Lots of good pictures from our roadtrip last week at http://www.whistlingbadger.com/Pictures.html
but here are a few of my favorites.
And yes, in case you’re wondering, the rim has amazing acoustics for whistling. 
Enjoy–Tom
This one is astonishing. You could sell that shot for inclusion in a "natural beauty of the USA’ calendar, or something.
..
Those first 2 just make you go OOOooooooo…
Or something. It’s visceral…hard to phoneticize.
Seeing those pictures looking over the rim – it kind of makes me want to spit.
Yeah, I wanted to throw a rock over. Mrs. Badger wouldn’t let me.
If Dale ever makes it, I think he’ll have to bring a spare trailer hitch.
Here’s one just for Gonzo. I’ll admit, taking this one made me a bit dizzy (I was on my hands and knees right on the edge) and it was not Mrs. Badger approved. 
Tom
beautiful pictures, Tom. thanks for posting them. i hope i can visit the grand canyon someday.
Glad you enjoy them. like I said, there are more on the web site.
We were at the North Rim, at an out-of-the-way area that hasn’t really been “discovered” yet. No crowds, no signs, no guard rails, no pavement. Civilazation amounts to a couple outhouses and picnic tables at the end of a three-hour tirebuster. Just the canyon in all its glory, as God intended it. Our kind of place.
Those ravens were having such a good time–playing tag, flying in formation, doing rolls, landing in the tree nearby to croak (laugh?) at me before taking off again. I really think they were enjoying the sunrise as much as I was.
Tom
Why - is he likely to throw a trailer hitch over?
Hey Tom, did you drive or fly? If drove how long did it take from Lander?
A co-worker recently went there. Her preparation for the trip was reading the book “Death In The Grand Canyon” which chronicles all the different ways that stupid people can get themselves killed there.
She said that nobody had ever died doing the mule thing.
For your first question, I will refer you to the “bees” thread.
We drove. It took about 12 hours total to get there, but we had a whole week to kill and made several cool stops along the way. Check out the website, Beth. It was the greatest roadtrip ever. I can only imagine what a person with your photographic talent could do in some of these places.
Actually, we did meet a pro landscape photographer. He camped right beside us, and only got one “acceptable” shot the whole trip. It’s here. Very cool guy.
Tom
Man, this makes me want to go back and do it properly.
When I was over in 2001 we only spent 1 night at the Grand Canyon. By the time we got there we only had time to check in at the motel, get the bus up to the sunset spot, take pictures for half an hour then get the bus back to the motel before driving off to the next destination in the morning.
Nice.
Yeah, that’s what I hate about modern tourism. Too fast, too much of a checklist mentality.
That’s why I like the wild places. At this spot, if you want a bus or a motel, you had better bring it yourself. 
Along with water, food, spare tires, and a strong self-preservation instinct.
The camping area is maybe a quarter mile from the rim. Making the walk in the predawn or at sunset feels like a ceremony, like walking up the steps to a temple. If you meet anyone else, which is rare, they are friendly and talk quietly. It’s hard not to be struck by the sacredness of it.
That might sound overdramatic, but it’s how it really is. Even silly people who drive instead of walking are forced to slow down by the condition of the road.
Like I said, our kind of place.
Great pictures. One may find itself on my desktop.
The pictures of the Grand Canyon bring back a lot of memories. Living in Arizona most of my life, it was my good fortune to visit the canyon on many occasions. I learned that hiking in a canyon is so different from climbing a mountain. With over 5,000 feet of vertical relief on the south rim, walking down into the canyon seems easy (as long as your knees hold out). The hard part is trying to climb out, when at the half way point you have the panic thought that you are not going to make it. I am smart enough now not to put myself in that position again. I would be content to view the canyon from the rim another time before I go to the happy hunting ground.
Whyoming Badger, I have to compement you on the excellent photos. I’m glad that you didn’t throw that rock over the edge. I also have a question about your new avatar. It looks to me like you are climbing one of the coral sand dunes in southern Utah. Yes, I’m a collecter of rocks and (of all things) sand, which are in little glass jars sitting around my living room.
I’ve seen better.
djm
Thanks! I’m learning. Got some great tips from our neighbor down there.
We had a world-class rock climber, one of our neighbors, killed up in the Wind Rivers last summer by a hiker who chucked a rock off a cliff, having no way of knowing there was a climber a thousand feet below. It was devastating to both families and to the community. After that, I think my rock bowling days are over.
Yeah, we spent some time at Coral Pink. There are a couple pics on the website. Don’t know what was better, the dunes, the cool off-road rigs (with strictly enforced quiet hours and hiker protection–best of both worlds), or the campground with HOT SHOWERS! We almost ruined our camera, though. Digital cameras do not like sand. Really had to coax it to get any of those Grand Canyon shots!
T