By Bobbie Green



One of the many benefits of Southwest living are the many beautiful areas close around for us to enjoy.

One of them is the awesome Grand Canyon, still regarded as one of the Eight Wonders of the world. On this trip I chose to go to the South Rim and try out the Learning & Lodging Program by the Grand Canyon Field Institute. The Grand Canyon Field Institute is a non-profit organization that works closely with the Grand Canyon National Park Association and Xanterra , the company responsible for the concessions and operator of the accommodations at the South Rim. Together they have created the Learning & Lodging program to bring Educational guided hiking to its visitors.

This program is a fascinating way for families, even seniors such as my self to explore and learn about the canyon, so much more than leaning over the rim and just viewing the vastness. They have different program available Lives & Lore of the Grand Canyon, Legends and Photography on the Edge; we did the Discover the Grand Canyon. The package includes lodging, guided tours and hikes and most meals. You supply the back packs and happy feet.

We were treated with a visit to the Kolb Studio; the top floor of the 5 story structure built against the canyon wall is now a book shop. The rest of the house is off limits unless you are on one of these tours. Ellsworth and Emory Kolb, the first official photographers for the Grand Canyon, began building this house in 1904 from a cave in the wall of the canyon they were using as a dark room. Emory lived in the house until his death in 1976. It is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Talk about rooms with a view this is the ultimate.

Along with our guide Elaine Furimsky and the other eight people in our tour group and our box lunch, we took a 1.5 mile hike down the Bright Angel Trail into the canyon. Yes, the same trail the mules take, wearcomfortable old shoes. All the way down my head kept telling me stop, you foolish sedentary senior computer person, you will never make it back up. We ate our surprisingly good box lunch at a view point along the trail near the most popular spot on it, the outhouse, before beginning our up-hill trek. Here I am writing this for you, I did make it back. It was tough; I was the last in my group up huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf. Except for my hiker spouse I was the oldest in the group. Our great guide Elaine kept telling me not to worry I would make it. My advice unless your young or have been hiking most of your life take the mules down so they can bring you back up, The sign at the trail head says "Hiking down is optional hiking up is mandatory"

The next days hike was absolutely incredible. A mile through the forest to a place on the rim called Shoshone Point. A narrow land bridge took us to a mesa in the canyon where we had almost a 360 degree view. As a fellow hiker said "It just doesn't get any better than this." Of course our guide is continually giving us information on geological facts, history, plants, best picture spots etc. Every one in our group was having a good time. Some were even talking of a return trip. Moms and daughters, Dad's and sons were clowning around having a good time together. Our tour included a visit to Desert View Watch Tower and a little history lesson about the architect Mary Colter, an independent woman ahead of her time, the wall inside contain phenomenal original Indian art work. We also visited the Tusayan Museum and the Pueblo Indians ruins.

I was expecting food in a national park to be of poor quality and I was pleasantly surprised, the food was actually good. The Yavapai Lodge where we stayed was very basic but clean and I found no reason not to stay there.

I discovered there was so much more to the Grand Canyon than I had experienced on my previous non-guided visits.

The really great thing about the Grand Canyon Field Institute programs is the fact their tour can be customized. They take groups from 4 to 16 people, from age 10 and up. Your group could skip the hike down into the canyon if you wanted and request a flat rim hike instead. Get together with your extended family or small group of friends along with the GCFI guide and you can create a remarkable outing.

Grand Canyon Field Institute Contact info.

Phone 866-471-4435

Po Box 399

Grand Canyon, AZ 8023

Web site

www.grandcanyon.org/fieldinstitute.

e-mail
gcfi@grandcanyon.org

Bobbie Green is a local writer and member of NATJA

Direct comments and questions to Questions@pikx.com