Hermits Rest

Saturday June 4, 2011
Grand Canyon National Park

Went running along the many paths that wind
through the employee housing area which is
beautiful.  The Grand Canyon is clearly
a very nice place to work and live.

Came back and had a nice breakfast of sausage, eggs and toast.

We thought we would go out on
the West End of the South Rim trail today.
The blue bus basically stops at every
important point within the central part of the park.
Then there are two other buses which
will take you out on the East and West far ends
of the park.  You really do not have to drive
anywhere if you are willing
to be patient and use the bus system.

I don't even think it takes that much
patience since they run every 10 to 15 minutes.

 I guess you can see I'm a fan of the bus.  :-)

We got on the Blue bus thinking to
take it to the Hermit’s Rest Transfer stop
and change to red to go out  on that trail

But then we realized we hadn’t brought
our binoculars and after spending some time
yesterday watching the condors, we decided
we wanted to go back for them.
So off of one blue bus going West at the visitor’s center
and on to one going East.

We picked up the binocs, got back on Blue
since it stopped  at the train station
before it got to the Transfer stop,
we hopped off for a look.

It is the original train station build by the Santa Fe Railroad
in the early 1900’s to make it much easier than
stagecoach for tourists to get to the canyon

.

We had been told an early steam engine was
coming up from Williams today.  One of only
a very few times a year it comes.
So we wanted to see it.

But no steam engine in sight.
Seems it had gone out for water
and would be back a couple of hours from now.
DARN!

So we took a substitute picture of
the train that comes in daily from
Williams bringing passengers to
the canyon in fine style.

We decided to walk on down the rim
trail from the Train Station to the
Transfer stop and along the way
ran into an interesting ranger talk
about the birds in the canyon
and other interesting “canyon stories”

We did finally hop on the red bus for
our hike.  A little later than we’d planned
but who cares.

You see the most interesting things
here.  Including this belt method of
keeping your hat from blowing away.

The bus makes 8 stops on the way to Hermit’s Rest and
three on the way back.  So if you are hiking the trail in
the afternoon and want to bus it home for dinner,
Be Aware.

We hopped off at Monument Creek Vista.
#6 out 8 of stops and hiked toward Hermit’s Rest.
We figured at our pace, that’s about all we could
for sure do in the time we had.   Hoping
to come back another time and do the
nearer 5 but wanted to make sure
we got to see Hermit’s Rest.  You may have
to click on the map to make it large enough to see
the trail and "You are Here"

 

Although I didn’t see Monument Creek,
I did see this.

On to Pima Point.

where we could see the Colorado below.
Can you?  It’s the strip of green with
white caps in middle of the lower 3rd of the photo.

The white caps are Granite Rapids.
They are at the point where Monument Creek
flows into the Colorado.

Check out David's zoom lens.

Can you see better now?

How about now?

 

On down to Hermit’s Rest looking
for the Colorado all the way.

It’s in both of these pictures.
Can you spot it?

Hermit’s Rest is another of
Mary EJ Colter’s Buildings
designed for the Santa Fe Railway Traveler.

After arriving at the Grand Canyon Railway Station,
visitors then traveled the 9 miles to Hermits Rest
by open topped touring stage and arrive here.

 

They then could rest and have refeshments at
"Hermits Rest"

Just as in days past, there are “refreshments”
available for today’s visitors.

 

This picture is taken just inside to the left of the door.
As with othe Colter National Historic Register buildings,
this one is now an information center and
gift shop.

The arched doorway leads into what once was
a “guest” room.

The enormous fireplace is the focal point.
Notice the furniture.

Very typical of Colter’s choices

As you can see from the pictures above, the
sun was sinking low in the west.
It was time for dinner.
So we grabbed the bus back
after another GRAND day.