Hiking the Grand Canyon

Tomorrow morning I take off with the other Rangers to hike across the Grand Canyon. My pack weights 24 pounds and there’s nothing I can take out. We’re taking four days to cross. First day starting at 8250 feet on the North Kaibab Trail 6.8 miles down to Cottonwood campground at 4080 feet where we’ll camp under the stars. At least I hope it’s stars and not rain. Second day 6.9 miles to Phantom Ranch at 2546 feet where we’ll stay in a Park Service bunkhouse and someone is making us dinner and breakfast. That means less food to carry. Third day up the Bright Angel Trail—not to be confused with the short walk I did yesterday—4.7 miles and 1854 feet gain where we’ll camp at Indian Gardens. The last day 4.6 miles and 3060 feet up to the South Rim.

Then we’ll spend a couple days training with the South Rim Rangers before we return to the North Rim which opens to the public May 15^th.

 So, I’ll be incommunicado for about a week. I’ll try to catch up on reading blogs when I return. And I’m sure to have plenty of stories and pics to post.

 Have a great week.

Sky Watch Friday - Raven in Arizona Blue

I took this yesterday from the Bright Angel Trail and even with zoom this is as close as it gets. Sure hope I get to see a Condor soon here at Grand Canyon National Park.

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Leisurely day at Grand Canyon

Home Sweet Home

It took me half of yesterday to get the 5^th-wheel set up and level, then waited for several hours for the phone guy. Never even peaked into the canyon.

Today I went up to the developed area at the end of the road.

Deluxe Cabins

Past the cabins. Must be getting new beds.

Grand Canyon Lodge 

To the east of the Lodge I took the Bright Angel Trail.

Old Utah Juniper along Bright Angel Trail

Western Bluebird

Only saw a few birds.

Brachiopod

Some cool fossils in the Kaibab limestone.

Bright Angel Trail

The park’s not open yet. So I’m alone on the trail and it’s quiet except for the little wind.

Deva, Brahma & Zoroaster Temples at the end of the trail

And of course the Grand Canyon. Hope you enjoyed the walk.

Sure is nice to be back. Tomorrow I report for training at 8am. That sure seems early after a winter of loafing. 

And what is up with blogger? It suddenly has a different mind of it's own. Or is it just me?

My World Tuesday - Home at Grand Canyon National Park

Life really is all about the journey. But some roads are bumpier than others.

Now I’m going to tell on myself. I have a VERY difficult time backing up my 5th-wheel. In my mind I can back the darn thing right out of the driveway, but when I get behind the wheel there’s no sync. So therefore, every time I leave Yarnell I find someone to back it out for me. My usual guy was out of town, so I found someone else. He wouldn’t be available on Sunday morning when I wanted to leave so I suggested he back it out Saturday and then back it back in so I could spend the night and be ready to pull right out in the morning. OK.

I had everything ready and the truck hooked up when He arrived. I saw Him assessing the situation. I pointed out where the water and sewer are as I’ve seen that cause difficulties before. OK. He gets in my truck, backs up almost to the fence and makes a BIG U-turn, pulling right out of the drive and then back in. Me, I stood in the middle of that U and laughed till I cried. Why didn’t I think of that?

Red Butte near South Rim Grand Canyon
I left Yarnell Sun morning around 9:30 after hugs and goodbyes. I had to drive to the South Rim first to drop off the stuff I’d need there after the hike across this weekend.

San Francisco Peaks
On the way out of the park east I was within a few miles of Hwy 89 when I smelled hot rubber and the battery light went on. So I pulled over on the shoulder and shut it down. I’d blown a belt. No problem, I called Good Sam on my prepaid tracfone at 3:30pm. Then I waited on hold for 30 of my remaining 60 minutes before telling Marie where I was, what I’m driving and towing and recommending Flagstaff as the nearest city, even though I’d wanted to camp in Cameron. She’ll call me back. Two hours later, I call Berta and ask her to call Them back due to my limited minutes. Over an hour later they call to say someone is on the way from Flagstaff to tow me to Cameron, where there are no repair shops, and then in the morning I can have the truck towed to Flagstaff. Pretty stupid huh?

Two and a half hours later Johnsons Heavy Towing arrives and we decide I’m going to Flagstaff. Good Sam told him I was on Hwy 64 east of Tuba City headed to Cameron. That doesn’t even exist. By the time he unhooked me in the JC Penny parking lot, less than a block from repairs, it’s midnight too late for photos.

At 8am I’m waiting for FlagRV to open. And by 12:30 I was on the road again, granted a little poorer because the alternator was replaced also.

Painted Desert
From there a beautiful drive, once again through the Painted Desert, past Vermillion Cliffs and up onto the Kaibab Plateau. Back to my wonderful space under the Ponderosa Pines at the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

Hwy 67 through the meadows
And tonight I got lucky and connected to my neighbors WIFI.

Park entrance
Tomorrow I’ll unhook the truck and level out the house. Then I can go look in the canyon.

Hwy 67 to North Rim

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