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?