- Drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
- visit various viewpoints
- Elk and mule deer on campground during dinner
- Little Tranatel discovered
- Marvel at the beautiful sunset at Yavapai Point
So today follows the next classic of the southwest. Every child knows it, recently it was chosen as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world: the Grand Canyon. We leave the imposing Monument Valley and drive west via Kayenta and Tuba City through dry wasteland. Arizona is currently suffering from a drought of several years, after all the summer thunderstorms of the past few weeks have provided some relief from the danger of bushfires. Caused by climate change, it is becoming noticeably drier in the southwest of the USA, which, in addition to population growth, is causing the huge reservoirs to dry out.
Shortly before the national park, the road climbs steeply until we have reached the South Rim at 2200 m above sea level. The higher we get, the bigger the conifers become and that at a height at which we are already beyond the tree line. After the Kaibab National Forest we reach the national park. The first lookout point is the Desert View Point with the historical lookout point. We picnic and let our eyes wander over the impressive gorge. The dimensions of this gorge are really huge. We climb the tower, which is decorated inside with Indian ornaments. We continue westwards and make stops at Lipan and Grandview Point. Sometimes the visitor can stand directly on the abyss, which provides some thrills to have nothing in front of you several hundred meters.
The huge Mather Campground should already be full, but experience has taught me that this doesn't necessarily have to be the case. We just give it a try and lo and behold, there is still space for us in the tent again. We get down to cooking dinner. Mule deer march right next to us through the campsite. As we eat, a much larger relative announces itself. The imposing Wapiti bull marches just a few meters next to us and roaringly asserts its claim to this area.
We drive to Yavapai Point to catch the last rays of sun of the day. A considerable crowd has already gathered here to do the same. Another visitor spotted a small tarantula.
Some daredevils climb an exposed ledge. The sun bathes the ravines and rocks in dark red and casts long shadows. As soon as the sun has set behind the horizon, it makes the few clouds glow orange-red. Back at the campground we play chess and sip a drink.
