The bright lights of Las Vegas weren’t the only reason that Lewis the Lion has been drawn to this part of America, but within a relatively short travelling distance (approximately a 3 hours’ drive away) was one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World: the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Being so close at hand (just 120 miles east of Las Vegas) he just had to visit it for himself. So, early one morning, at 6:15 a.m., he and Helen were picked up in their hostel by coach and were driven to this epic landscape.
Lewis the Lion is awe-inspired by this incredible, rocky landscape
On the way there, Lewis the Lion learnt more about the Grand Canyon itself as there was a video on the coach explaining all about it. He discovered rather interestingly, that it wasn’t a canyon at all but rather a gorge as its steep walls had been carved out over billions of years by the Colorado River! It was however huge, measuring 277 miles in length (446 kilometres) with a width of 4- 18 miles at its widest point (between 6.4 and 29 kilometres). Remarkably, wind speeds could reach up to a 100 miles an hour through the gorge so Lewis the Lion knew that he didn’t want to be standing too close to the edge. What he didn’t know though was that Helen had a little treat in store for him…
As the bus trundled along this arid landscape, Lewis the Lion was amused to see fascinating trees that he had never seen before. They were called Joshua trees and looked a bit like cactus trees with spiky balls on the end of them.
Lewis sees many Joshua trees near the Grand Canyon
They seemed to fit in very well with this dusty, dry environment; after all it could get very hot here in the desert, especially in the summer months with temperatures soaring above 38 degrees centigrade. Helen would have to make sure that she lathered the suntan lotion on before getting out of the bus.
The bus really did seem to take them into the middle of nowhere with the occasional caravan or makeshift hut appearing. The environment seemed very harsh for anyone choosing to live there. Nonetheless, Lewis the Lion discovered that some people had made the Grand Canyon their home and had been there for many, many thousands of years: the Native Americans. He was keeping his little paws crossed that he might be lucky enough to meet some of the people from these different tribes, particularly the Hualapai Tribe of the West Canyon Rim? Read on to find out if he did!
Suddenly the bus driver informed the passengers that if they looked quickly to the righthand side of the bus, they could get their first glance of the mighty Colorado River. Helen held Lewis the Lion up high so that he could get a look and it certainly looked very impressive.
Lewis the Lion gets his first glimpse of the Colorado River
He learnt that this river was 1,450 miles in length and ran right from the Rocky Mountains, down through California and into Mexico. Later on that day, Lewis the Lion would see how an engineering triumph had managed to dam this river, the Hoover Dam, which he will tell you about in one of his next blogs.
For now, Lewis the Lion was starting to get really excited because as he looked out of the coach window he could see layered red rocks rising high out of the ground and he knew he must be getting closer to the incredible rock formation that he had come to see.
Lewis the Lion draws close to the Grand Canyon
In the distance, he could see a helicopter shoot across the landscape. ‘That would be cool!’ He thought to himself, not knowing the secret that Helen had already planned for him.
Lewis sees a helicopter flying across the plain as he approaches the Grand Canyon
When they eventually arrived the bus driver called the people out who had a special colour on their badge, of which Helen was one of them. He then led them into an office where these people needed to complete some paperwork and get weighed.
Helen completes some secret paperwork for Lewis the Lion
‘That’s very odd,’ thought Lewis the Lion, especially when Helen had a stamp printed on her hand reading, ‘FRONT SEAT.’
Helen is in the helicopter’s front seat
She then let him into her little secret. They were going to be flying over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter that morning! What an amazing surprise for Lewis the Lion and furthermore as Helen’s hand suggested, they would be seated at the front with the helicopter pilot! Lewis the Lion just could not believe his luck. He’d never been in a helicopter before, never mind flying over the Grand Canyon, one of the world’s most impressive natural beauties. This really was stuff of dreams and he felt so, so thankful for this wonderful opportunity.
Lewis the Lion patiently waits his turn
So, Lewis the Lion, Helen and the other 5 passengers had to go and wait for a while at the heliport which had a busy schedule of taking tourists high above the West Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Helen and Lewis the Lion get ready for their helicopter ride
He really didn’t mind as he was simply as happy as happy could be to watch the helicopters take off and land. Click here to see a helicopter in this video. His mane and tail seemed to get blown all over the place as the blades of the propellors whipped around to produce tremendous gusts of air. Helen had to hold onto his paw very tightly. While he was waiting, he read some of the signs with great attention as he certainly didn’t want to get injured and knew that it was important to follow any instructions carefully.
Lewis the Lion pays careful attention to the safety warnings
Eventually, it was Lewis the Lion’s turn to get into the helicopter. He was so excited!
Lewis the Lion gets excited as he sees the helicopter come in to land
The other passengers got into the back seat first and then Lewis and Helen got in, right next to the pilot near the control panel at the front.
Lewis the Lion sits by the control panel in the cockpit
First things first, Helen had to fasten her seatbelt and put on some headphones which drowned out the sound of the noisy rotating propellor and instead played some uplifting music, ‘It’s a beautiful day’ by U2 was the first song that played through them and Helen quite agreed with the sentiment.
The passengers have to wear headsets in the helicopter
It was indeed the most beautiful day, with an almost cloudless blue sky which cut sharply against the russet colours of the Grand Canyon rocks. Lewis the Lion felt his excitement levels rising as the helicopter drew closer and closer to the edge of the canyon itself.
The helicopter draws closer to the Canyon
Here are Lewis the Lion’s videos of his amazing helicopter experience as he wants to share it with you too.
Lewis the Lion rides in a helicopter for the first time ever!
Lewis the Lion is excited to be in a helicopter flying towards the Grand Canyon
Lewis the Lion flies over the stunning Grand Canyon
Lewis the Lion admires the view over the Grand Canyon
As the helicopter crept closer and closer to the edge of the canyon,
Lewis the Lion looks over the vast Grand Canyon
suddenly the edge appeared with a sheer drop hundreds of feet below on to a very red flowing, Colorado River. It was as if the red rocks themselves had painted it into their own clay colour.
The Colorado River runs red through the Grand Canyon
Before Lewis the Lion arrived at the Grand Canyon he was told that if you could see faces in the rock, it’s meant to bring you years of luck and longevity. He thought that he couldn’t just see faces in the rocks but a whole panel of people sitting down like judges in a courtroom! Maybe that means that he’s going to live a very long and lucky life?! What do you think by looking at either his videos or photos? Can you see faces in the rocks too?
Can you see any faces in the rocks?
From high above Lewis could see layer upon layer of rock or strata rising a mile high above the river. Looking at the layers of sedimentary rock was like reading a history book in that it was clear that these rocks had been formed over millions of years with the wind and rain forming its many contours. Lewis the Lion realised what a tiny dot he was on this historical landscape. It was strange to think that his ancestors would have admired these very rocks long before him and he hoped that the future generations would too.
After he landed, it took a while for Lewis the Lion to take on board what had exactly just happened. It was simply the most incredible experience to see the Grand Canyon from the sky in this way and to have a bird’s eye view from the rim. He felt truly, truly grateful for this opportunity and thanked Helen for taking him with her.
Next the pair had to catch a shuttle bus to one of the next most beautiful points to observe the Grand Canyon: Eagle Point (where there was also a Native American Village), before they then headed to Guano Point for 360 degree canyon views.
As the bus passed by Eagle Point, he could understand precisely why it was called thus. It looked as if a huge eagle had been carved out of the rock with its wings outspread.
Lewis the Lion arrives at the impressive Eagle Point
Eagle Point
This location is very sacred to the Hualapai Tribe as it is here that believe the eagles raise their prayers to their creator. Indeed the bald-headed eagle is special to all American people as it is their national symbol.
Lewis can see eagles soaring around the canyon
Lewis discovered that there are two main Indian tribes that call the Grand Canyon home: the Hualapai (who had welcomed him onto their land today) and the Havasupai tribe. As he got off the bus, he was greeted with a warm ‘Gamyu! – Welcome!’ by a Hualapai Indian called Don as you can see in these pictures.
Lewis the Lion and a Hualapai Native
Lewis the Lion and Helen meet a Native American
However, Don was not the only Native American Indian that Lewis was to meet that day whilst he was looking at some of the traditional Native American dwellings.
An example of a Native American dwelling
He also met a Navaho Indian called Rick who taught him his ‘magic words’ in Navaho along with sharing with him some interesting stories about his culture. Check out the Lewis Loves Languages page to learn more!
Lewis the Lion then went to investigate the wonderful vantage point from, Eagle Point and as you can see from this photo he was a little bit wary of getting too close to the edge, just in case he had a long fall down to the bottom!
Lewis the Lion sees the big drop down the Canyon!
However, from Eagle Point, he could also see the very impressive Grand Canyon Skywalk. The horseshoe-shaped, glass walkway hangs 4,000 metres off the canyon floor and allows visitors a chance to look back at the canyon wall. However, it does come at a price and even though it is a big tourist draw to the Grand Canyon as it is a Modern Manmade Wonder of the World so sophisticated is its engineering, Helen and Lewis the Lion felt that the helicopter ride was quite sufficient a thrill for one day!
The Skywalk sticks out over the edge of the Canyon
From here, Lewis the Lion headed for a hearty cowboy and cowgirl lunch with extraordinary views of the Grand Canyon at Guano Point. Here Lewis the Lion got full up on BBQ shredded beef, mashed potato, corn on the cob, white rice, chilli beans, mixed vegetables, coleslaw with a chocolate cake dessert and muffin!
Lewis enjoys a hearty lunch at the Grand Canyon
After such a big lunch he waddled on to even more amazing views of the canyon as you can see in this photo and video.
Lewis the Lion admires the rock formation of the Grand Canyon
Click here to see another video of Lewis the Lion seeing the Grand Canyon from a different perspective.
Before he headed to the Hualapai Ranch (which he will tell you about in his next blog), he past by a Hualapai Market where the women were selling jewellery and crafts. He was especially intrigued by these ‘dream-catchers.’
Dream-catchers waft in the breeze by the Grand Canyon
Can you help Lewis the Lion to understand more about what a ‘dream-catcher’ is and its significance to the Native Americans?
