During my 3 months in the US I have heard the word "Awesome"
used in all sorts of situations - "an awesome pass", during
a football game, "an awesome meal", "an awesome
body"............etc. etc. But using this word in connection with
The Grand Canyon is definitely one of the few correct usages of such a
superlative. The <a
href="
http://www.paradisefoundtours.com">Grand
Canyon</a> is just that: "AWESOME!!".
The first sight proper of the canyon, coming upon it from where The
Watchtower is situated, literally took my breath away - "WOW!"
as I exhale the full contents of both my lungs and take about 30
seconds before I can recover enough to inhale again. The sight has me
transfixed for several minutes, just allowing the brain to start to
cope with the immensity of the panorama, before I can even contemplate
reaching for my camera. Looking through the viewfinder, I realise that
there is no way that any picture I can take will even approach doing
justice to the place, no way whatsoever.
No matter what you read about The Grand Canyon, no matter how
many pictures you see, the television documentaries, the magazine
articles: whatever the medium, NOTHING can prepare you for that first
impression on standing at the edge looking 1 mile down and 10 across
with its length winding as far as the eye can see in both directions.
Send Photo to a Friend NPS Info Poster
North Rim or South Rim? The North and South rims offer different
perspectives of The Grand Canyon. The North's views are more
horizontal, whilst the views from the South allow you to see all the
way down to the Colorado river at the bottom.
Temperatures on the North rim are generally cooler than the South
because it is slightly higher and more exposed. In winter the North
rim roads are closed off from November to May and there are no visitor
facilities in late fall either (during which the roads are subject to
closure at short notice).
The South Rim is by far the more popular and is open 365 days a year
including holidays and has excellent facilities all year including
camping and lodging, restaurants, shops and even ATM facilities.
Car parking is available in several locations between Mather Point and
Hermits Rest Transit Point and the area is serviced by free shuttle
busses covering three routes: The Village Route, Hermits Rest and The
Kaibab Trail and busses can be boarded or disembarked freely at the
stops on the routes - see transportation tip.