We spent an interesting two nights at the campground. We saw a ring tail cat, skunk, many deer and a scorpion that visited the ranger talk. The park rangers were excellent, very friendly and helpful. The second night's presentation about bats was entertaining. We saw many of those each night and were more relaxed after the ranger said the "bats in the hair" thing is a myth.
We headed for the south rim on Tuesday morning about 830 am. 9.5 miles to go and about 5,000 feet uphill.
Goodbye mighty Colorado.
Devil's Switchback behind us. Ouch! The worst is yet to come.
Most of the last 3 miles was like this. Steep vertical switchbacks that just burn the lungs and the legs. My shoulders were killing me at this point and we still have 3 miles to go.
We walked right behind these bighorn sheep.
Finally, victory! 9.5 miles, 5,000 vertical feet in 4.5 hours of walking time, 5.5 hours with rests. The ranger thought it would take us about 6 hours with rests. Some people take 20 hours or more to get out.
At the Bright Angel trail head we are again in the middle of the crush of humanity we left behind on Sunday.
Refreshing treat!
They have a scale at the back country information center. I estimated the pack to be 40-50lbs. With water and food (which was now gone), I was carrying 52 pounds. I couldn't have left anything else behind and we had all the latest and lightest gear. My advice is to seriously train and get the good gear if you're going to do this hike. It was tough!
4.5 million visitors come to the Grand Canyon every year. Only 14,000 permits are issued to go backpacking each year like we did. The Ooooh's and Aaaaah's are better at and on the way to the bottom. The one thing I'll remember is how the buzz of the world and civilization was silenced by the canyon when we got below the rim. It's an odd, spooky kind of quiet but very sweet. Thanks to my Lord and Creator for giving us the Grand Canyon which is nothing compared to the gift of salvation through Christ but is a spectacular place on this round ball. Thanks to my lovely wife for being a super trooper and going through all the training and planning and the doing of the thing. Thanks to my daughter for being responsible at home with the house sitter while we were away. Thanks to my boss and my company for the time to take this trip. You all ROCK!
We headed for the south rim on Tuesday morning about 830 am. 9.5 miles to go and about 5,000 feet uphill.
Goodbye mighty Colorado.
Devil's Switchback behind us. Ouch! The worst is yet to come.
Most of the last 3 miles was like this. Steep vertical switchbacks that just burn the lungs and the legs. My shoulders were killing me at this point and we still have 3 miles to go.
We walked right behind these bighorn sheep.
Finally, victory! 9.5 miles, 5,000 vertical feet in 4.5 hours of walking time, 5.5 hours with rests. The ranger thought it would take us about 6 hours with rests. Some people take 20 hours or more to get out.
At the Bright Angel trail head we are again in the middle of the crush of humanity we left behind on Sunday.
Refreshing treat!
They have a scale at the back country information center. I estimated the pack to be 40-50lbs. With water and food (which was now gone), I was carrying 52 pounds. I couldn't have left anything else behind and we had all the latest and lightest gear. My advice is to seriously train and get the good gear if you're going to do this hike. It was tough!
4.5 million visitors come to the Grand Canyon every year. Only 14,000 permits are issued to go backpacking each year like we did. The Ooooh's and Aaaaah's are better at and on the way to the bottom. The one thing I'll remember is how the buzz of the world and civilization was silenced by the canyon when we got below the rim. It's an odd, spooky kind of quiet but very sweet. Thanks to my Lord and Creator for giving us the Grand Canyon which is nothing compared to the gift of salvation through Christ but is a spectacular place on this round ball. Thanks to my lovely wife for being a super trooper and going through all the training and planning and the doing of the thing. Thanks to my daughter for being responsible at home with the house sitter while we were away. Thanks to my boss and my company for the time to take this trip. You all ROCK!
Looks like a great time. Beautiful scenery.
ReplyDelete"The one thing I'll remember is how the buzz of the world and civilization was silenced by the canyon when we got below the rim. It's an odd, spooky kind of quiet but very sweet. Thanks to my Lord and Creator for giving us the Grand Canyon which is nothing compared to the gift of salvation through Christ but is a spectacular place on this round ball."
ReplyDeleteMy favorite description of the trip.