Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim Final Day

We had 5 miles left to get to the South Rim via Bright Angel Trail.  It was nice to leisurely enjoy breakfast and coffee before packing up.

Sunrise against the cliffs at Indian Gardens.



We had nice walking the first part of the morning.  I made a conscious effort to cherish and prolong this experience.  Prayers of gratitude floated through my mind.







We saw the 3 younger guys from Camo Pant's group and leapfrogged with them for a bit.  They took a picture of Nancy and I.






I was amused by these signs.







As we got closer to the top, dayhikers started to increase.  There was an obnoxious group of 3 boys who were swearing and yelling and creating general mayhem.  I passed by a group of dudes taking a break and said "Man, those guys are obnoxious."  They said "Tell us about it!"  That started a comraderie of mutual pain and I leapfrogged with the group of dudes for the rest of the way to the top.  They would be taking a break and I would pass them and chat for a minute, then I would take a break and they would pass me and say things like "Almost to the top!", "Way to go!" and do some fist pumping in the air.



Nancy was ahead of me by about 10 minutes, Ingrid by about 30 minutes, and Carolen and Carrie were about an hour ahead.

Dayhikers were getting really, really thick and super rude.  Kids running amuck, people bumping into me, and just acting like downright douchebags with no trail etiquette.  If you see someone with a heavy pack, going at a slow and steady pace uphill, looking dirty and bedraggled, chances are you should make way for them!  Hello, lady with a heavy pack who just walked 50 miles coming through!  On the flip side, you've got the super nice hikers who are genuinely interested and caring.  The below picture is the group of dudes that cheered me the last few miles.  Great group of guys!



As I came up the final stretch, I could hear Nancy and Ingrid yelling at the top so I waved my poles at them.  I had a perpetual grin on my face- I just walked Rim to Rim to Rim!  Not many people do that trek.  I crested to the top and let off a nice YEEEEEEEEEEEEHAW!!  Nancy and Ingrid engulfed me in hugs and I felt overwhelmed and got a bit teary eyed. 



We re-connected with Carrie and Carolen to head on out for some good eats. 





We drove out to Ingrid's house in Joshua Tree and got to see her re-model and meet some of her friends and daughter.  It was great to see her place and to put faces with names. 

Ingrid with her daughter, Kali.



Carrie runs a beautiful bed and breakfast inn in Joshua Tree.  Check it out!  http://www.thedesertlily.com/



We got home and reunited with family.  Little Kahuna still remembers me even though I'm looking a little rough.



I can't believe we accomplished Rim to Rim to Rim.  What a fabulous journey!  I wish I was there right now!

What's next!!!!????

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim Day 4

I was looking forward to Day 4 because we'd be walking on the flat again initially with a climb towards the end of the day.  We had 12 miles to go from Cottonwood to Indian Gardens.  That would set us up for a short 5 miles on the final day to get back to the South Rim via Bright Angel Trail.

We dropped about 1600 feet back to the canyon floor in the first few miles.  It was really hot down there!  Lots of humidity as well.  We had nice easy walking all the way to Phantom Ranch.



I came across Carrie taking a break and she commented on her crazy hair and then said to me "But you're giving me a run for my money!" So we decided a picture was in order.  Yeah we are smokin' hot! 



Flowers and cacti were just starting to bloom when we were down there.





Kind of hard to see but this is Ingrid and Carrie doing a gnarly river crossing.  Carolen, Nancy, and I opted to go a different way that didn't require water!



















We knew we were getting close to Phantom Ranch when day hikers started increasing.  They smelled good, had bellies full of food, and slept in a cushy bed the night before.  One guy stopped me and asked, "You guys have a guide, right?"  I said, "Nope, we are avid backpackers and do this all the time.  It's a blast."  Cue in shocked look and he said "What, you ladies?!!!"  What's up with the sexist comments out here anyway!  LOL.

We rushed the bathrooms at Phantom Ranch and as I was coming out, Nancy walks up and says "The store has lemonade!"  SHUT UP!  Beeline for the ice cold lemonade.  Ahhhhhhhh. 





We ate our lunches at a picnic table, got another lemonade, and decided a good frolick in the creek was in order.  We stripped down to our chonies and sat in the creek.  Delicious cold water on the sore muscles!



We reluctantly left the creek and started walking again.  As we strolled back through Bright Angel campground, who do we see sitting on a picnic table?  Camo Pants!  We asked him again where his group was and he didn't know- somewhere behind us.  We did find out that the older dude had a ranger drive him out from the North Rim because his knee was not good.  That was the last we'd see of Camo Pants although we would leapfrog a bit with the 3 other guys on the final ascent.

Got a picture of this deer just chillin' in the campground.



We had to get back across the  Colorado River on this crazy suspension bridge and I almost had a heart attack.  The steel grids under foot were all open so you could see the river rushing underneath and some weren't bolted down and shifted under weight.  I was gripping the hand rail with my right hand and holding my poles in my left, doing yoga breathing and trying to keep it together.  Ingrid kept stopping to take pictures and I couldn't even summon the breath to yell "Keep Walking!"  Every time we stopped it took me a minute to get going again. It was scary!







After we made it across, I had to stop a minute to catch my breath and ease the heart palpitations.











Nancy maneuvering a successful creek crossing :-)







Mule crap everywhere!



We had to ascend about 1300 feet to get to Indian Gardens but it felt like 3000. Switchback after switchback but the views were amazing.





This picture is "The One" that I will blow up.





Here's Ingrid on the switchback below me.






The closer we got to Indian Gardens, the more lush the landscape.  There were waterfalls, creeks, flowers, lots of greenery, and what looked like cherry blossom trees but probably were something else.







I should have taken the time to eat another snack because by the time we made it to Indian Gardens I was shaking.  I remember going straight for my food, getting the dried pineapple in the system, while the chicken and dumplings rehydrated.  I said some stupid stuff like I wasn't going to set up my tent and I was going to sleep on my tyvek.  I guess that's not stupid but the wind was picking up and getting chilly.  Once the pineapple hit my blood stream and the ole' brain cells got some of that sugar, I realized that I was indeed going to set up my tent.  I slept without the rain fly though and it was nice to be able to gaze at the stars.