Vivalavida went discover another access to the Grand Canyon, also on the North Rim but further west.
 
 
1. Cactus in snow…
 

 
 
2. After going down Whitmore Canyon, I reached the end of the trail, approx. 700 feet above the Colorado River.
 

 
 
3. Grand Canyon is also gorgious here.
 

 
 
4. The site is interesting because it presents a large lava flow clearly visible on this panoramic (3 images stiched). There have been several successive lava flows, the first about 170,000 years ago that created a temporary 250 feet deep lake obstructing the Grand Canyon. This lake has remained approx. 20,000 years before the lava broke, creating a gigantic tidal wave downstream. Since then, there have been seven succesive lava flowa, the last one approx. 20,000 years ago. Do you find VivaLaVida that gives the scale in the image? 😀
 

 
 
5. To the left of the promontory from which I took the previous image, there is a wide collapse that reveals beautiful basalt organ walls. It’s approx. half a mile in diameter and almost 600 feet deep.
 

 
 
6. Details of the cliff with a waterfall that has carved its way.
 

 
 
7. Just to the testimony, picture is not great, a “beep beep” surprised in the warmer micro-climate of the canyon.
 

 
 
8. Going back up the trail, I pass a small country air strip. Some guys don’t lack humor with this “Whitmore International Airport” sign and the two small escalators… 😉
 

 
 
9. VLV near the Mount Trumbull old school. Built in 1922, it was burned by vandals in 2000 and rebuilt in an identical in 2001. It was the only school in the area where the first collons arrived in 1916, growing grains and beans until 1934 where the climate became much drier. Therefore, some og them turned to breeding cattle and sheep while many others left the premises. The school was in operation until 1968 when it was closed for lack of students. the last man living year round in this region died in 1984. Since few ranch remain scattered and inhabited during sommer only.
 

 
 
10. Short detour to Little Black Mountain, an interesting petroglyphs site.
 

 
 
11. the almost horizontal line is oriented exactly in the axis of the winter solstice; December 21st, the sun rises just above its eastern end.
 

 
 
12. One of the big boulders of the site.
 

 
 
13. Details…
 

 
 
After this escapade in Arizona, I made another into Nevada to spend the evening with my friend Christian who was a few days in Las Vegas for the CES. Heading back to Utah where I should pick up a new compressor for VLV (the actual one being at its 4th beakdown…), I stopped at the Valley of Fire, a small Nevada State Park not far from Lake Mead.
 
 
14. Arch Rock.
 

 
 
15. They are also many petroglyphs, those ar at Altalt Rock.
 

 
 
16. Still Altalt Rock.
 

 
 
17. Those are in Mouse’s Tank Canyon.
 

 
 
18. The road heading to White Domes.
 

 
 
19. Sandstone is veined with various mineral colors.
 

 
 
20. Like a petrified wave…
 

 
 
21. Veining…
 

 
 
22. Windstone Arch, rather unusual in an alcove of the rock.
 

 
 
23. Late afternoon in Valley of Fire.
 

 
 
That’s it for today. Next step of VivaLaVida’s journey in the coming days… 😀