Lindapalooza: The Stunningly Beautiful, Very Grand Canyon

I love hiking. It's my reward for working out. I get to power up a mountain with relative ease and experience the beauty, peace, and comfort of nature. The birds sing, the wind blows gently across rippling ponds, and I get to witness it all. Recently, I convinced a friend to hike the Grand Canyon with me, rim to rim. We started out on the North Rim and hiked 23 miles to the South Rim. We took our time; breaking up the hike in 2 days and resting another day at the bottom of the canyon. It was a true joy. Northern Arizona is my favorite place on earth. It's a barren, desolate, beautiful, surprisingly rich dessert. And I think it's the isolation that I love the most. And since photos always say more than words, here's the best I have to share:

Grand Canyon (view from South Rim)

The Grand Canyon (view from North Rim)

Hiking up Bright Angel Trail

At the bottom of the Grand Canyon

Among the hikes in Northern Arizona, there are a few in a wilderness area called Coyote Butte. It's covered in layers of deep red, prehistoric sandstone formations that have been eroded away by wind and rain. It's like no other place on earth.