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!