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.