A couple of weeks ago, hiking bud Dennis Foster invited me to join him on a three-day, two-night hike to Phantom Ranch in Grand Canyon National Park. Having recently retired, my calendar was wide open and I gladly accepted.
We hiked in this past Wednesday, did a day hike out Clear Creek trail to a known Puebloan ruin site in Zoroaster wash on Thursday, and hiked out on Friday.
It was a great three days below the rim with nearly perfect weather, some fantastic scenery and a lot of history discovered. It's a great itinerary for late February through March when highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s are the norm. The difficulty of this hike is a match for GC enthusiasts of all experience levels.
All the below photos were made with a Fujifilm X-T20 and 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS zoom lens.
The South Kaibab trail begins with a tight series of switchbacks cutting a steep path through the topmost layer of Kaibab limestone.
Bill Ferris pauses to drink in the view from "Ooh Aah Point".
The "Red & Whites" cut a path through a break in the Redwall limestone along South Kaibab Trail.
Dennis Foster admires a view of the Inner Gorge and Colorado River from this perch along South Kaibab Trail.
A panoramic view of Phantom Ranch near the mouth of Bright Angel Creek Canyon with the Silver (left) and Black (right) bridges visible spanning the Colorado River.
A backpacker crosses the Colorado River via the Black Bridge in Grand Canyon National Park. The raised planks were added for mule traffic.
An agave pit marks the location of Puebloan ruins just off Clear Creek Trail in Grand Canyon National Park.
This register is among the items in the ammo box at the Zoroaster wash ruins. It has been in place since 1999. Park archaeologists ask that visitors sign in to document visitation to this cultural historic site.
Potsherds at the Zoroaster wash ruin site.
One of the several ancient rooms at the Zoroaster wash cultural historic site.
A view toward Zoroaster Temple from a Tapeats ledge near the Publoan ruins.
Trace fossils are common in the limestone rocks in Grand Canyon. This fossil can be found along the Clear Creek trail.
Cedar Ridge is a popular day hike destination along the South Kaibab Trail. It's also a popular place for a restroom or snack break by backpackers.
With the Bright Angel Trail temporarily closed due to construction, the South Kaibab Trail sees increased traffic from day hikers and backpackers, even on a crisp winter's day.
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Bill Ferris Photography
Flagstaff, AZ
