Descending into Shadows. 

Another pre-hike sunrise shot. Each time I have been here before the canyon is flooded with light and photos from the rim, regardless of how zoomed in I get, just seem to be washed out with light. I was lucky to get some days with cloud cover to add variety to the light. 

Here is a pre-hike shot - you can see the glimmer of the Colorado River below. 

Juniper heavy with berries, the fruit of Gin. I love the smell of Juniper trees, their wood, their wood burning,..... 

I really like this shot - combination of clear and moody skies, green and weathered tree, shaded, colorful ridges contrasted with brigher, higher geology... 

Looking downcanyon. 

Another pre-bottom, pre-camera battery death shot near Cedar Ridge off the South Kaibab Trail. 

This is about as low as I got, just before Cedar Ridge, when my camera battery died. You can still see some outlines of the switchback trail over the next butte. 

Oak Creek. 

These are images at Slick Rock State Park, one of my leg-stretching stops after the Grand Canyon, and after I purchased my plug adapter to recharge my camera battery. 

Another glorious yucca! 

My nephew Kyle and neice Casey at Christmas, near Houston. I made a quick trip down, only known to their parents, in which I showed up on Christmas morning with my most huge suitcase filled with a ton of gifts, and a minimal change of clothes in a day pack. It was like playing Auntie Santa Claus. Mille filled the photographer role perfectly - she was two-fisted with cameras snapping shots at every gift opening! And Keith did wrapping, trash, and bow patrol on the side. I then used this giant, weightless bag of wrapping paper to put in my giant suitcase for the return trip, and packed my day pack in there as well, so that it be thrown about all alone in that cavernous suitcase. All in all, it was a great surprise factor, a wonderful Christmas, and an entirely smooth and organized operation. What else would you expect?

The kids take turns opening their gifts, and actually have the presence of mind to comment on each other's bounty. Here Kyle is commenting on Casey's new mini-bratz doll, and Casey seems to be getting a bit worn out from the activities.

Kyle loves his cars - and Hot Wheels has started making a custom collection of both classic cars and super pimped out high-end cars. Note Casey's exceedingly relaxed position on the subject....

Finally, one little girl was just too exhausted from all of the Christmas activity and had to conk out!