Day 10-A colossal scenic wonder in perfect weather...

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is the result of an immovable object and an irresistable force. Geologic upheaval lited ancient, extremely hard volcanic rock right into the path of a big river. Millions of years later we have this gash to prove that erosion by the river won.

We go down to the river level by driving down the wildly steep and corkscrewing East Portal Road.

The river is in some calm sections sserene and tranquil--though other stretches have violent rapids. For photographic purposes, it doesn't hurt that the Fall foliage is daubing color everywhere.

Ah, but the real thrill, as at Arizona's Grand Canyon or Utah's The Wedge, is to look down from a half-mile high at the deepest parts of the canyon and the tiny river far below:

All along the South Rim are short hikes to overlooks that peer deep into the canyon:

Each seems grander than the last:

Would you believe that climbers scale those walls? The park's climbing ranger was at one of the overlooks trying to explain to people where he was seeing a pair of climbers far, far below.. Apparently, the climbers overnight on the walls. Trust me, the thought of doing that never entered my mind.

Today, I',m off to the North Rim, which is said to have even better views than the South.  If I can get a shot at a climber, I'll take it!