"What nature delivers to us is never stale. Because what nature creates has eternity in it." Isaac Bashevis Singer
This is a view of the Four Peaks (Wekopa in the Yavapai Apache language) from Cholla Tank off of Second Water Trail in the Superstition Wilderness. The "Four Peaks Motherlode" is one of the toughest hikes in these parts. We wisely decided not to go to the top and back today.
Sonoran Desert vegetation includes Saguaro, Ocotillo, prickly pear, cholla & mesquite.
Tags: Al_hikesAZ AZHike Arizona Superstition Superstitions Supes Wilderness Mountains hiking hikes backpacking landscape Second Water Trail Cholla Tank Four Peaks Wekopa Tonto National Forest quote unature Four Peaks Second Water Trail Cholla Tank
© All Rights Reserved
© All Rights Reserved
This is the front entrance to El Tovar Lodge.
I took a little winter trip to the South Rim. Hardly any crowds at this time of year. Temperatures in the upper 20's during the day, mid teens at night with windchills into the single digits. I am well prepared for these temperatures and was comfortable most of the time. I stayed at the El Tovar Lodge.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Tovar_Hotel
The El Tovar Hotel, also known simply as El Tovar, is a former Harvey House" situated just 20 ft (6 m) from the south rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The hotel was designed by Charles Whittlesey, Chief Architect for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway, and was decorated by architect Mary Colter, opened in 1905 as one the chain of hotels and restaurants owned and operated by the Fred Harvey Company in conjunction with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (Santa Fe). It is at the northern terminus of the Grand Canyon Railway, which was formerly a branch of the Santa Fe. The hotel is one of only a handful of Harvey House facilities that are still in operation, and is an example of National Park Service Rustic architecture."
The El Tovar was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 6, 1974.[1] It was declared a National Historic Landmark on May 28, 1987.[8] The hotel is a major component of the Grand Canyon Village Historic District, which encompasses the historic portions of the South Rim development, including visitor attractions designed by Mary Colter, the Bright Angel Lodge and significant Park Service support facilities, typically designed in a consistent rustic style. The NRHP-listed El Tovar Stables are nearby.[9]
www.historichotels.org/us/hotels-resorts/el-tovar-hotel/h...
A U.S. National Historic Landmark, the El Tovar Hotel is among the most cherished holiday retreats in all Arizona. This spectacular historic destination is located in the heart of historic Grand Canyon Village, which overlooks the expansive Grand Canyon National Park. (Grand Canyon Village is also identified as a U.S. National Historic Landmark, too.) The El Tovar Hotel itself dates back to a time when the Grand Canyon was rapidly emerging as one of the nation’s most celebrated natural landmarks. Countless Americans had started to visit the Grand Canyon in order to experience its majesty and wonder during the early 20th century, including U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. As such, several entrepreneurs—including the leaders of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway—decided to capitalize upon the region’s newfound popularity. The railroad began constructing a spur of its system into the Grand Canyon, in order to help accommodate the number of people interested in visiting the site. Taking months to complete, the new Grand Canyon Railroad finally made its much-anticipated debut in 1901. The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway then immediately partnered with the Fred Harvey Company to construct a quaint hotel that could cater to the prospective travelers that the railroad hoped it would serve. The two companies opted to use an Albuquerque-based architect employed by the Railway named Charles Whittlesey to oversee the hotel’s construction. He quickly set about designing the new structure with a budget of $250,000, creating a beautiful multi-story structure that mimicked both a Swiss chalet and Scandinavian hunting lodge.
GC2025
Tags: 2025 AZ Al_hikesaz Arizona Arizona Passages Arizona Wonders Canyon El Tovar El Tovar Lodge GC2025 GCNP GRCA GRCA1919 Gran Cañon Grand Grand Canyon Grand Canyon National Park Grand Canyon Village Historic District Hotel Lodge National National Historic Landmark National Park Park South Rim architectural architecture building entrance entry front front entrance historic historical porch