Backpacking the Grand Canyon - Part 1

I made plans months ago and received a permit to hike down the Grandview Trail to New Hance Rapids and on up the Red Canyon Trail. I had hiked this same route about 11 years ago, yet many things seemed unfamiliar and new. We were a group of 10 and spent two nights at the river. As  always, words can't describe the beauty there. We left from Prescott around 5:30am for the trailhead. Since our ending trailhead was a different trail, we set up our shuttle system before starting our hike at 8:45. Grandview trail isn't an easy one. We descended 2,000 ft in 3 miles to Horshoe Mesa. We then quickly descended the Redwall down to the Tonto Trail for another 6 miles to New Hance Rapids. Our total mileage was 11.5 miles and we just made it to camp at dark. It was a long haul but well worth the effort. The cool sandy beach felt luxurious. The weather was a warm 78 and we enjoyed quite a bit of shade from the low Autumn sun. Here are some pictures highlighting our first day:

notice the smoky haze from a North Rim fire

gorgeous morning light

butte-y-ful

fall colors

descending the rugged Redwall

copper with blue patina

Page Springs

barrel cactus living on the edge

looking up Hance Creek from Tonto Trail, Cottonwood trees below

trekking along

late afternoon, last descent to the river

first good view of the river, looking west

New Hance Rapids below, looked closer than it took to get down there