LOCALadk Magazine
Issue link: https://localadkmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1356268
LOCALadk 31 waterfall, and the terrain eases significantly. Mindful of the cacti littering the side of the trail, we arrive at the edge of Diving Board shortly aer the sun breaches the rim above us. Looking at the camp below, our 18-foot ras appear as tiny blue specks. From up here, the distant rapids, with waves that stand several feet tall, resemble gentle ripples. e top of the canyon rim rises a thousand feet or more above us, giving a true sense of scale as to just how large Big Ditch really is. Later that same day we pause for lunch on the windswept beach below the Nankoweap granaries. Having been here once before, I want to save energy to combat the strong headwind I'll face from the seat of my 18-foot ra, but I encourage other members of the group to make the short hike to check out this iconic piece of archeological history. e granaries are perched a few hundred feet up the cliffside, their prehistoric masonry originally created to protect the Anasazi's precious crops and seeds. While the contents of these granaries were long ago ransacked by mice and potsherd hunters, it's an impressive site nonetheless. From here my memory of all the hikes and stops we made would be a blur without the aid of my canyon journal. e Little Colorado, Carbon, e Tabernacle, Phantom, Elves, Blacktail, Deer Creek, Havasu, Matkat, Tuckup, 202, and others. Some are well-known, like the tourist trap of Phantom Ranch, where you can buy a burger at the bottom of the world and send your loved ones postcards packed out by burro. Others seem indistinguishable from the rest at first, but lead to marvels of light and stone, like Tuckup. For a repeat visitor it can be challenging to veer away from what you know, for fear of sacrificing a guaranteed awe- inspiring stop in exchange for exploring something new. Despite this, I was blown away at every stop of the way and can recommend a few not to miss. Redwall Cavern (Mile 33): Perhaps one of the most popular stops along the canyon, Redwall is mind-bending. As you approach, it looks like a big cave with a sandy floor, but in an Escher-esque twist, you'll find the back wall seems to get farther and farther away the closer you get to it. It's a great stop for lunch or a quick game of frisbee. e Big Ditch.