Granite/Hermit Loop (Feb 2008)

Well, it was President's Day weekend again, and I guess I've started a new tradition of going to do a major backpack trip down in the Grand Canyon. The snowy and windy weather cleared out, and the forecast was for 40 at night and 60s during the day down by the river. I invited Mike to come along with me for a three day 25+ mile loop hike off the south rim--going down 4500'+ on the Hermit trail to Granite Rapids for one night (10 miles), then across the Tonto over to Hermit Rapids (6 miles) the next night, and then hiking out (9 miles) the third day. There was about 6 inches of snow and ice on the rim, but it was pretty much gone once we descended one thousand feet. At night the nearly full moon lit up the eerie inner gorge of black Vishnu Schist with an interesting hue and glow, along with making curious and even scary shapes in the rocks! The weather cooperated and we both had a great three day trip.


Me next to Granite Rapids. The dark inner gorge is just upstream from here.


















A shot of the moon lighting the Vishnu Schist of the inner gorge. The rock here is nearly 2 billion years old!














Me on the Tonto hiking between Monument and Hermit Creek.











The Monument pictured here, with snowy Pima Point almost a mile above .














The Tapeats narrows of Hermit Creek had interesting rock formations and waterfalls and cascades.















Cool view of the inner gorge while hiking out.












After the hike on the rim, we drove out to Pima Point in order to look down on the trails, campsites, and rapids that we visited. I have to say this is my favorite view from the south rim.








Videos of kayakers going through Granite Rapids, and of a waterfall cascading down Hermit Creek.