Day 12.3: The plague...and the last post for the Grand Canyon

This was the scene when we arrived at the El Tovar Hotel/restaurant at the Grand Canyon for dinner on Thursday evening just before sunset. An impressive thunderstorm and rain ensued. When we were walking up the steps to the hotel, many people were on the porch & front steps...we thought they were looking at the thunderstorm. But it was an elk...probably about 10-12 points on the antlers. He was still there a few hours later, as if he knew he was a big attraction for hotel guests.

I guess I forgot to mention that the GC has more squirrels than tourists. They're everywhere...on the trail, the lodges, and the vista points. They're very aggressive, and not afraid of people. When we stopped for a rest on the way up the Bright Angel Trail, we had a nut & fruit power bar; catnip for squirrels. One of them practically tried to snatch mine. He was persistent, and would't go away after a few threatening gestures and a pebble thrown at him. These little critters have lice that carry the PLAGUE, as in the plague that killed about half of Europe's population in the 14th century. GC squirrels are therefore to be avoided!