In the Midnight Hour...

...I'll most likely be asleep!




We're gonna have some steamed shrimp early in the evening, then call it a night. Lovin that Twilight Zone marathon, though.

Come Together

I'm posting some of the highlights of our Christmas Holiday over the next few days.

Christmas Eve we joined up with Ed & Keri for Ed's traditional Polish dinner. Quite a feast, including pierogies, golabki, kielbasa. Before dinner we shared the oplatek ((Christmas wafer), and afterwards we exchanged some gifts and the kids treated us to a little variety show.

Do That...One More Time

After reviving the blog to tell our Grand Canyon story, I kinda let it die last summer, but with all the activities and visits the past week or so, I thought I would try to get back into it.



The big news here is that the Ravens, predicted to be a rebuilding team this year, made the playoffs by beating the Jags yesterday (decisively, I might add). Beth and I lucked into some 50-yard line tickets for face value (with a parking pass!). Tom went too with his friend Mark.


We checked in with the Oriole Bird before the game. After all, Spring Training is only six weeks off!

A Horse........of Course

Tom, Beth, and my nephew Ross all had a special Fourth of July...riding a horse that my next door neighbor had over for the day.

(My neighbor is a former jockey who won the Preakness in 1983).


What more could you ask for...parades, pony rides, a cookout, fireworks. Despite a little rain off and on we had a great time. The fireworks were "the best ever"!

Rosie and I passed on the horseback riding. Here we are earlier at the Catonsville Parade.

Mid-Hike at the Oasis

Day 3 it was time to head back up -- We started out around 6 AM from the Bright Angel Campground, next to the river, and hiked to Indian Gardens...about 4.5 miles, and an altitude increase of 1300 ft.

The only rough part was a nasty set of switchbacks called the Devil's Corkscrew.

You can see part of it here zigzagging up from the bottom center of the photo.











Fortunately, shortly after that we arrived at a shady spot by a creek where we could rest and chat with other hikers for awhile, comparing notes on where we were hiking from (and to), hometowns, and experiences on the trail.














Along here we also started to see the warning signs to downhill hikers.




We arrived at the campground about 10:30, and spent the afternoon "chillin"!

Last Dance

Tom played his last game in the Catonsville Parks and Recreation League tonite...after thirteen seasons. He'll be 18 in September, and thus becomes ineligible for the kid leagues.

Despite that crippling knee injury a month ago, he caught two games in a row in the championship playoffs, which the team sealed up tonite with a 24-1 win.


Thought you might like to see his "rookie" card from 1996 when he first started T-ball.

Let's Hear It For the Boy(s)

We brought back some souvenirs for my grandsons, so we met up with them for breakfast this morning...they have pretty busy schedules with about sixteen birthday parties to go to every weekend, so we had to catch them early. Evan got a caribiner gizmo with a compass, watch, and flashlight and Eric got a stuffed mule...who looked much happier than the real mules, since he wasn't carrying a load of mail or or cranky tourists.

Please Mr. Postman

We camped two nites at Bright Angel Campground, near Phantom Ranch.
Guests, supplies, and even the US Mail, come in to the Ranch by mule.




















On Day Two, we hiked towards the north rim, but only about a mile or so, just to keep loose. Here's a few pictures in and about the ranch.

Homeward Bound

We're at the Phoenix Airport, waiting to board the airplane for Baltimore. Loaded up on a bunch of food for the flight, but I think mostly everyone will be sleeping. Hate to leave, but looking forward to getting home too.

UPDATE:

Got home a little after 1 AM. Flight was a little bumpy, but we got in early...special thanx to Josh's Mom for coming out to the airport to get us in the middle of the night.

I'll post some more pictures and stories about the trip over the next few days.

On The Road Again

We're back in Williams, Arizona, where we had a delicious steak dinner last nite, then ice cream at the Dairy Queen. (Josh went for a buffalo burger...it was good, too).







Back at the motel we went thru all our pictures, and relived a lot of the hike. Here are a few highlights from the first day.






















This afternoon we head back to Phoenix for the flight home.

Happy Trails

We started out at 5:20 this morning for the final hike out. (Yesterday we were kind of embarrassed, we were almost the last ones out of camp...at 6 AM. ). After an hour hike, we're stopping for breakfast at the 3-mile point.  Lots of conflicting thoughts, want to hurry to beat the heat, but want to linger to continue enjoying everything.

UPDATE:

We reached the top just after 1030 AM. The last mile was loooong, definitely feeling the effects of the high altitude! We treated ourselve to a Coke and an ice cream cone, called home, and exchanged email addresses with fellow hikers. After hot showers at the motel we're gonna have a big steak dinner.


Scroll down to see some pictures I added.

The Heat is On

We left Bright Angel camp at 0600, got to Indian Gardens (our destination for today) at 1030 in time to beat the afternoon heat.

No problems, but now we're discovering "uphill muscles". Packs are supposed to be getting lighter but I can't tell. Maybe Tom has been secretly loading me up!

Hot this afternoon, glad we're off the trail.


Added Later:

This evening we hiked out to Plateau Point to watch the sunset and get even more astounding views of the Canyon....you can't see this from the South Rim.


Later we saw the International Space Station pass directly overhead. And of course you can see a hundred times more stars at nite with no city lights to interfere.

Up, Up, and Away

Now the hard part...a two day climb back out. Each day is about 4.5 miles, and as you can see from the map we're going from around 2500 ft altitude to nearly 7000 ft! We'll camp at Indian Garden Monday nite, then gaasp our way to the rim on Tuesday. Looking forward to shower and a steak dinner.

Kodachrome

If this were "Survivor" I would have been voted off the hike yesterday. I took at least 85 pictures, and would have taken twice that many if Mr. Joe and Tom hadn’t been constantly urging me to “keep moving.” They even tried to trade me to another group of hikers that liked to take pictures! But since today was a rest day there was no timetable and no destination and they told me that I could take all the pictures I wanted.

After breakfast at Phantom Ranch—scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes and great coffee- we hiked north about a mile and a half or so along the Bright Angel Creek and we got back to the Phantom Ranch around midday had a nice cold lemonade then took it easy during the afternoon (the thermometer says it's 110 in the sun).

We’ll be hiking down to the river this evening, then hit the sack so we can get an early start tomorrow. We hope to be on the trail by 6 am to beat the heat.

One Fine Day

We made it!





I knew when I got my first glimpse of the Canyon while riding the bus to the trailhead that this trip was going to be unforgettable.
It's simply indescribable.
It took six hours total; that included a couple of long (20 minute) rest breaks and lunch breaks.

The scenery is breathtaking, it changes as you move down the trail, so there is a constant thrill. . . well until the last hour or so. By then, the end is in sight, all sorts of new muscles are making themselves felt, and it's getting hot.


No matter....our camp is next to a wide, swift, cold, creek and ten minutes of soaking our feet wipes out that last mile.

Extra bonus the camp is not so primitive, there are bathrooms and drinking water too.

Tomorrow we will eat breakfast at Phantom Ranch and have easy hikes in the canyon.






Comments from Mr. Joe:
It was so cold this morning that Josh was wearing a coat.
Dad thinks that it is more of a tourist site not a seven mile hike.
Dad had to stop every five minutes to take a picture.
Tonight they will be resting their feet for tomorrow.

Editor's Note:
Dad dictated this to me over the phone this evening, and everyone is in great spirits. The word "indescribable" was used many times in the description of the hike. He mentioned the weather was warm but there is an occasional wind that cools you off. I expect to be speaking to him sometime tomorrow evening.

Beginnings

This is what the first day looks like--all downhill. The total distance is 7.3 miles, the altitude drop about 4800 ft, and of course the temperature will go from around 70 at the rim to possibly 100 in the canyon.

We'll spend two nights at the Bright Angel Campground.

By the Time We Get To Phoenix

We successfully got thru the most tense moment of the entire trip ---

All the luggage made it!


We had a great flight to Phoenix, with only a little turbulence over Kansas…we saw this house with a little girl and a small black dog fly by…OK, not really, but we arrived on time, had a bite to eat and headed north.

Gorgeous scenery as we drove up to Flagstaff, about 120 miles and 5000 ft later. We’re staying overnite in Williams Arizona, along a little stretch of old Route 66. What a place, it’s like jumping back in time 30 or 40 years.

Tonite, we get the packs ready, have a light dinner, then hit the sack for a 6 AM departure.

Having fun with the GPS on the plane.



Wow, that's fast!

Packed and ready to head out to BWI. Our backpacks are in the laundry bags.

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

We are about to take off. Check-n and security screening was a breeze, so we had plenty of time to grab some coffee and breakfast.

The flight is pretty full, but we had "A" boarding passes, so we have seats together.  (They did announce that the middle seats are the most comfortable since they are sat in the least.)

Closing the door....we're on the way.....

Stormy

So, off they go into the woods of Patapsco State park...but nobody checks the weather forecast about thunderstorm warnings and tornado watches. By the time I notice darkening skies outside my office and call to warn them to seek shelter and I'll come and get them, they're already caught in a real downpour...lightning, 40 kt wind gusts, the whole bit. They were in the middle of preparing lunch (one of those dehydrated meals) when the weather hit.

After some confusion about the rendezvous point, I pick them up about a half hour later soaked to the bone, but give them credit...they had rain gear, pack covers, and a dry change of clothes...they would have done well on their own. I think there's more to their adventure than has been revealed, Josh even shot some video which I can't wait to see......anybody hear banjo music?

Meanwhile, in what has become, literally, yesterday's news...Tom's knee looks great, no pain, no swelling.

Oh, and they never did get to eat the lunch.

Good Vibrations

Tom has been cleared to make the trip!

The Doc twisted his knee and leg in all sorts of unnatural directions....it actually hurt me to WATCH....and there is no pain at all.

Josh and Tom are going to make a full-pack test hike this afternoon to confirm that everything is OK, meanwhile, I'm off to work to wrap up things there.

Thursday we'll get things around the house in order....have to cut the grass or it will be a jungle when we get back....drop JoJo at the doggie hotel, and pack up for Friday's departure.

Anticipation

Tomorrow morning we go to the orthopedic specialist.....stay tuned.

Take It Easy

Tom has been going to physical therapy three days a week, and is off the crutches, but the final verdict comes when he sees the orthopedic doc on Wednesday. Since he has been ordered to take it easy, we have not done an overnite "shakedown" hike, but I think we'll be OK. As I have mentioned before, Josh and Joe are experienced backpackers, they have prepared us well this far, and I think they will keep us squared away on the trail.

We're taking care of all the final details...making sure the first aid kit is complete, test-packing gear and clothes (and maybe pick up an extra pair of socks!). I really should try carrying the full pack around the block a couple times to make sure I can really handle this! The first day will be all downhill, so how bad can it be?

Up On Cripple Creek

Tom is on CRUTCHES!!!!
(Ed. note---as of 5/28, he's walking without them, just in time for graduation)
He hurt his knee playing "ultimate frisbee" and it swelled up so much that you couldn't tell there is a knee in there.

Doctor says there's a 30% chance it will heal in time for the trip. He's undergoing pretty intense physical therapy, so we'll see. Meanwhile we are moving forward with the planning.

We met with Josh and Joe to go over final packing lists and discuss menu selections for meals. The guys are going to try some dehydrated meals to see what they like, then we'll make the final purchases a few days before we leave.

We have all the major equipment items, just have to pick up some miscellaneous things....like more water bottles...they tell you to carry at least 4 litres of water when you start out every day. As those who have visited recently know, this stuff has taken over most of the family room, it will be amazing to see if it all can actually fit in two packs!

Walk, Don't Run

We did some real hiking in Patapsco State Park today...about two and a half miles...on the trails, up and down, rocks, stream-crossings, a little mud. Not at all like walking on a roadway or thru the mall. Everybody carried their packs too, although I'm still practicing at the lower level with a day pack.

In addition to the exercise and the fresh air, we got an important lesson out of our trek today. Tom and Josh, being faster, tend to get ahead of Joe and I. Eventually they stop and wait for us, but by the time we catch up, they have had a nice litltle rest and are ready to blast off again. After a couple cycles of this...with no rest for the weary...we have decided that from now on, the old, slow guys will lead and set the pace.

Grazing in the Grass

So I got this new piece of exercise equipment today. At least, that's the way Rose sees it. She believes grass-cutting is a recreational activity.

The first cut is always the most painful...drag the mower out of the shed and pray that it will start, even though I never do the pre-winter maintenance, like draining the gas tank. Prayers are not answered, so after several hours of cleaning fuel lines and carburetor, trips to two garden stores for new spark plug, assorted imaginative vocabulary, I finally go to Home Depot and buy a new mower.

Selection is aided by a newly-trained saleswoman ("I reallllly enjoyed my lawn mower class!"), who helps me read the signs on the different models. It comes down to a choice between Toro and Cub. Toro engine looks exactly like the one at home that doesn't run, so I settle on the Cub.

Perky salesperson actually helps me load the mower onto a cart (but not into the Jeep), as well as offering various accessories, such as hearing protectors. I'm thinking that the hearing protectors would have been needed for my family yesterday while I was trying to get the old mower to start. No thanx, I say, the only thing I need now is somebody to walk this thing around my yard for the next couple hours. She smiles, pats my arm and says she could use somebody like that too. I am outta there!

These Boots Are Made for Walking

We bought new hiking boots Sunday, and immediately started breaking them in with a 5-mile walk. (I had a pair I bought a couple years ago and wore them for a week or so until I gave up--they were killing my feet.) Now that we're having better weather and more daylite, I am also making my target of 20 miles per week.

One day last week I took another stroll along the Catonsville Short Line. If you're familiar with the area, you know the trail passes through the grounds of the Spring Grove Mental Hospital..or whatever the politically correct name is for such institutions. So, here I am, walking along, hoping I look like I DON'T belong there. Suddenly I'm imagining a couple of guys in white coats escorting me into one of the buildings. Walking around inside the mall doesn't seem so bad after all!

Saturday in the Park

Hershey Park, that is.
What a great day, the weather was unbelievable.
Tom and my niece Elizabeth and I rode all the wooden 'coasters; Elizabeth didn't "qualify" for the Great Bear, but Tom and I took two "spins" on that as well.
I give myself credit for about 3 miles walking...offset unfortunately by a ton of junk food, so the scale will not be my friend Monday.

Alice's Restaurant

You can get anything you want...at Alice's Restaurant....

Arlo Guthrie's 1960's antiwar narrative that revolved around a Thanksgiving Day littering incident came to mind today when I was walking along the old Catonsville Short Line right-of-way.

Here, off the side of a side road, at the bottom of a fifteen foot cliff, was a big pile of garbage. Household garbage, dirty diapers, empty food containers...not the usual remains of a six-pack or a Mickey-D carryout.

Since I had my camera, I took some pictures, ending up with 27 eight-by-ten color glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was to be used as evidence against the perpetrators.

Now this isn't about Alice, or the restaurant, it's just a rant. Who would dump garbage along a neighborhood walking trail anyway? In this case, I'm afraid that justice will be more blind than usual, and nobody will have to pay for this crime except people like me who had their walk spoiled.

Day Tripper

We went for an extended walk in Patapsco State Park today, covering a little over six miles. Didn't really qualify as a hike since the trails were very muddy so we stayed on the asphalt and gravel paths. Even though it was chilly and damp we got a good workout and did some exploring along the river. Lots of memories for me from the days when my best friend Harry and I used to hike in the area.

I carried a backpack with some bottles of water, a radio to listen to the O's game, some snacks, couple of ponchos, and one of those survival knife gizmos with pliers and scissors and what not --maybe 8 or 9 pounds total. Speaking of that, some friends offered to let us borrow their backpacks for the Canyon trip, so there's another equipment item checked off.

Take My Breath Away

Went to Opening Day at Camden Yards (O's lost to the Rays 6-2) today. Climbing to the highest seat in the stadium definitely tells you what kind of shape you're in! The second time I climbed the stairs to the upper deck I was really huffing and puffing.This looks like good training, so I'm expecting to go to a lot of games in the next couple months.

Incidentally, the new scoreboard is a winner. The new hotel is NOT. It blocks the view of the Bromo-Seltzer tower from my seats.

Money Money

While out walking around Catonsville, I spotted this sign. No wonder the economy is in trouble.

I am faring much better. Lost two pounds last week, walked 15 miles.

(If you're wondering what happened to the "R"...it stands for "Responsibility". They throw that away)

A Hard Day's Night

After lugging a huge heavy backpack around all day, at night we get to sleep on the hard ground.

I have a pretty good sleeping bag....weighs 4 pounds, is a little bulky, but manageable. Tom's is more compact, and lighter at 3 pounds. Now we have to figure out what's going to go under and over.

Under is rock, and over is bugs, so what I need is a sleeping pad and a tent, both of which will add considerable weight to haul out of the canyon on the last day (more on that in another post).

When we go car-camping I use a self-inflating sleeping pad, but I am considering a lighter foam pad. I don't know how comfortable that will be-- may have to sleep out in the back yard for a couple nights to test them out before deciding.

Meanwhile Josh is working on a tent solution for us, so we'll see what he comes up with.

Good progress walking last week, just over 12 miles.

On the Radio

Josh passed the test for his Ham Radio license, so now we're trying to sort out all the communication possibilities--

(WARNING -- Jargon Alert)

There's a UHF repeater near the South Rim, so we should be able to communicate with the outside world using handheld radios. I have also thought about bringing a low-power HF rig to try for some DX (long-range). We don't know about Blackberry or cell phone coverage in the canyon either. The issues are weight and battery life. We obviously don't want to lug a bunch of stuff around that won't work. I thought about some kind of solar charging solution, but that may get too complicated.

On a more basic level---After my walk the other day, accompanied by Beth, I stopped in at Bass Pro Shops to investigate the water purifiers some more. The salesman wasn't too keen on the UV bug-blaster. Said it was more appropriate for sticking in your glass of water while sitting at an outdoor cafe in Paris, rather than in the backwoods. He recommended a brand that Bass Pro doesn't even stock. Some salesman.

Dropped 1 pound this past week.

You Light Up My Life

....Unless you're a Cryptosporidium.

We stopped at Bass Pro Shops (conveniently located in Arundel Mills Mall) to look at some of the gear we hopefully will not have to buy, and spotted this ultraviolet water purifier gizmo. You stick it in your water bottle for 45 seconds or so, light it up, and it destroys all kinds of nasty viruses, bacteria, and protozoa.

Check out their web site. This looks like a must have!



Meanwhile, the weight report this week is so-so...
nothing gained, nothing lost....
maybe if Valerie Bertinelli would be my weight loss buddy....

Doing better with walking...11 miles this week.

The Tide is High

My friend Virginia emailed me today and asked what impact the flooding of the canyon would have on our trip....WHAT? Flooding? When did this happen?

Fortunately it's only for a few days and is supposed to help the fish.

Click to read more.

Walk Like An Egyptian

I do most of my walking at Arundel Mills Mall where the movie theater has an Egyptian theme...I can't figure out why, but they have hieroglyphics, statues of animal-headed people, stick figure paintings, and the like. I have never seen a movie there, but I have seen Egyptian movies when I was overseas and they aren't very interesting.

Anyway, I try to walk every day. The target is about a mile and a half per day right now...would like to build up to 3 miles a day, maybe 20 miles a week. I had two outside walks this week, once on Monday when the weather was great, and again yesterday when I ended up stranded at the library in the rain....soooo....back to the mall today.

I decided to make Wednesday the "mileage day" to check my weekly total.
This week -- 7 miles. Not so good.