Date:         Sat, 23 Apr 2005 12:15:56 -0700
Reply-To:     Gerald Masar <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gerald Masar <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Grand Canyon trip rpt. (short)
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It was only 300 miles RT from my house, including one night at a close-by campground.
I wanted to check out some upgrades (furnace & second propane tank) to my '90 Westy,
and hadn't been to the edge for some years, so decided to go before the tourist
season.

The campground (Mather, 300 sites) is officially on the reservation system now, but
there were plenty of sites open. Camping is $15, or half that with one of the passes.
You don't pick your own, they are assigned, but I told him I had a dog, so I got one
with nothing but woods behind me. Unlike most NP and NM, dogs ARE allowed on the
trails ABOVE the rim.
Tuesday morning there was a mass exodus from the campground because of cool temps, in
the 50's day and one night down to 20º and extremely windy conditions. After the first
night, I kept the top down, because the wind was just sucking the heat out.

I am glad I went now, because there were already hordes of visitors. I think many just
come up off of I40, jump out take a look and a photo and leave. I was at Mather Point
one morning at 9:00 and there were lots of spaces. By 10:00, it was full. The new
visitor center is nearby and has no parking lot, so you walk to it or take the
extensive, free shuttle system.
There is a hiking trail running miles along the rim, and once I got away from the main
overlooks, I saw few people.

Glad I brought my new porta-potti. The drains backed up in the closest restroom one
evening and by morning there was 1"or 2" of water over the floor. Water you wouldn't
want to step in :).

All in all, it's still THE GRAND CANYON, but go right now or in the Fall.
Jerry