Today by the Numbers:
Number of miles ridden on the e-bikes: 26
Number of elk seen: 12
Number of people who don’t know to walk or ride on the right side of a path: too many!
E-bike Day
After yesterday’s activities and nail-biting drive, we were pretty wiped out. We slept until about 7:30am and took our time with our morning coffee and scrolling on iPads. We left camp at about 10am and headed to the e-bike rental. After getting schooled on how the bikes work, their range, and where we could safely ride to the start of the bike/foot path, we were on our way.
From the start of the path, it was only about a mile until we were in the park. The paved path was well maintained and kept us off the busy highway. It took us through a large, forested area that could have easily been in Tahoe, CA. We rode for a few miles and at the first junction, we headed for the South Kaibab Trailhead. Along the way, we rode along the rim of the canyon and stopped several times to take in the views and snap some photos. Until this point, the path was quiet and we saw very few bikers and walkers. Once we approached the trailhead, more and more people were out and about.
At the trailhead, GP did some recon as we are considering hiking part of the Kaibab trail tomorrow. After that, we double backed on part of the path already ridden and made our way to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. This area was jam packed with people and we were glad to be on bikes that could be easily parked. We made a stop in the Conservancy Store to buy some stickers then headed across to the visitor center. A huge display of the Grand Canyon showed that 90% of the park is protected and not accessible.
From the visitor center, we rode through the Grand Canyon Village (there is a train station there!) and stopped at the Bright Angel Trailhead. At this point, the path ends but bikes are allowed on the road with the shuttle buses. After some hesitation, Jen agreed to ride along the road. We rode to the next shuttle stop and took in the views. This was our turnaround point to ensure that we would have time to stop for a beer and still get the bikes back on time.
As we were riding towards our planned beer stop, we finally saw a group of five elk snacking on vegetation just off the bike path (another of GP’s bucket list sightings checked off!). We stopped to take several pictures and noted the white fur on their rumps. Trivia Question for Today: Why is the fur white on their rumps? Read to the end of the post for the answer!
We stopped at the Market Plaza and had a beer at the Yavapai Tavern. The wait for food was too long so we snacked on what we brought along. From there, we continued on our way to get the bikes back on time. Several miles later, Jen spotted another group of seven elk and hollered for GP to stop. Again, we took several more pictures and just watched them grazing. They did not seem bothered at all by our presence, but we kept our distance and quietly watched them.
We finished the ride and got the bikes returned on time. We made a quick stop at the store and headed back to camp. We talked about plans for tomorrow, made spaghetti for dinner, and enjoyed another beer.
Trivia Answer: The white rumps on elk aid in herd cohesion; it is highly visible against the darker fur on their bodies and makes it easier for them to spot each other when moving through open areas. It also contrasts with the darker colors of the surrounding landscape, which may help to camouflage them when stationary.
