I was drawn in by the soft colors of the morning in Sept 2021 on a walk that started with something that looked a lot like a pomegranate tree and ended with a cup of coffee.
Looking down creek from Bright Angel Campground a tall sheer pink cliff caught my attention. I took some photos and continued my walk.
At first I thought the pink cliff was Tapeats. It was, after all, where one would expect to see Tapeats. Small interruptions entered my mind. It was very tall. It was smooth.
Could I be looking at the Supergroup? Why yes. Yes I could.
It seemed to me that Bright Angel Creek was pointing toward Tip Off fault.
I found a photo mark up (Figure 4, photo by G.H. Billingsley, 2000) on the cover of the 2000 map (Billingsley, George H., Geologic Map of the Grand Canyon 30′ x 60′ Quadrangle, Coconino and Mohave Counties, Northwestern Arizona, USGS, Geologic Investigations Series I-2688, version 1.0), 2000 https://pubs.usgs.gov/imap/i-2688/ ).
A chunk of the Grand Canyon Supergroup fell and was preserved between Tip off fault and Cremation fault, as the Supergroup around it eroded and younger sedimentary Paleozoic layers formed.
If Bright Angel Creek really did point to this geological drama, then maybe as I got close to the rest area at Tip Off, I would get a chance to see it up close.
On June 4, 2025 I started the hike from Bright Angel Campground up South Kaibab toward Tip Off. The lower parts of the trail let me see Cremation Fault and hike briefly in the Vishnu Schist (Xv). But it was really the mules coming over the Black Bridge that stole my heart that day. I could hear their hooves tapping as they crossed far below. They caught up to me as a rounded the last curve before a final ascent to the Shinumo Cliff.
I was about to step aside when the wrangler said there was no need because they were taking a break there. As I looked up at the Shinumo cliff, the slope below, and across the canyon, I saw what I’d been hoping for. It was all there, the Hakatai, Bass, Brahma Schist, the river, and that quiet little crescent of bright green, Phantom Ranch. “There you are,” I said.
As I continued up trail I noticed two gentlemen in their senior years heading down. One was wearing a pastel outfit perfect for hiking in the heat. I had the impression that this wasn’t their first rodeo. I told him I thought his clothing was perfect for the heat. Somehow we got onto a conversation about the cliffs. I told them about the graben. They were amused at my interest in the geology and said they were in no hurry at all. I said, “Please tell me you’re not George Billingsley.” They both laughed. After they assured me that they were not geologists, I told them about the graben. I wish I’d asked them what brought them here. They appeared entirely unfettered.
The Hakatai slope ended abruptly at the Shinumo cliff. I stood in the Shimuno shade and took a selfie. From my perch, I could see that Bright Angel Creek was indeed pointed directly at me. I lingered a moment. I was ready for a break at the Tip off rest area.
RocksTalk 