all in.
More flowers, more view.
More flowers, more view.
Our home in the Kaibab National Forest.
Our home in the Kaibab National Forest.
Ryan whippin' up a gourmet camp meal and making use of our fancy backpacking stove.
Ryan whippin’ up a gourmet camp meal and making use of our fancy backpacking stove.
Aliens landing.
Aliens landing.
Got it!
Got it!
This show went on for several hours.
This show went on for several hours.
The moon setting when we got up for our second morning heading into the park.
The moon setting when we got up for our second morning heading into the park.
Colors coming alive.
Colors coming alive.
We posted up on a beautiful ledge off of the rim trail and watched the light change in the early morning. It was a little chilly, so I wore my condom head hoodie, obvi.
We posted up on a beautiful ledge off of the rim trail and watched the light change in the early morning. It was a little chilly, so I wore my condom head hoodie, obvi.
Amorphous masses in the mist.
Amorphous masses in the mist.
Not a bad vantage point at all.
Not a bad vantage point at all.
These trees along the rim trail smell amazing.
These trees along the rim trail smell amazing.
Early morning in the park means animal friends are often grazing. Look at the rack on this guy!
Early morning in the park means animal friends are often grazing. Look at the rack on this guy!
Selfie minus the condom head hoodie.
Selfie minus the condom head hoodie.
Got a spam and egg sandwich at a little restaurant on the Navajo Reservation on the eastern exit from the park. It was truly wonderful.
Got a spam and egg sandwich at a little restaurant on the Navajo Reservation on the eastern exit from the park. It was truly wonderful.
Ryan on double duty as we headed up to Utah.
Ryan on double duty as we headed up to Utah.