Grand Canyon
2005 Airstream Caravan

Carol and I lead a caravan of New Mexico Airstreamers from Albuquerque to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon with stops at the Hubbell Trading Post and Lees Ferry June 9-14.

Some of our Airstreams and a few antique cars at the entrance to the Hubbell Trading Post.

John Lorenzo Hubbell purchased the trading post in 1878, ten years after Navajos were allowed to return to their homeland from their terrible exile at Bosque Redondo, Ft. Sumner, NM. During the four years spent at Bosque Redondo, Navajos were introduced to many new items. Traders like Hubbell supplied those items once they returned home.

Hubbell family members operated this trading post until it was sold to the National Park Service in 1967. The trading post is still active, and operated by the non-profit organization, Western National Parks Association, that maintains the trading traditions the Hubbell family established. http://www.nps.gov/hutr/

Hubbell clerks with a customer.

Horse collars hanging from the ceiling and dye charts on the counter.

The rug room at Hubbell.

The old gun room.

The next sightseeing stop was the Navajo Bridge over the Colorado.

Carol on the bridge with some of our Airstreams in the background.

Carol spotted California Condors roosting on the canyon wall. Here is one of three. Click for more info on the re-introduction of California Condors into AZ.

The tourists at Navajo Bridge with the Colorado 470' below.

The original Navajo Bridge was built by the Arizona Hwy Dept.. In 1929, AZ was not a very developed state, and only dirt roads approached both sides of the bridge. Before it was built, Lee’s Ferry was the only means of transportation between AZ & UT. Lee’s Ferry was a undependable way to get across the Colorado River, because during storms, or floods, the ferry would not run.

Our caravan camped one night at Lees Ferry on our way to the Grand Canyon.

Here is the steam boiler mentioned in the info sign above.

The remains of the sunken steamboat are in the foreground.

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We walked down to the river to watch the raft outfitters getting loaded and ready to launch. Trips are up to 8 days and $1,500.

This over view shows the best crossing of the Colorado River for 500 miles.

Beautiful campsites, (no hookups) at Lees Ferry.

View of the Colorado from the campground.

Old fort at Lees Ferry.

Jerry and our Airstream by "Mushroom Rock".

Caravan of 8 Airstreams leaving Lees Ferry. We would soon meet 3 more of our group at the Grand Canyon.

Carol at the view of the valley floor we had just come across.

At last we arrived at the Lodge at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

This magnificent lodge completed in 1937 is made with large limestone blocks and timbers.

View of the Lodge sun room with bronze donkey.

Stepping out of the doors in the above picture brings you to this balcony. The formation on my right is Bright Angel Canyon which is just one of the many side canyons of Grand Canyon.

Dining room in the North Rim Lodge.

Late afternoon dinners were a treat at the window watching the sunset. Roll your mouse over the picture to see the sunset.

One morning Carol cooked an egg fritatta for a group breakfast at our Grand Canyon campground in the pines.

Here is just another side canyon. There are 6 people in this picture which help to show the scale of the canyon. Roll your mouse over the picture for a close up view.

We walked out to the Bright Angel Point and the wind was so strong I had to hold my hat.

This had been a wonderful trip of 1008 miles but we are always happy to be back home again.