There is one other trip in my adult life that I spent this much, and more, time planning and dreaming about - a five-week backpacking trip through Europe the summer between my junior and senior year of college. It was a brilliant seven country adventure with my best buddy Shawn, who to this day, honors me as the financial guru behind the trip. I got us started saving $1 a day our freshman year and in the summers we worked 40 hours a week to add to our coffers.
Today, as I pack, tidy my apartment, get a pedicure (got to protect my toes!), hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate some more, I am giddy with pride and excitement. Excitement because on our final training hike together, Molly thanked me for inspiring her to get out and do such things as walking, hiking, kayaking. For some time I haven't been quite sure how she was feeling about our grand plan, but as I led the way through the woods that day I grinned ear to ear. We're going to have a blast!
The pride for how much time I have devoted to physically training to trek the Grand Canyon rim to rim. But more deeply, pride for how I've learned to ease up on myself. I didn't get out for a hike or cross-training every day that I planned, a pinched nerve in my shoulder set me back by weeks in late Spring, still I didn't get stuck inside my head and get mad for breaking my plan. Instead, I reveled in the wisdom of having started training in March 2015 and the faith that I would recover and be ready. Indeed, I did and I am!
As our adventure finally heads south, thought you all might like to picture our days in the canyon and join us in spirit.
Day One, Monday, Aug. 29: Shuttle in the wee hours of the morning from Flagstaff, Arizona, to the remote North Rim, about a four hour drive. Hike 6.8 miles for an elevation loss of 4,161 feet. This will get us halfway to the base of the canyon. The day starts in a mixed conifer forest on the rim and descends to a semi-arid High Sonoran desert environment. Along the way we'll pass through a section of Grand Canyon National Park called Red Wall Limestone and then Roaring Springs, a series of waterfalls.
Day Two, Tuesday, Aug. 30: Break camp early to hike another 7 miles, all downhill, and have time for a side trip to Ribbon Falls. After 1,600 more feet, we'll reach the base of the canyon where temperatures are forecasted to be in the high 90s. The campground is on the shore of the Colorado River, and an easy stroll to the cantina at Phantom Ranch, a lodge built in the 1930s.
Day Three, Wednesday, Aug. 31: The climb up the opposite rim begins in the early morning, cooler hours and will total 4.5 miles for the day. We gain 1,500 following Bright Angel Trail, one of the more popular routes for day hikers heading to the river from the South Rim. We'll camp near Indian Gardens, where a natural spring watered Havasupai seasonal garden plots for centuries. The camp has shade!!
Day Four, Thursday, Sept. 1: Continue to follow Bright Angel Trail for 4.8 miles and a gain of 3,000 feet. The trail's fame is based largely on the incredible views that stretch for miles across the canyon and what our guide calls a "steady" grade. By mid- to late-afternoon we will tumble from the dirt trail onto the paved path of Grand Canyon Village where everything from mint chip ice cream to veggie burgers and beer await!
Today, as I pack, tidy my apartment, get a pedicure (got to protect my toes!), hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate some more, I am giddy with pride and excitement. Excitement because on our final training hike together, Molly thanked me for inspiring her to get out and do such things as walking, hiking, kayaking. For some time I haven't been quite sure how she was feeling about our grand plan, but as I led the way through the woods that day I grinned ear to ear. We're going to have a blast!
The pride for how much time I have devoted to physically training to trek the Grand Canyon rim to rim. But more deeply, pride for how I've learned to ease up on myself. I didn't get out for a hike or cross-training every day that I planned, a pinched nerve in my shoulder set me back by weeks in late Spring, still I didn't get stuck inside my head and get mad for breaking my plan. Instead, I reveled in the wisdom of having started training in March 2015 and the faith that I would recover and be ready. Indeed, I did and I am!
As our adventure finally heads south, thought you all might like to picture our days in the canyon and join us in spirit.
Day One, Monday, Aug. 29: Shuttle in the wee hours of the morning from Flagstaff, Arizona, to the remote North Rim, about a four hour drive. Hike 6.8 miles for an elevation loss of 4,161 feet. This will get us halfway to the base of the canyon. The day starts in a mixed conifer forest on the rim and descends to a semi-arid High Sonoran desert environment. Along the way we'll pass through a section of Grand Canyon National Park called Red Wall Limestone and then Roaring Springs, a series of waterfalls.
Day Two, Tuesday, Aug. 30: Break camp early to hike another 7 miles, all downhill, and have time for a side trip to Ribbon Falls. After 1,600 more feet, we'll reach the base of the canyon where temperatures are forecasted to be in the high 90s. The campground is on the shore of the Colorado River, and an easy stroll to the cantina at Phantom Ranch, a lodge built in the 1930s.
Day Three, Wednesday, Aug. 31: The climb up the opposite rim begins in the early morning, cooler hours and will total 4.5 miles for the day. We gain 1,500 following Bright Angel Trail, one of the more popular routes for day hikers heading to the river from the South Rim. We'll camp near Indian Gardens, where a natural spring watered Havasupai seasonal garden plots for centuries. The camp has shade!!
Day Four, Thursday, Sept. 1: Continue to follow Bright Angel Trail for 4.8 miles and a gain of 3,000 feet. The trail's fame is based largely on the incredible views that stretch for miles across the canyon and what our guide calls a "steady" grade. By mid- to late-afternoon we will tumble from the dirt trail onto the paved path of Grand Canyon Village where everything from mint chip ice cream to veggie burgers and beer await!
A Grand Plan indeed! Enjoy your adventures in the Grand Canyon!
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ReplyDeleteCongrats on pulling this together, Jill. Sounds like the a fantastic way to see the Grand Canyon.
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