Our Grand Canyon Hike - Part III - we hike back out!

After a not very restful night's sleep due to the unwelcomed visit by a critter, we got out of our beds just before the alarm went off at 4 am.  It was dark as could be; sunrise would not be until about 6:30 am.

Terry and Donato set up the propane burners outside on the picnic bench to heat some water for a cup of Starbucks Via instant coffee and our breakfast of oatmeal or scrambled eggs....camper's style.

Terry and Donato watching  for the water  to boil!

After breakfast, we finished packing up our backpacks, put on our headlamps, and started out on our hike on the Bright Angel Trail.  It was 5 am and we had about 10 miles to go. 

For about the first hour of hiking, we could hear the Colorado River below the trail but not see it. Then slowly we would able to see the trail without our headlamps lighting the way.

The sun was just starting to hit the rocks far above us.  What a glorious place to be to take in God's handiwork and His promise of Salvation on this Easter morning.

We trekked on and upward.  The incline was not as steep as the South Kaibab Trail which we hiked down the canyon on.  But, this trail is about 2 miles longer.

At times we followed a creek and saw an occasional small waterfall.

Where the South Kaibab Trail was more desert-like, the Bright Angel Trail was more green...there were lots of trees and flowering shrubs along the way.

At last we reached Indian Gardens, which marks the half-way point on the trail.  We were able to refill our water bottles here.  There is also a campground.  We chatted with one of the young National Park Service employees who was getting his pack ready to hike to where he would be working on repairing the trail that day.  He loved his job and the area where he was assigned to work.  He commented that he couldn't believe he actually got paid to do this work!

Indian Gardens

We continued onward and upward and the canyon floor from where we started was appearing farther and farther away.  We were making good progress.

What appeared to be the top of the canyon was getting closer and closer!

 

Our next rest stop would be at what is named, 3-Mile House--located 3 miles from the top of the rim (and the end of the hike).   The trail was also getting steeper. 

It was a slow climb and we stopped often to take photos, drink water, and have a PowerBar to refuel our legs.

The last rest stop is named 1.5 Mile House. By this stop we were meeting up with lots of people hiking down, usually just this far so they got a taste of what it is like to have the canyon wrapped around you.  At this point the trail became even more steep....but we knew we were close to the top and the end of the trail.

And knowing we were almost done brought a smile to our weary faces.

Around the last bend and we were on the last stretch of the trail.

Finished!  We are at the top in just under 7 hours of hiking.

This was the most awesome experience!  The weather was great at the Grand Canyon...not too hot; not too cold....and nice blue skies.  It was tough hiking as our legs were so sore and our energy spent.  But I'm glad we were able to do it.  

Next, we had a 13-hour drive ahead of us to return home.  Doing this right after the hike I would not recommend, but we had schedule constraints and needed to get home.  Each time we stopped to fill up the gas tank we were quite the spectacle as the four of us hobbled around to stretch our legs a bit before travelling on.

That's all for now....until our next trip early this summer.....a trip to the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador and Machu Picchu in Peru, so stay tuned for another adventure of Angell Travels!

Our Grand Canyon Hike down to the Phantom Ranch - Part II

The hike down to Phantom Ranch was about 7 miles, with a pretty steep downward grade.  It took us 4 hours and 33 minutes to reach it from the south rim.

The canteen where we dined and had beer/lemonade.

After being revived with some lemonade and beer, it was time to check into our cabin where we would stay for two nights at the ranch

It was pretty basic--2 sets of bunk beds, a sink, and a toilet.  And, there was an air-conditioner.  It gets very warm down here, especially during the summer months.

The toilet is in this small closet

We were in Cabin No. 10....I didn't see any numbers higher so most likely there were 10 cabins spread around on the grounds, which can sleep 2-10 people depending on its size.  

There are also men's and women's dormitory cabins.  I didn't peek in but I think each can possibly sleep 8-10 people.

There was a shower building, of which I did not get a photo.

By this time we could really feel the pain in our leg muscles from the strenuous hike downhill.  We had been concerned about achy joints and blisters.  We were all fine there.....but the stiffness and pain in the leg muscles made us walk very slowly and cautiously any time we had to make a step down.  In hindsight, we really wished we had thought to bring along Terry's "magic drink powder", which he has used after running marathons.....Endurox.  Mixed in water as a drink, it helps relieve the lactic acid from the muscles.  Oh, how we all could have used that!

The Ranch serves meals:  breakfast, sack lunch, dinner.  They are all very expensive and sell out immediately upon booking the cabin reservation.  The canteen/dining hall can feed about 64 people at a seating...and there are 2 seatings for breakfast and 2 for dinner.  The food is served "family style" and is very good.  Breakfast consists of scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, OJ and canned peaches.  Dinner is either steak with baked potato, cornbread, salad, peas/corn at the first seating or stew with cornbread and salad at the second seating.  Chocolate cake was dessert at both dinner seatings.

When Jen and Donato confirmed they would join us on this trip, the only meal purchase available for them was Saturday night's stew dinner.  They bought the Stew Dinner but Jen also packed the freeze dried camping meals for herself and Donato for the other meals.

Just heat up water with the little propane burner, pour it in the bag, and voila....a meal is prepared!  They are actually quite good.....and much more economical than purchasing the Ranch's meals.

On Saturday, we had all day to relax around the Ranch.  After breakfast we watched the mule team come in to deliver supplies.  Everything that comes in and goes out of the Ranch goes by mules.

Yes, that's dust!

 

 They arrived about 8:00 am loaded with supplies and duffle bags.  It is possible to have a mule carry your backpack (duffle) to/from the Ranch.....at a cost of $77.17 EACH WAY!  We're thinking these mules must have a great retirement plan.  LOL

The cowboys unloaded and reloaded the mule team in about 1.5 hours.

And then they were off again, loaded with duffle bags and trash for the journey back up the canyon.

Our legs were very sore, but we knew the best way to work out that lactic acid in the muscles was to walk. 

We walked along the Bright Angel Creek and passed the campground that is about 1/4 mile from the cabins.

Then it was over a small bridge to find the trailhead we would be hiking on Sunday morning as we head out of the canyon. 

We would be starting out in the dark on Sunday morning so we wanted to be sure we knew where the trailhead started.

We would need to cross Silver Bridge over the Colorado River to begin our ascent up.

This trail would be the start our ascent out of the canyon Sunday morning.

We decided to walk along the river trail just a bit. We were glad to find that stepping UP did not inflict the same pain on our legs as stepping DOWN.   Maybe the hike tomorrow won't be too bad!

We took a break along the beach where the rafters stop to refill their water jugs at the Ranch...and maybe grab something from the canteen store.

There was a group of 5 rafts.  They were on Day 8 of a 21 day rafting trip on the Colorado River.

We met lots of nice people during our stay at the Ranch.  It was fun to talk with them over "Happy Hour" in the canteen and at meals.  They were from all over the country and each had their own story about their adventure down the canyon to the Ranch.

Saturday evening we packed up our backpacks and got everything ready so we could begin our hike out of the canyon in the early morning.  So it was early to bed.....

But then about an hour into our sleep, Jen suddenly cried out--"There's a mouse in here!"

That woke us all and Terry quickly jumped out of his bunk bed and turned on the light, ready to take on a mouse.

But it wasn't a mouse--it was much bigger.  Jen had heard scratching above her head and had looked up and saw something walking on top of the curtain rod above the bunk beds.  

By the time Jen cried out and Terry turned on the lights, Donato saw something come down the wall and scurry under his bed. 

Terry looked under the bed and saw a pointy snout and buggy eyes looking at him.  This was no mouse, not even a rat.  We think it was either a ferret or a weasel!!

Photo from the internet

Terry quickly unlocked and opened our cabin door, and our unwanted visitor made a quick exit.  It knew right what to do when that door opened....we think it has done this before!

Photo from the internet

That was all a bit too much excitement and we didn't sleep too well after that wondering how that thing got into the cabin.  We had a long, hard hike ahead of us in the morning and our alarm was set for 4 am!

Next up.....our hike out of the canyon on Easter Sunday.