The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-05-17
IN NATURES WONDER.
=
Interesting Description of the
Grand Canyon OF Arizona
STORY OF A HARD CLINE
Denison Man Views Wonder of Nat
ure at Close Range But Gets Too
Much Exercise
Dell Rio, Ariz. May z, 1906.

WltnouC uOuDC the grandeSt exhibit
OF erosion or washing and wearing
away by the action of water en- the
earth's crust, is to be found in the
Grand Canyon of Arizona. To any
one who goes TO or from California
via. the Santa Fe, side trip to this
most wonderful of chasms would be
source of keen enjoyment and pleas
urable recollection for years to come.
have yet to meet the person who
has regretted such expenditure of
time or money. Naturally when l
found few days with no work in
sight l yielded to the temptation and
visited the Wonder myself.
At Williams, Ariz. you change
cars for Grand Canyon, distance of
about 65 miles. The fare is Sc. so for.
the round trip and in three hours you
will be at your destination having
passed through an arid looking mesa
or tableland and later entering the
Coconino Forest Reserve. The Santa
Fe owns the two principle hotels
where board and lodging may be had
for from 1925 to $500 day. Stu
ated on the rim of the Mammoth pit
at the apex of a huge semi circular,
gorgeous rock banded horseshoe of
nature one can from the hotel win
dows get a good birds eye view of the
stratetied pillars and pyramids and
gaze on the north wall of the Canyon
some IL miles distant. Foot paths
lead along the rim and the sight-seer
may obtain some most excellent views
from the promontories known as
Rowe's and O'Neil's point about 8
miles on either side of the hotel.
Yonder huge eroded elongated mass of
rock with point on either end and
surmounted by turrets is known as
the battleship Iowa.. On the other
side of the river is the reclining
camel, the gigantic amphitheater, the
temple of Iris and many other points
which bear NEUROLOGICAL or modern
names. An exguide presides over
mounted telescope and half-hour
with him proves interesting and in
structive. A United States field
Geologist with his collection of stones
from the different strata of rock from
the rim, to the rivers edge, is also
I a very interesting person to meet,
being conversant with the Canyon
through practical work in it for many
$ years.
A visit to this Worlds Wonder is
not complete without a trip down the
Canvon to the Colorado Rivers edge.
This is usually accomplished on horse
back but the advertisements state that
robust person used to mountain
climbing may make the trip on foot.
l considered myself in the latter
class and as better opportunity to
observe was also thus afforded de-
cided to walk.
At different places along the Can
yon trails lead down to the waters
edge. At the railroad terminal this
path is called Bright Angel Trail'
and although 1 saw no angel nor
heard any auttering of wings yet
there are places where it would not
he impossible to be transformed one
self. The distance by this trail to
, the river is z miles through in an air
line it is less than half that distance.
The elevation at the head of the
trail is about 1000 feet, while the
river flows almost a mile below.
This will give some idea of the labor
required to go down and out. One
cannot get true and lasting impress
sion of the thickness of the different
rock strata and the total depression
without actual participation. The
trail is necessarily zigzag and in
place path must be blasted from the
precipitious cliff to reach point be-
low. Down, down we go till it seems
we have walked an hour and then we
stop and take our bearing. Looking
downward it seems as though we have
made no progress at all but above is
quite band of white rock. On and
on, we are finally on a level with the
"Iowa, and soon it looms above US
and is finally lost to view behind the
frowning cliffs. We are in the
shadow as the sun does not permeate
these depths except for a few hours
during the heat of the day. After
seeing endless windings finally we are
on the plateau below and over a
more gentle slope we come to a camp
called "Indian Gardens" and know
we have descended 5000 feet. Eleva-
ton posts placed by The United States
Geological Survey tell the traveller
lust "where he is att. 1t is from
these "Gardens' that the Cameron
hotel people obtain their drinking
water. it being packed on burros from
the spring at that place. One may
also obtain refres ments fere' and lodg-
Gov +bo nivht AS almost half