Toroweap

So Toroweap just might be my new favorite place at Grand Canyon. One of the only places (maybe the only one) where you can look down a sheer 3000ft drop to the river. Going to try to keep this one a secret though... I try to make it clear that people's tires won't survive but we learned that about 20,000 people make it out there every year. Kind of a bummer. Thousands of people every year could ruin this place. Sorry but its true.

Went out with Adriana who was on her way to California to work. Picture on right is Vulcan's throne, the volcano at Toroweap that was responsible for creating lava dams in the canyon when it erupted 13 times and helped erode and widen the canyon. Arrived just in time for some great lighting and a breathtaking sunset.

Jesse and Adriana on the Edge... Jesse undoubtedly interpreting some geology for Adriana :)

Sunset looking down river (bottom). Clouds and lighting and everything was beautiful! Very impressive. However, I will continue to tell people that Toroweap is impossible to get to (it is pretty much impossible if you don't have good tires and high clearance) but the experience would be much depleted with lots of people out at the point.

Adriana spotted a tarantula, the first one I've seen here. Cool

Got to the campground and started talking with Charlie, the volunteer out at Toroweap. Funny guy. Has the cutest little cocker spaniel named J Lo... (She has a big ass haha). Campground was pretty cool although I don't think any of us slept that well for some reason. May have been the mysterious mosquitos.

Caught sunrise the next morning (right) with some coffee and breakfast out at the point.

Ran into Todd, the Toroweap Ranger who patrols that half of the canyon on the North Rim. He showed us some places to go to and fed us some watermelon at the Ranger Station.

"Greater Tuweep metropolitan area" on left (thats what the sign says when you drive through it). Consists of the Ranger residence/station, a bunkhouse, bathroom and tool shed. :)

After our watermelon feast we headed out to Kanab Point... 2 hours on some sketchy dirt roads but an interesting view point. Most prominent feature is the esplanade sandstone plateauing out all over the place but you can see a stretch of the river unlike the viewpoints in the forest. Had some lunch and then headed out. Was a bit hot out there and getting late.

Jesse at Kanab point...

Caution: Geologist at work. Complete with topo maps and a gin and tonic. Essential materials in the field.

More truck trouble on the way back. Busted a break line right before Fredonia (lucky that it wasn't earlier I suppose). We parted ways with Adriana, talked some truck business and found a place to post up for the night.

Breakline pieces weren't abailable in Kanab... Had to wait for a piece from Denver. Alan and Judy, two peeps that work up here were also getting their vehicle worked on and offered to give us a ride back up to the rim... Paid our dues by helping them out on their property right near Zion which is going to be a banging spot once they get everything they want done.

Now the parents are here. Doing the tourist thing to give them the North Rim experience.