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Road Trip Northern Arizona: JTree ::: Sedona ::: Navajo Bridge ::: Vermilion Cliffs ::: Lees Ferry ::: Colorado River ::: Schultz Pass ::: Grand Canyon


Hermit, part 1, April 2019
Road to Hermit's Rest at the Grand Canyon: A Photographic Log
14 April 2019, 18 miles

Today's the day my ace support crew emerges from the Grand Canyon after her backpacking expedition. I need to pick her up, and we've arranged a rendezvous point at Grand Canyon Village. However, it's impossible to know what time she'll climb out of the big ditch, and there's no cell signal, which prevents her from alerting me. But I have a strategy.

After bicycling on Schultz Pass Road yesterday and driving through Wupatki, I stayed in Cameron overnight. Now I'll drive up to the Village (about an hour and a half away), find somewhere to park, pull the Ogre out of the Forester, and spend my time pedaling on Hermit Road, near her trailhead. That way I'll be close to the rendezvous whenever she shows up.

As I was leaving Cameron shortly after sunrise, I spotted Jeff, the touring cyclist I met yesterday at Sunset Crater. We talked for awhile before we both headed up the road toward the park. I pedaled that route on a loaded LHT with RJ a few years ago, so I gave Jeff some tips, not that he couldn't take care of himself. Most importantly, there's no water between Cameron and the park. Carry plenty for the long, dry climb.

After we parted, I made quick time—much quicker than a loaded touring bike!—and reached the Village where the wind was gusty and the temperature only about 40° F. Nevertheless, I wanted to be sure to get in some riding before my ace support crew reached the rim. Off I pedaled despite the chilly wind.

In 2016 I rode the same out-and-back route on a rental bike while waiting for the same lady to emerge from her rim-to-rim expedition. At that time I snapped an overload of photos, so I figured I wouldn't feel the urge to stop and take so many pictures along the same road this time. Ha!


From the Village, Hermit Road immediately takes a sharp upturn that had me shifting down to granny right away.

But there's no traffic—other than an occasional shuttle bus—and the first overlook offers a rewarding vista.


This big guy unexpectedly leaped into the middle of the road, took a step, and stopped right in front of me.

My hands were stiff and cold, but I managed to pull my iPhone out of my pocket while I braked. Fearing he would disappear before I could get a photo, I think I snapped this blurry pic while rolling. Nearly fell over trying to handle phone, take picture, control bike, and come to a graceful stop all at once without spooking my new friend.


I was at a standstill with both feet down when I took this one, so it's not quite so blurry.

Now that I had bike and camera firmly under control, the elk promptly wandered off.


Another vista in the morning sunlight.


Down in the canyon.

Can we see her yet?


More spectacular scenery.


I was still feeling chilly, so I sat in the sun for awhile at the John Wesley Powell memorial, then took a photo of the Ogre leaning against the base of the monument.


Sometimes the gnarled trees fascinate me as much as the views into the canyon.

But I don't expect we'll spot my ace support crew perched on a branch.


The Hermit's Rest "arch" and bell at the end of the road.


Looking through trees toward the rock chimney of the gift shop and snack bar.


Trailhead for the Hermit Trail. "Icy." Right, that's all she needs.

My ace support crew will eventually appear here, assuming she doesn't slip on a glacier and fall into a crevasse.

I sketched a cartoonish overloaded touring bike on a scrap of paper and tucked it under the wiper blade of the expedition's van in the parking lot. That way she would know I was on the scene somewhere around here on two wheels.


After leaving my little sketch on the van, I slowly started back toward the Village on Hermit Road in order to await her at our rendezvous point.


My slow pace was exacerbated by the need to repeatedly dismount and snap photos.

At least the temperature was climbing to a comfortable level.

Still don't see her down there.


Snap, snap, snap.


Everywhere my gaze turned seemed like it required a photograph.


I liked the little cairn on the broken limb.



Continue to part 2


~ 135 ~



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