Day 12: Grand Canyon Part Two and the Drive to Kingman

173 Miles

We woke up, had breakfast in the Village cafeteria, and walked around the area for a bit, enjoying the fresh air, until it was time for our guided “fossil hunt” tour.

When our ranger arrived, he explained the area’s timeline and geology (as best he could to a bunch of laypersons), and then set us on our way to find some fossils. He had a print out for each of us with drawings of what to look for, and what they were called. We noticed immediately that these were not dinosaur or other large bones. In fact, they were mostly ocean fossils – a variety of shells, coral, etc.

Suddenly, we could understand what he had explained: that the ground we were on at 7000 feet above sea level, was once at sea level. Not that the sea level was 7000 feet higher, of course, rather that this land was much lower.

One thing we learned across all the National Parks we attended on this trip was that the rangers love their job, especially the chance to answer questions and to teach. What was supposed to be about a fifty minute tour edged upward closer to ninety minutes as kids kept coming up to him asking, “Is this a Brachiopod?”, or “Is this even a fossil?”. The ranger was happy to stay until everyone was satisfied with their efforts. Even our 17 year old was into it, hunting along with her younger brother to take pictures of their finds.

After Julian was sworn in as a Junior Ranger for the work he completed, we loaded up the car and traveled along Route 66 and I-40 to Kingman, which is close to the Hoover Dam, and on the way to Las Vegas.

Route 66 is still quite lively in this area. Many of the towns are fun little time capsules that appear to be enjoying a bit of a revival. It just underscored why we wanted to do this insane drive across the U.S.: flying only to the big places, you miss so much in between.

We checked into our (somewhat odd but very nice) hotel room in Kingman, ate some McDonald’s for dinner, and prepared for a hot day at the Hoover Dam tomorrow.

The Colorado River hasn't changed what it does over the last six million years. It has, however, changed the canyon extensively. I find this fascinating.
Grand Canyon. Well, not ALL of it, obviously. It is "grand", after all.
Julian was first in line behind the ranger for our fossil hunt. If he completed the activities, he would earn his National Parks Service Junior Ranger Badge for the Grand Canyon. (Badges and stamps for a "Passport" are offered at each national park and most monuments.) Over time, this layer of the canyon was pushed up through seismic activity. The sedimentary rocks have revealed fossils proving this was once near sea level.
Along the Trail of Time on the South Rim.
The walk along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon dates from the current epoch to three BILLION years ago. Each meter along this "Trail of Time" represents roughly 1 MILLION years of geological time. Tiny zircon crystals in this schist (The Vishnu Schist) were carried here and deposited by ocean currents from other continents between 1.75 and 3.8 billion (with a "b") years ago.
During our fossil hunt, it suddenly became obvious that this area (now at 7000 feet above sea level) had been much lower. Fossilized evidence of ocean flora and fauna was everywhere, once we knew what to look for.
Fossilized imprints of coral. Further evidence of sea life.
Another ocean fossil at 7000 feet above sea level.
Yes, we even found petrified wood!
Having completed the guided tour, training, and associated activities (there's a booklet of questions and research to fill out), Julian was sworn in as a Junior Ranger at the Grand Canyon.
Looking east from the South Rim.
Succulents at the Grand Canyon. The South rim is considerably drier than the North Rim, so the flora and fauna are quite different.
Beetle on a flower.
Outside the Yavapai Museum of Geology, before we loaded the car to leave, someone was waiting right by the exit with a cute face, though he knows DARN WELL feeding the wildlife is not allowed!
Pollen collected on the car in under 48 hours.
Mammatus clouds forming along Route 66.
Route 66 is still quite lively, especially in the West. We crossed it multiple times and almost always found something of interest.
Kinda sad.
A handmade model of 1959 Williams, AZ. at the height of Route 66 popularity.
Route 66 shops in Williams, on our way to Kingman.
You see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico, Flagstaff, Arizona. Don't forget Winona, KINGMAN, Barstow, San Bernandino. Won't you get hip to this timely tip? When you make that California trip. Get your kicks on route sixty-six.
La Quinta in Kingman. Great room. Not sure about why there is a single chair under a floor lamp in the corner...
No, really. WHY ARE THESE HERE LIKE THIS?

Return to Main Page

Go to Day 13