For the second time in two trips, I and some friends encounter vehicle issues at the very remote Toroweap section of Grand Canyon National Park. The park service ranger told us it would cost 800 to $1,000 to get towed out of there. My Ford Ranger just stopped running 55 miles from the nearest paved road. My friend’s Subaru got a flat tire so we had to hike the last 3 miles to get to the edge. It was all worth it as the photos show. My Ranger had a fuel pump issue but Ranger Todd found in the manual that there is a fuel pump reset switch under the passenger side dash.
Half the fun of photographing a special place like the Grand Canyon is the drive and adventure to get there. Especially when it’s a remote location such as Toroweap. The drive from Southern Utah into Northern Arizona presents some classic western scenes along the highway where I could picture John Wayne mounting a Calvary charge. (He actually filmed some great movies in this area).
On the road to Arizona’s Grand Canyon at Toroweap.
A storm appears on the road to Arizona’s Grand Canyon at Toroweap.
A field of blooming Indian Paintbrush.
A Red-Tailed Hawk flies into stormy clouds at the desert environment of Northern Arizona.
You can drive up to 45 MPH on this stretch of dirt road.
About 20 MPH here.
About 2 MPH here. The last couple of miles are on something resembling a road.
Zero MPH. I actually decided to back up here. When you’re 70 miles from the nearest town, you don’t take chances. This was at the end anyways.
On the way back, I almost ran into a deer. For some reason, I couldn’t get my Ford Ranger out of 4-wheel drive low!. I tried everything to do so. So I drove home totally in 4-wheel drive, very slowly. A few days later and after talking to my mechanic, I was able to disengage the 4-wheel drive by driving backwards for about 75 feet. Something to remember.
Another visit to the remote Toroweap area of the Grand Canyon at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. You must negotiate a 61 mile dirt road to get there with the last couple of miles treacherous. (See future post on the road to Toroweap) You stand on the edge of the rim and look straight down to the Colorado River, some 3,000 feet below. I wasn’t so daring on this trip as to get too close but these photos, a time lapse video and a video coming shortly may give a sense of the area.
Arizona’s Grand Canyon at Toroweap at Grand Canyon National Park
There’s someone laying down to the right.
Arizona’s Grand Canyon at Toroweap at Grand Canyon National Park
