Leaving Las Vegas on the desert in the morning, we were surprised to find ourselves up above the snowline within half a days drive. The city of Flagstaff with a population of approx 61,000 sits at 7000 feet above sea level. Driving through these mountains on our way to the Grand Canyon, we got to over 8000 feet which was very close to the height we'd been in California when we went up Mount San Jacinto in the airtram.
Flagstaff is located just south of the San Francisco Peaks, the highest mountain range in Arizona and lies adjacent to the largest contiguous Ponderosa Pine forest in north America. There was still snow on some of these peaks.
We had a fascinating stop at an old trading post in the little town of Valle and enjoyed looking at artifacts and souveniers made by the local indigenous Navajo people.
This is the Grand Canyon - one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. 
Yet another of those moments on our trip when we have been blown away by the magnitude and splendour of the scenery. This canyon is carved out by the Colorado River (way below in the background). It is 446 km long, up to 29 km wide in places and attains a depth of over 1800 metres.
Picnic in the woodsDave, Jonte & Anita at the Grand Canyon.
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