Canyon Views & Sunsets - 2008 (part 2)

I end up skipping the short jaunts along the rim as I go through and post my Grand Canyon hikes.

This leaves me with a lot of nice photos and experiences that go unseen.

Each instance of sunset photography doesn’t call for an individual post, so I’ve decided to do an overview for each calendar year.

This is the second of two such posts that document the year 2008.

Yaki Point Sunset: May 26

My first sunset at Yaki Point – I scrambled out among the rocks to the west to see the sun meet the horizon.

Rim Trail – Village to Powell Point: June 2nd

It was on this walk from the Grand Canyon Village to Powell Point for sunset when I first discovered the worship site. It’s located along the rim trail about 300 yards west of the Hermit Shuttle bus transfer, on the way to Trailview Overlook from Grand Canyon Village.

Regular sunset services are held here, sponsored by the Grand Canyon Community Church.

Here on the path to Maricopa Point you can see the crumbled state of the Rim Trail along the Hermit Road, prompting 2008’s reconstruction project.

Sunrise & Grass at El Tovar: early June

I worked as a breakfast cook at the El Tovar, and my shifts started at 6am. My housing at Rowzer Hall was near to the Market Plaza, so I’d usually ride the employee shuttle to work in the morning.

At some point in early June, however, my ambitious 28 year-old self decided that I’d start walking and even jogging the rim with my pocket camera to work each day – a distance of almost 2 miles.

This didn’t last for very long, but I got some sunrise shots in the process. More importantly, I got these cool images of the bull elk with their fuzzy antlers. They were a regular fixture in front of the hotel most mornings, due to the fresh sprinkler-fed grass.

In the ensuing years the concentration of elk became a problem (leading to “conflicts” when visitors encroached upon the personal space of these 700-pound wild animals for photos), so the Park Service ultimately removed the Kentucky Bluegrass in the area and replaced it with native vegetation.

Sunrise along the rim trail, on the way to work

For the record, the popular “Trail of Time” interpretive display along this stretch of the rim trail had yet to be constructed.

Monsoon Sunset at Mather Point: June 4

June 4th brought an early monsoon thunderstorm to the South Rim. Based on the phenomenal lighting, on the spur of the moment I grabbed my camera and took off for the rim trail in the vicinity of Mather Point.

South Rim Village & Hopi Point: June 14

In addition to going to Hopi Point for sunset, I simply set out to photograph a number of the South Rim’s landmarks.

Colter Hall, the all-female dormitory located behind the El Tovar

Here again you can see the expansive green lawn that once divided the El Tovar’s veranda from rim.

Sunset at Yavapai Point: June 21

A sunset exploration with friends Jamie E and Bob. We scrambled down from the usual viewpoints and explored a short way below the rim – as much as caution allowed. Before I could talk her down from it, Jamie went out to this dangerous perch (above), so I figured I may as well get the photo.

Sunset at Yavapai Point: July 2

Just another sunset outing – the usual locations at Yavapai were especially crowded, so I improvised by taking some photos from within the geology museum.

Sunset at Hopi Point: July 3

Since this was shot on July 3rd, it’s worth noting how I often equate a midsummer’s Grand Canyon sunset to a July 4th fireworks show.

It’s high summer, and a crowd gathers to view the colors in the sky.

Among the photos immediately below, you’ll see an image of the retired two-piece shuttle buses.

Sunset at Mohave Point: July 5

This evening I visited Powell Point and Hopi Point once again, and then struck out along the rim west to Mohave Point for sunset.

The rim beyond Hopi Point may or may not have been officially closed at the time.

I additionally stopped at Trailview Overlook and grabbed some photos that look over the village as it sits on the rim.

Below you’ll find a couple more images of the Orphan Mine’s headframe, since removed.

Grand Canyon Village: August 7

Here’s some more landmarks in Grand Canyon Village – primarily the mule barn.

Rim Trail Bighorn: November 2

Finally, one chilly afternoon before leaving the Park for the season, I was lucky to encounter this bighorn sheep. He was perched on the Rim Trail between the Village and Yavapai Point.

I still count these among by very best bighorn sheep photos to date.