Room+16A

__//**D estination #1: The South Kaibab Trail Hike at the Grand Canyon**//__
Facts-

--The main plan of the Grand Canyon is the Toroweap.

--One of the main layers of the Grand Canyon is made out of Coconino rock.

--The Grand Canyon is 18 miles at it’s widest spots.

--The first detailed topographical map of the Grand Canyon was made by foot.

--The Colorado River and erosion caused by precipitation formed the Grand Canyon.

//During this hike we observed lots of different plant life. Plant life such as cacti and toroweap. Also, another important plant in the Grand Canyon is the Tamarisk. It is a plant that stores water and controls erosion in the Grand Canyon. The plant eventually grew out of control. Nothing eats tamarisks except for tamarisk beetles. We also observed the different rock layers of the canyon. We saw different types of animals as well, such as Red-tail Hawks.//

//I would say that we both enjoyed the hike quite a lot. We enjoyed seeing the scenary and learning about this fantastic land formation and all of it‘s big and determining features.//





__//**Destination #2: The Colorado River Trip **//__
Facts-

--25% of the US produce comes from the river.

--Ed Hudson and Dock Marston were the first to ride a power boat through the river.

--In 1963 the natural flow of the Colorado River came to a hault because of the Bureau of Reclamation.

--The Colorado River is 1450 miles long.

--In 1869, Powell led a group that became the first to successfully explore and map the Colorado River.

//We floated on boats down the river and learned about the canyon walls surrounding it. We eventually got out and stopped on the “beach” to see different petroglyphs and to get in the water. Some people got fully in, but we only got our feet wet. The water was under 48 degrees!//

//I think we both enjoyed boating down the river. The weather was perfect for the adventure, and it was relaxing yet exciting also!//

__//**Destination #3: Wupatki National Monument**//__
Facts-

--This place has many sites and ancient buildings/houses that were built by Ancient pueblo people.

--Wupatki means “tall house” in Hopi language.

--People built these houses by hand and lived in them for several years.

--The walls of the dwellings are made of redwall sandstone.

--These houses/buildings had over 100 rooms in each place so it could hold a great number of people for gatherings and shelter.

//We walked on a path and passed these houses that symbolized different family traditions and rituals. Families used to live in these but they were all mostly young. We also got to see the arenas that they held different sporting events in. The houses looked strong and well-built for somewhere that has been there for hundreds and hundreds of years.//

//I think we definitely both enjoyed this adventure and part of the trip because it showed in the houses how much depth and true lifestyle was back hundreds of years ago.//



__//**Destination #4: Sunset Crater National Monument**//__
Facts-

--The Sunset Crater is a cinder-cone volcano and is one of the youngest volcanoes in AZ and CA.

--A trail providing access to the crater was closed in 1973 because of excessive erosion caused by hikers.

--Sunset Crater is over 4,080 feet high and is 950 years of age.

--The last volcanic eruption that occurred in the crater was between 1080-1150 AD.

--900 years ago, Sunset Crater erupted and created a whole new shape for the crater itself.

//We didn’t get to spend much time here according to time issues, but from what I saw the ground was covered in nothing but black rock. The crater was huge, and looks much bigger in person than in pictures!//

//I think it was very cool for both of us to be able to even visit this place. We were lucky enough to see it even though it was only for a short amount of time. I’m glad we stopped by and hopefully we will get to see more of It in the future, maybe even go on a hike near/by it.//