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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19200
Location: PDX3/15/13 9:26 PM |
Grand Canyon ??
We are going to Dallas / Ft Worth for my nieces' wedding July. Just a 2-3 day visit at most, so we are thinking on the way back maybe either Grand Canyon or San Fran for a few days. We stopped SF on the way back from LA in the foggy season recently. Like to see over a few clear days, instead of a one afternoon visit. ;) Or the Grand Canyon maybe.
Where to you fly into to see the Grand Canyon? Any clues and or info appreciated.
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Steve B.
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Posts: 769
Location: Long Island, NY3/16/13 6:52 AM |
Your choice to fly to:
- Phoenix (240 miles) and drive up, stopping in Sedona and Flagstaff
- Albuquerque (400 miles) and drive over, stopping in Acoma Indian Rez., then maybe thru Painted Desert and Meteor Crater to Flagstaff and north to GC, or up thru the Navajo and Hopi reservations (Canyon de Chelly), then up to the rim from the east.
- or Las Vegas (275 miles), not much to see unless you like LV and always wanted to see the Hoover Dam.
These are the 3 major airport. You can puddle jump into Flagstaff and save the driving.
July will be busy at the south rim, so plan ahead to find lodging int he vicinity.
My preference is ABQ to GC to LV as you get to see the desert.
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KerryIrons
Joined: 12 Jan 2004
Posts: 3255
Location: Midland, MI3/16/13 7:10 PM |
North rim?
The north rim is a nice visit though a bit more out of the way. It's 1000 feet higher and so cooler in the hot months. A lot less crowded plus you can stop at Colorado City and gawk at the polygamists :)
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daddy-o
Joined: 12 Apr 2004
Posts: 3307
Location: Springfield3/17/13 9:53 AM |
Going there a second time but instead as an adult put the early human encounters with the terrain in perspective. I'm talking the people who had no idea, real explorers. They struggled along crossing gulch after gulch, then came to the freaking Grand Canyon.
The sky (horizon) was blacker at night in '75 too. You really do have to travel a long long way to get away from light pollution. Hey Forum astronomers, any suggestions where to go in the continental US for a really dark sky?
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Brian Nystrom
Joined: 26 Jan 2004
Posts: 5122
Location: Nashua, NH3/17/13 1:22 PM |
When we were in Utah last year...
...we heard that a common trip was to visit Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park and the North Rim, which are all in the same (relative) neighborhood. Our ride took us to Bryce and Zion, which are worth the trip. I haven't been to the north rim, but I have been to the south rim and either way, the Grand Canyon is something you need to experience firsthand in order to get a true impression of the sheer scale of the place. Words and pictures simply don't do it justice.
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KerryIrons
Joined: 12 Jan 2004
Posts: 3255
Location: Midland, MI3/17/13 6:48 PM |
Dark sky
quote:
any suggestions where to go in the continental US for a really dark sky?
Yup. Northwest lower Michigan (north of Harbor Springs) is actually designated a dark sky area.
quote:
visit Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park and the North Rim
That's what we did and had a GREAT trip. If you get to Zion be sure to bring river sandals and hike the Virgin River. It's an experience you will NEVER forget. We spent a day in Bryce, a day in Zion, and a day on the North Rim. We hiked a lot each day. And like I said we got to learn about Colorado City which was a trip all by itself.
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Doug
Joined: 13 Jan 2004
Posts: 208
Location: In the shadow of the Valley of Death3/18/13 10:54 AM |
Dark Sky
Try Death Valley. Once you get 5-6 miles away from Furnace Creek and it's resort complex. The "dark" will overwhelm you. Also, your first real unfettered look at the Milky Way. I've ridden for miles without using my lights under the glow of all those stars. A genuine mind-boggler!
YMMV
-dg
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Doug
Joined: 13 Jan 2004
Posts: 208
Location: In the shadow of the Valley of Death3/18/13 10:55 AM |
Dark Sky
"general server error" ?
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sandiway
Joined: 15 Dec 2003
Posts: 4902
Location: back in Tucson3/18/13 3:53 PM |
re: Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam is cool. In terms of world ranking, it's pretty low down but it's beautiful.
They built a bypass for US 93 now; no more does US 93 run along the top of the dam for security reasons. US 93 runs along a concrete bridge that took more years to build than the Hoover Dam itself. Go figure.
I recently went there and it's refreshing to walk along the dam top without tons of traffic. Took some nice pics.
Sandiway
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KerryIrons
Joined: 12 Jan 2004
Posts: 3255
Location: Midland, MI3/18/13 6:40 PM |
Hoover tour
And if you're into technology at all, the Hoover Dam tour is a great experience.
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Smunderdog
Joined: 13 Jan 2004
Posts: 611
Location: Indianapolis, IN3/18/13 6:43 PM |
Hadn't heard that Sandiway - that they don't let you drive over the top anymore. Bummer...
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ErikS
Joined: 19 May 2005
Posts: 8337
Location: Slowing boiling over in the steamy south, Global Warming is real3/18/13 7:13 PM |
The new bridge is breath taking. It is named for Pat Tilman. You won't be disappointed.
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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19200
Location: PDX3/18/13 7:19 PM |
I just googled the bridge. Wow, what a view all that much higher than the dam, including [of course] the view of the dam...
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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19200
Location: PDX3/18/13 7:49 PM |
DP
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sandiway
Joined: 15 Dec 2003
Posts: 4902
Location: back in Tucson3/19/13 3:19 AM |
some pics
The tour...
The new bridge as seen from the dam.
The dam as seen from the walkway of the new bridge:
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Dave B
Joined: 10 Jan 2004
Posts: 4511
Location: Pittsburgh, PA3/19/13 10:09 AM |
Still Tour?
Do they still let you tour the dam's interior? We were there in 1967 well, before the bridge was even thought of, and the highway still crossed the top of the dam. Tours into the interior and the generator floor were easy then but I didn't know they still allow them for security reasons.
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Dave B
Joined: 10 Jan 2004
Posts: 4511
Location: Pittsburgh, PA3/19/13 10:09 AM |
Still Tour?
Do they still let you tour the dam's interior? We were there in 1967 well, before the bridge was even thought of, and the highway still crossed the top of the dam. Tours into the interior and the generator floor were easy then but I didn't know they still allow them for security reasons.
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sandiway
Joined: 15 Dec 2003
Posts: 4902
Location: back in Tucson3/19/13 12:04 PM |
yeah
The tours are still on. I did it last week. My 2nd time. Pick a Monday and the place is serene.
Sandiway
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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19200
Location: PDX3/19/13 12:28 PM |
How long is the tour?
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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19200
Location: PDX3/19/13 12:28 PM |
DP
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sandiway
Joined: 15 Dec 2003
Posts: 4902
Location: back in Tucson3/19/13 1:02 PM |
length
IIRC there are two different tours, one is 45 mins and the other is about an hour. It's always great to walk in the tunnels...
Sandiway
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JohnC
Joined: 10 Jan 2004
Posts: 1939
Location: Glastonbury, Ct3/19/13 1:08 PM |
Cool pics, Sandiway. In the shot from the bridge, the bathtub ring on the reservoir is quite dramatic. I think Lake Mead is currently more than 100 feet below the maximum level, and holding less than half its water capacity.
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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19200
Location: PDX3/19/13 1:14 PM |
And what else interesting in in proximity?
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April
Joined: 13 Dec 2003
Posts: 6593
Location: Westchester/NYC3/19/13 1:36 PM |
quote:
And what else interesting in in proximity?
Grand Canyon?
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April
Joined: 13 Dec 2003
Posts: 6593
Location: Westchester/NYC3/19/13 1:36 PM |
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