July 27, 2009 – The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, upholding an earlier judgment of the United States District Court, found in favor of the National Parks Service in the “River Runners for Wilderness” case. The suit was filed in March 2006 as a challenge to the NPS Colorado River Management Plan (CRMP), part of which allows the use of motorized rafts in the Grand Canyon. The original decision was rendered by Arizona District Judge David G. Campbell in November of 2007.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is at an elevation that is thirteen hundred feet higher than the south rim and it’s more remote and difficult to get to, so the number of tourists there tends to be smaller. This provides travelers who want something a little quieter a place to go where they can experience the Old West the way that it should be experienced, on mule or horseback in a wild land where few even today dare to tread. If you’re looking for a Grand Canyon trip without the tourist traps you definitely want to try the North Rim.

7/13/09 – Grand Canyon – South Rim – A man plunged 600 feet to his death this morning after driving his blue sedan over the edge of the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. This appeared to be a suicide modeled after the famous death plunge scene at the end of the movie “Thelma and Louise”. Police are investigating.