For the first time in two summers, we both had a day off together, so we headed for the Grand Canyon Airport, and took to the air........literally! One of the things that we wanted to do last year, but never accomplished, was to go flying over the canyon in one of the tour helicopters.
At Papillon Helicopters, the largest of the three tour helicopter operations, we received a 30% discount off the regular price because we both worked in the park, and waited only a few minutes before boarding the Bell Ranger 206 whirlybird. There was one other couple from Holland that joined us on the flight, and it was a picture perfect weather day, for a scenic air excursion over the canyon.
The 20-25 minute flight took us over the Ponderosa Pine forest to a point west of Hermits Rest, where we entered the canyon. The advantage of the helicopter flight versus the fixed wing tour of the canyon, is that you fly much lower, and the detail of specific landmarks is much clearer. Except for the flight over the canyon, which is almost a mile deep, we flew at about 500 feet above the ground.
While passing over the Grand Canyon Railroad Tracks (shown below), I caught a glimpse of the morning train from Williams, as it rounded one of the many corners near the South Rim Village. I'm looking forward to riding this train in September, when it will be pulled by a steam engine, and we join our friends for a Golden Spike Chapter RV rally in Williams.
Taking pictures through a Plexiglas helicopter door window doesn't make for the clearest pictures, but when it's the only option, you take what you get. Patty got to ride in the left front seat, which afforded her a better forward view of the scenery, and enhanced the overall experience of riding in a helicopter.
When flying over the canyon, the scenery is just simply breathtaking, and pictures do not reflect the true visual experience. It's just almost impossible to believe that over the course of 5-10 million years, the Colorado River is what caused this former flat plateau to become one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Seeing it from the air is an entirely different experience, and well worth the airfare.
The north rim, pictured above and below, is higher than the south rim, and the environment, and climate are much different. It's not so much high desert like the south rim, with much greener panoramas, and thicker Ponderosa Pine forest. The north rim is home to one of the largest Mule Deer Herds in North America.
What is known as the "Inner Canyon", where the river is still carving its way downward at the rate of about 1 inch every hundred years, is often hard to see from the rims. However, when you fly over the canyon, you can clearly see how many rapids there are along the river. Participating in one of the week long raft trips through the canyon is still on our radar screen, but in reality, it's probably one of the things on our bucket list that will never be crossed off.
Just before touching back down at the airport, we flew to the east over the small community of Tusayan, where the construction crews are putting the final touches on a year long highway improvement project. Even though I don't drive a bus on the Tusayan route, I know that the drivers who do, will be glad when all of the upgrades are finished.
It seems that roundabouts are the latest rage in highway engineering, with two being constructed in Tusayan. The one pictured below is on the south end of town, and is the first one encountered by folks who are driving up to the park.
And then...................later in the day, we took to the air again, in a more conventional flying contraption. More on that tomorrow.
At Papillon Helicopters, the largest of the three tour helicopter operations, we received a 30% discount off the regular price because we both worked in the park, and waited only a few minutes before boarding the Bell Ranger 206 whirlybird. There was one other couple from Holland that joined us on the flight, and it was a picture perfect weather day, for a scenic air excursion over the canyon.
The 20-25 minute flight took us over the Ponderosa Pine forest to a point west of Hermits Rest, where we entered the canyon. The advantage of the helicopter flight versus the fixed wing tour of the canyon, is that you fly much lower, and the detail of specific landmarks is much clearer. Except for the flight over the canyon, which is almost a mile deep, we flew at about 500 feet above the ground.
While passing over the Grand Canyon Railroad Tracks (shown below), I caught a glimpse of the morning train from Williams, as it rounded one of the many corners near the South Rim Village. I'm looking forward to riding this train in September, when it will be pulled by a steam engine, and we join our friends for a Golden Spike Chapter RV rally in Williams.
Taking pictures through a Plexiglas helicopter door window doesn't make for the clearest pictures, but when it's the only option, you take what you get. Patty got to ride in the left front seat, which afforded her a better forward view of the scenery, and enhanced the overall experience of riding in a helicopter.
When flying over the canyon, the scenery is just simply breathtaking, and pictures do not reflect the true visual experience. It's just almost impossible to believe that over the course of 5-10 million years, the Colorado River is what caused this former flat plateau to become one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Seeing it from the air is an entirely different experience, and well worth the airfare.
The north rim, pictured above and below, is higher than the south rim, and the environment, and climate are much different. It's not so much high desert like the south rim, with much greener panoramas, and thicker Ponderosa Pine forest. The north rim is home to one of the largest Mule Deer Herds in North America.
What is known as the "Inner Canyon", where the river is still carving its way downward at the rate of about 1 inch every hundred years, is often hard to see from the rims. However, when you fly over the canyon, you can clearly see how many rapids there are along the river. Participating in one of the week long raft trips through the canyon is still on our radar screen, but in reality, it's probably one of the things on our bucket list that will never be crossed off.
Just before touching back down at the airport, we flew to the east over the small community of Tusayan, where the construction crews are putting the final touches on a year long highway improvement project. Even though I don't drive a bus on the Tusayan route, I know that the drivers who do, will be glad when all of the upgrades are finished.
It seems that roundabouts are the latest rage in highway engineering, with two being constructed in Tusayan. The one pictured below is on the south end of town, and is the first one encountered by folks who are driving up to the park. 
And then...................later in the day, we took to the air again, in a more conventional flying contraption. More on that tomorrow.
Very enjoyable post today, Dan. I love the Grand Canyon but never saw it from the air. I think I will put that one on my list.
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