Grand Canyon: Day 3 Mon Aug 30

Here we are at the trailhead of the North Kaibab Trail on the North Rim at 6 am, as we begin our descent into the Canyon. Got up at 5, packed up my backpack and got ready to hike down. I think it took us over an hour this first day to strike the tents, choke down a Clif bar for breakfast etc. We got a lot better and faster at it as the trip wore on.

I was trying to keep my pack to 20 pounds and I think it ended up about 25 lbs. Laura was a trooper; she carried our tent and one of the camp stoves and now tells me her pack was about 40 lbs and Kristin's had to be 50. The trail was really rocky and steep, so I was glad for my hiking poles. In fact, a couple people fell that first morning and we were told we'd probably all fall down eventually and advised to fall on our backpacks to cushion the impact. The beauty was just breathtaking though. Vividly colored flowers (Indian Paintbrush?) that looked like tropical fish pushing their way through the rocks. Pines clinging to cliff walls like that famous one at Pebble Beach. Every turn and switchback presented a new view. And I was grateful for the 35 mph wind as the sun rose higher and it got hotter.

Taking off our packs for breaks, drinking water and eating snacks was good. Got surprised by the mules, as they were suddenly behind us and passing us without much warning. Now that I saw them, I realize that I COULD have done this on a mule, although the riders said their butts were sore.

Had a bit of a scare at the place where the mules watered and turned for the trek back up, as I managed to lock myself into the bathroom and was scared I couldn't get out and started screaming for help. Finally threw the bolt on the door and got out! No harm, no foul.

Is it too much information to share that I never had to use my Charmin To Go or my trowel to dig a bunny hole? There were bathrooms and drinking water all along the trail. Saw my first century plant from afar and then got close up on it; awesome. We'd see things like this bridge or the ranger station with the helipad on top from way far away and then all of a sudden we'd be there.

But Kristin said this would be our hardest hiking day and that we might not make it to the campground by 11am and so would have to stop because of the heat of the day and then resume about 4 pm. Laura said the downward part of the hike bothered her knee the most; it didn't mine. In fact, in retrospect, this was one of my favorite hiking days because I had a lot more trouble (aerobically) on the uphill hike.

One regret I have now is not taking the 2 mile side hike to Roaring Springs when we passed it. Big, beautiful waterfall that supplies water for the whole canyon area. But I didn't know how much farther we had to go to make it to the camp site and was conserving my strength and energy.

Made it to the Ranger Station where there were big cottonwood trees and coyote willows and a big picnic ground next to the trail where I took off my backpack, rollout out my sleeping mat and proceeded to take a well-deserved nap.

It felt great to take off my hiking boots and socks and put on my campground sandals. I have to hand it to Benchmark Outfitters: for a novice tenderfoot like me, I never had a blister or sore feet the entire trip! Tore through my backpack and scarfed down a bunch of Triscuits and cheese and pre-cooked bacon and peanut butter and dried peaches for lunch. The wind was still blowing like crazy and we were glad because it was hot. When we set off on the trail again at 4 pm, we figured we had another 2 hours of walking to get to our campground.

This was our camp site the first night out, at Cottonwood Campground, halfway down to the bottom from the North Rim. We could hear clear, beautiful Bright Angel Creek rushing over the rocks not far from our tents. Laura checked it out and showed me the way to get down there and wash clothes, face etc. in it but I couldn't stay in for even 60 seconds it was so cold!