| | -
-
-
-
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
| |  |
|
1 |
-
-
| |  |
|
1 |
-
-
| 1 label |  |
|
1 |
-
-
-
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 1.35 Miles |
300 AEG |
| | Hiking | 1.35 Miles | | | |
| 300 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
[ show ]
| partners | | I've twice been to the confluence of the Little Colorado and the big Colorado, a magical place. I've been near the headwaters of the Little Colorado up around Greer in the White Mountains, a really nice little mountain stream you can jump across in most places. In the middle it is usually either a muddy sluice or a large dry wash. But in the middle is the Grand Falls, too. I'd seen it from 30 some odd thousand feet while at work. The need for a low energy day during our hiking trip to Flag provided the opportunity to visit the Falls.
The drive out is a lot like the Little Colorado itself, either a muddy mess or a dusty haul. Today it was dusty but easy enough. Passed amongst the cinder cones, once was the genesis of the Falls.
There was a bit of water flowing down the LC, no real surprise given the recent blessed rains. We hiked along the south/west rim and took lots of photos. There was one car parked a good ways down the canyon. We noticed that the occupant eventually headed down into the canyon and back towards the Falls. That gave us a good idea how to get down, so we slowly worked along the edge to there.
One at the bottom we ran into the car's owner, a Native artist named Dan gathering drift wood. Dan is a wood carver producing Navajo and Hopi themed works. He was a wealth of knowledge about the Falls and the area in general. The chance meeting and conversation greatly enhanced our visit to the Falls.
The Falls from below are even more impressive. Amazing was the flotsam that has collected, most probably from the recent high waters due to the rain. There were 30ish basketballs in the mud. They were surrounded by hundreds of plastic water bottles. Various cans and coolers were in the mud amongst the other litter. Very large tree trunks were scattered in as well, transported from the White Mountains perhaps?
After more photographs and finding a piece of driftwood that might someday become a hiking staff with a story, we headed back to Flagstaff for cool drinks and hot nachos at Criollo and then a stop at Babbitt Brothers to ogle expensive outdoor clothing. |
| _____________________
All you have is your fire...
And the place you need to reach |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
