My original shot was taken on February 25, 2022 during my 1st backpacking trip into the Grand Canyon. Crossing the Colorado River to arrive at Phantom Ranch was quite and accomplishment for me and I was so elated to be there for the first time.
From Wikipedia:
The black bridge was constructed in 1928 and remains virtually unchanged today. In 1907 the only way to cross was by boat. Then a cableway was built with a single car. It was considered a precarious crossing though it allowed one mule or several people to cross at a time. In 1920 a suspension bridge was built but proved to be too flexible for pedestrians to cross safely. Then came the Black Bridge also known as the Kaibab Suspension Bridge. 122 tons of material were carried by humans and mules down the 9 mile trail. The one-ton, 550-foot (170 m) suspension cables were carried down the trail by 42 Havasupai tribesmen walking in a single file line.
What a feat of engineering that exists today after 98 years. It is fascinating to read about its construction. Below are some links if you want to read more.
January 1, 2026 Begins my 8th year on 365. I'm still very vested in learning more about photography including shooting and editing. My exercise goals...
Fascinating information and well done you!
I remember backpacking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon 53 years ago. We didn't cross the river, we hiked along the bottom a few miles and then up the same side. It's an amazing thing to have done.
What an amazing landscape! I love the ruggedness and the red tones! And what a feat of engineering indeed! (Thank you for the background info and the links, KV) Well-done, you! Fav
@taffy Actually the black bridge has a solid floor and wasn’t scary at all. It is the bridge the mules cross. The silver bridge that carries the transcanyon water pipeline has a grated floor and is a little scary to cross. The silver bridge is closed through the end of June due to construction work on the pipeline.
@susiemc thanks so much Sue… it is an amazing adventure… do you know what trails you hiked or where you camped? I know I’m doing good to remember my trips from 4 years ago. Last November I hiked down Hermits Trail to the Tonto Trail & then took the Monument Creek drainage to Granite Rapids… we camped there on the beach for two nights. It was the best ever… it was only people in our ground there which was super nice. The canyon is so amazing.
March 11th, 2026
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I remember backpacking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon 53 years ago. We didn't cross the river, we hiked along the bottom a few miles and then up the same side. It's an amazing thing to have done.