Train Trip to Arizona and Grand Canyon
My friend Jim and his son John were going on a trip to Grand Canyon during spring break and invited me to come along. We had a very nice time. We took the train about 800 miles (22 hours) each way. So much nicer than flying. There's no stress or hurry. We had 3 good hikes in Grand Canyon. Before going home, we visited Winslow, Winona, and Flagstaff on the legendary "Route 66". A visit to Walnut Creek National Monument was a totally unexpected amazing discovery. On the way home we rode the Coast Starlight which is one of the most scenic railroads in the world. Thanks guys, a great trip.
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John's Condor Photographs Bright Angel Trail Hike South Rim Trail South Kaibab Trail |
Travelling to Arizona Arizona Coast Starlight |
One of the highlights of the trip was at lunchtime on Sunday at Plateau Point. It's a 6 mile hike and 3000 foot descent down Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point. We were rewarded with a great view of the river - still 2000 feet below a vertical cliff. The reward however was the arrival of 2 Californian Condors. They sat on a ledge very close to us - perhaps less than 100 feet away. Eventually they just hopped off the ledge and soared off over the river.
These birds were once found all over American and the "California" in their name only signifies the original sighting and registration of the species. In the late 1980's there were less than 20 of these beautiful birds alive and the decision was taken to round them up and put them in sanctuaries in San Diego and Los Angeles. The breeding program was so successful it was possible to start releasing them back into the wild. The first "wild" offspring were born around 2005 and there are now 70 breeding pairs in the Grand Canyon. There are now about 400 of the species - mostly living in the wild in Grand Canyon and in California around Big Sur and Pinnacles National Monument.
The Condor is very easy to recognize. It's really big, typically about 20 to 30lbs. The Condor has a wingspan of up to 10 feet and glides like a jumbo jet. Its flight is very steady unlike the turkey vulture which is more like a moth in the breeze. Condors can fly 100 miles before breakfast. They glide on thermals above cliffs. Grand Canyon is perfect for them as the hot air of the Canyon rises to the cooler air above. They are vultures so they eat dead meat (carrion). They glide along looking for activity on the ground. If a coyote or wolf has killed, the Condor will clean up afterwards. They eat about 3lbs of meat when it's available.
The younger birds have totally bald bright red heads. Real ugly ducklings. No head feathers makes sense when you eat by sticking your head into a dead carcas. All the Condors in Grand Canyon have a large number attached to their wings and a GPS and Radio Transmitter with which they are monitored by the Park Service. The birds are wild as the Park Service does not provide food or shelter. Condors can live up to 50 years.
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