spryng | Das Grande Canyon, Part 2

On the second day, we all woke at dawn but weren't quite ready to leave for another hour. Most everyone else at the camp site was packed up and gone by the time we left. It was a clear, warm morning and we all had full water bottles and camelbaks. Our calves were only just beginning to feel sore, but after a little walking everything loosened up.

Now that we weren't going straight downhill forever and instead meandering happily alongside the Colorado, I thought we might make faster time. But no: we were still stopping regularly for "technical" breaks - as dad called it - mostly so the others in the group could swig some water. Here's to camelpaks! But it was a blessing in disguise, because every break meant I could jog ahead and get photos, as well as stare at the, well, grandness.

Eventually we stopped following the Colorado and tucked into a canyon. It was perfect timing because the sun, who had been hiding out behind a bank of parked clouds, had finally peeked out. Even though it was still relatively cool, nobody wanted any of that nonsense.

There was a stream that dad took water from excitedly, despite another water point being only another mile, mile and a half away. He was kind of excitable the entire time. It was pretty cute. He also kept talking about how important it was to drink lots of water and how he'd learned that the day before. Definitely not the many (many!) times we told him that he would need a lot of water for this trip.

First real climb of the day, and it's mostly in sun. Surprisingly taxing.

Then it levels out and is gorgeous again. Some clouds come in to party and give us a reprieve.

We've also made a pretty big dent in our food supply. About .3 miles from here is the next major stop, another campground with water and (composting) toilets. The ranger at the last campground tried to convince us to get there asap and then stay until 3pm, at which point most of the rest of the trail would be in shade. Dad and co aren't too keen on this idea and I convince them to stay for only an hour.

While we rest at the next campground, we watch giant, ballsy squirrels attack each other and run off with people's food. They are the fluffiest damn squirrels ever.

Then for some reason I neglect to take a photo for the next hour and suddenly

Woah! How'd we get up here??

You can see the campground we rested at below - it's the green bit in the valley. Very shady. We came up through that canyon and beyond the campground we immediately started climbing. Just a wee bit at first, but enough to be noticeable, then BAM. Up and up and up, so quickly that you could feel the temp changing along with your heart bursting.

We breaked in a spot that was obviously for staring out across the canyon. No photo of dad because I am a terrible daughter and left him behind at the 3 mile(s to go) point. He was having a difficult time and stopping every bend of the trail for 5+ minutes. We tried to stick with him, but he kept waving us on, and eventually his friends caught up and he stuck with them. I still feel a little guilty, but at least they were all going the same pace.

At the 3 mile(s to go) point, we also filled up our water again and took our shirts off and got them wet and I drenched the towel I'd been wearing to cover my neck. This I then wrapped around my neck like a scarf and it was wonderful. Best idea ever. Totally going to start doing that for hiking around town.

We made it to the top and nearly collapsed. Basically the last 1.5 miles were straight up and we had to stop and let our hearts not explode every few hundred feet. The air was thinner and cooler, which was nice, but there were also a lot of tourists who kept taking up the whole path, which was not nice. When we finally reached the trailhead, mom was waiting for us - having been notified by dad that we'd be a little early - and she laughed at our weary state. Then took a picture.

Whew.

She then drove us back to the hotel and we showered and probably clogged the drains with all the dirt and grime and sand on us. It was the best shower ever.

Dad made it up just fine with his friends an hour later.

Before mom went to pick them up, she asked us both if we would do it again. We kind of just stared at her, neglecting to answer, and she nodded knowingly.

It was good just - wow. Definitely something you only need to do once. Unless you're one of those crazy people we ran into who hike (or run!) rim to rim without stopping and then do it again for funsies. Crazy.

Things I learned from hiking the grand canyon:
- 7 miles is a whole lot longer when it's downhill or uphill
- Arizona is not England
- Hiking the Wall was one thing. Hiking the Canyon is a whole 'nother thing.
- Sand is surprisingly hard to sleep on.
- WATER MORE WATER
- I'm pretty good at planning how much food to bring, though
- A towel stuffed under the back of your hat to keep the sun off your neck may look stupid, but is surprisingly comfortable and cool
- When in doubt, get it wet
- 3 miles uphill = 3 hours of hiking, and don't try to go faster
- Skirts are still the best for hiking, until your thighs get wet because you drenched your shirt. Then they = ow.
- Hiking poles are perfect for going downhill.
- Every piece of hiking gear ever suddenly makes sense in the Canyon.
- And a corollary - just because you don't use it on your little 5 mile hike in Tucson doesn't mean it won't be useful in the Canyon.
- ELK OMG ELK
- If you think you're taking too many photos, take more.