29.09. Grand Canyon

Today, it was all about getting up early to explore the Grand Canyon and tackle an exciting hiking trail. We chose a manageable 8 km trail on Komoot that would take us through this breathtaking landscape.

After a deliciously prepared breakfast, we eagerly set off towards the national park. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by the fascinating scenery that exceeded our expectations.

Upon reaching the parking lot, we caught our first glimpse of the Grand Canyon – we could hardly comprehend how immense it lay before us. After firmly lacing up our hiking boots and stowing our supplies, we got started.

Completely overwhelmed, we stopped at the first viewpoint and had to take a moment to realize where we were. The canyon stretched more than 1500 meters deep and seemed endless. Filled with excitement and the urge to climb down into one of the deep gorges, we continued on our way. A curious squirrel seemed to show us the path as we shared the descent with other adventurous hikers from around the world.

After 2 hours, we reached an impressive rock outcrop that offered us a stunning 360° view of the landscape. We took an extensive break, snapped countless pictures, and let the impressions sink in before heading back for the strenuous return journey.

The ascent followed the same path as the descent, but now it was significantly more challenging. Within 2 hours, we struggled our way back up.

Exhausted, but filled with happiness, we reached our car. Since we hadn’t seen enough yet, we drove to two more spots. On the way back, we were astonished: like something out of a movie, a whole herd of wild deer walked right in front of our car, bidding farewell to the canyon visitors.

For our planned Bolognese dinner, we needed an onion that master chef Moritz urgently required. So we stopped at a small supermarket before heading to our accommodation.

We finally arrived at our place just in time for sunset. First, we had to remove a few moths and spiders from the apartment so we could sleep peacefully. While Moritz prepared a delicious dinner, the other three of us were already looking for new routes for the next day.