Grand Canyon Part 8

So, there I was. Sitting on a retaining wall at the North Rim Trailhead, while The KoB, Melissa, and Jeff headed back down the trail. As soon as they headed down, the clouds rolled in and there was a nice cloud cover for the rest of the day. OF COURSE THERE WAS.

I had about 90 minutes to sit there and think about my decision before the shuttle was picking us up. I chit-chatted with the two guys I was hitching a ride with for a bit, and one of them decided to lay down and try to take a nap. So, I sat there and watched people come off the trail.

The North Rim Trailhead is insanely disappointing compared to the South. The South Rim is THIS:

 

Scenery that I could stare at for DAYS.

And the North Rim is all:

 

Just a sign, some trees, and dirt.

I might as well have been in Percy Warner Park. 

Let me be real with you for a moment. Normally, I am quite friendly and outgoing. I enjoy talking to people and meeting people (particularly when I'm alone. If I've got a friend around, I'm likely to just talk to them and judge any new people. Sad, but true). But, if I'm cranky, hungry, sad, angry, disappointed... any little thing will piss me off. Even the most ridiculous. Case in point:

There was an enormous group of people who had all traveled together from Texas to do the R2R2R. They weren't all necessarily hiking/running together. But everyone that came up the trail during those 90 minutes were people from that crew. They were all super friendly! But the mental state I was in at the time was not one of friendliness. For one, I had spent the last 9 hours mostly in solitude. I mean, sure, we talked some, but in general... there were pretty big gaps between all 4 of us, so it's not like we were constantly playing games of I Spy or singing campfire songs or whatever. So, this huge, loud, bubbly, excited group was especially jarring to me. There were so many of them and one of them sat down practically on top of me and they were so loud and having so much fun, that I was trying to mentally stab them all with my eyes.

The interesting thing to me was that they hung out there for SO LONG. So, instead of being able to wallow in my self-loathing, I had to basically keep from getting up and kicking all these people in the shins for 90 minutes. Partially, I was jealous, too. Here they all were.... having fun with their group and feeling good. And here I was. Alone and done for the day.

Finally, it got to be about time for the shuttle to pick us up. The guy pulled out his reservation sheet and was like... Shit! It's going to pick us up at the North Rim Lodge! We all looked at the sign post that was at the trailhead that said... North Rim Lodge Trail... 1.7 miles. The shuttle was due in 15 minutes. FUCKITY FUCK FUCK FUCK!

We (there were 3 of us total) made the decision to try to hitchhike to the lodge, so, instead of taking the trail (which was shorter) we hopped on the road and started jogging/walking trying to look pitiful enough to need a ride, but safe and friendly enough to not look like scary ax murderers. And of course... most people were driving TO the trailhead, not from it. Multiple cars passed us... it was not looking good. But finally, we looked pitiful enough, that we got a ride to the lodge, just in time to catch our shuttle. (I had never hitchhiked in my life and now I'd done it twice in two months).

When I heard "shuttle" I guess I thought a nice travel shuttle, with comfy seats and privacy. But in fact, "shuttle" just means a 1992 12 passenger van with bench seats and an air conditioner that doesn't blow out cold air. We loaded up and it was just me and the other two runners and then a group of younger guys who were hiking the R2R the next day.

It turned out to be just what I needed. Instead of sitting there by myself all sad and disappointed, staring out the window, hearing a Sarah McLaughlin song in my head and fighting back the tears in typical dramatic Amy fashion, I was sitting with these guys who were nervous and excited about their hike the next day. They were super friendly and outgoing and since the van was small and tight, and there was no way to stretch out or take a nap, we all talked the entire 4 hour drive. It was nice, I got to give them advice and tell them about the trail and it made me feel better about the day.

The guys that I had taken the ticket from had originally told me that we would all get off the shuttle at our lodge (they were staying the same place as me), shower/clean up/grab a beer and then head over to the South Rim together to wait for our groups to finish. But as we got closer, I graciously declined that offer and had the driver take me to the South Rim Trailhead. I didn't want to be showered and buzzed when my boyfriend and friends got off the trail and I sure as hell didn't want to risk missing them on the trail.

After a 4 hour ride, I was feeling great. Pretty stiff and sore, but overall... really good. So, I decided to hike back down the South Rim until I met up with them and then I would hike up with them.

I stood at the South Rim for awhile and tried to see if I could spot any little dots coming out of Indian Garden. I started to take some pictures with my camera completely zoomed in. And then I would zoom in on the picture. I kept doing this as I hiked down the South Rim and eventually...

Red shirt, grey cap? That's The KoB!

I kept hiking down, trying to be encouraging to the THRONGS of people making their way up the South Rim. (I actually passed a woman passed out on the side of the trail, getting medical attention). And after not too long, I was able to yell at The KoB. As we got closer to each other, he said to me... "I'm close to PRing..." And he was HAULING ASS. I mean, let me just say this about The KoB. He is a slow walker. Like... I'm a fast walker and I always feel like he walks EXCRUCIATINGLY slow. But... hiking... holy fucking shit... he's the fastest hiker I've ever seen. (He's got a bit of experience, I suppose). He also told me that Jeff and Melissa were probably 90 minutes behind him. I told him to go, go, go and get his PR (I can't believe I'm even typing that about the R2R2R) and I followed behind him. Hiking back up the South Rim.

Finally, I got to the top and he was sitting there. He had PRed and he was happy that this "shuttle" that I had taken had not actually been a shuttle into a human trafficking ring.

I urged him to go back to the lodge and shower, we figured he had enough time before Jeff and Melissa finished, and just in case... I would stay at the South Rim and wait for them. He got back all clean and showered and we waited for Jeff and Melissa to finish.

A picture of The KoB's salty shirt.

I think it would have stood up on it's own, it was so crisp.

Jeff and Melissa finished and we all hobbled over to Bright Angel Lodge to grab dinner before they stopped serving for the night. 

 

While I was on a shuttle, sitting down, eating a bag of m&ms, and

chatting my head off to strangers. The Kob, Melissa, and Jeff

were hiking/running their asses off for 23 more miles. 

In the end, I made the smart decision. I really did. I think with the cloud cover and with a little time at the North Rim to rehydrate, I would have been fine... but, who knows? It was the responsible thing for me to do. Was I extremely disappointed in myself? YES. Was I extremely jealous that everyone else did it? YES. Was I extremely sore after doing 25ish miles? YES. Honestly, I probably would have required a wheelchair the next day if I had done the whole thing.

That said... As The KoB and I stood in line at the Nashville airport to get on the parking shuttle to go home... he looked at me and said... "Same time and same place next year?" It's a date! I can't wait to go back and do it knowing what I know now. 2014 R2R was just a practice round for me.

See ya in 2015, South Rim!

All the Parts.

The Grand Canyon Part 7

I rolled into the last "water stop" up the North Rim feeling like absolute and utter dog shit. So, when the woman sitting down near the spigot, cheerfully asked me... "how ya doin?" I responded with a "pretty fucking awful." I started to make my way over to the spigot and she kept on talking and then I realized... uhhh.. fuck. She's a Park Ranger.

I get it. Dumb yahoos like me go to the Grand Canyon everyday in the summer trying to do something that they aren't prepared for. Whether they are trying to do the R2R2R, the R2R, or even just hiking a mile down the fucking rim and trying to get back. It can be dangerous... even for those who are prepared. But, when I've ran/hiked/hobbled for 21ish miles already and I've still got another 1400 feet to go in less than 2 miles the last thing I want to hear about is how many people they've had to rescue last week or whatever.

She asked me if I was planning on doing the R2R2R. I told her yes, trying my best to perk up and look alert and happy and awesome. She started on about how hard it is, how it's just going to get hotter and harder as the day goes on, how just doing the R2R is hardcore enough and how if I'm not feeling anywhere near 100% right now, that I should stop at the North Rim and take the shuttle back to the South Rim.

I could not get out of there fast enough. I didn't even fill my handheld up enough because her bad mojo was bringing me wayyyyy down. I smiled and nodded during all her warnings... "yes, I know." I kept saying to her. But damn, she would not shut up. It's a good thing I was beat, because I considered tossing her off the side of the fucking canyon. All I wanted to say.. was... "can you just shut up and let me fill my water bottle in peace, thank you?"

Again, I KNOW, she's just doing her job and trying to take care of people. I get it. But good lord, I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

I had a new resolve... She doesn't know me. She doesn't know what I've done. How tough I am. I can do this. I am going to do this. YES. I was starting to feel much, much better. The North Rim was less than 2 miles away and I was hiking the fastest I had in over an hour.

 

What's that she said about a shuttle???? I don't need no stinking shuttle. Pretty soon, I'll be hiking down and all will be better.

And then not 20 minutes after I had left her, I fell down to the ground of the trail. My right calf seized up on me and starting cramping. It immediately brought me down.. Now, this has happened to me before (Stage Race a couple of years ago) and I knew, that if I could just get in a position to flex my foot, that the cramp would subside. As I tried to do that, I must have janked my left calf in a weird position, because, then that SOB starting cramping too.

Fuuuuuuuuuck.

Here I was, about a mile from the top of the North Rim, writhing around on the ground, trying to get into a position of flexing both my feet, to get the cramps to stop... all the while mindful that I was about 7000 feet up and if I writhed 12-14 inches the wrong way, I would be lunch for some buzzards in the bottom of the canyon.

Finally, after an excruciating 5 minutes that felt more like 20 minutes, I got one foot flexed and then was able to get the other one. I gingerly stood up and started walking again.

And that folks... That did it for me. It was then, that I realized I hadn't drank NEARLY enough. I was dehydrated. I hadn't had to refill my pack bladder once since Phantom Ranch and I'd never even finished my whole handheld at any points of the trail, yet. DUMB, DUMB, DUMB. Total amateur. And while, sure... I could take 20-30 minutes at the top of the North Rim and rehydrate and refuel, but I was too scared of being a liability to the rest of my group for the rest of the day. Plus... who KNOWS what could happen in the bottom of the canyon. The park ranger was right. It wasn't that I couldn't do it, I knew I could. But, I SHOULDN'T continue on that day.

Going into this trip, I never wanted to be the weakest link. I never wanted to feel like the group was waiting around on me. Obviously, because of my ego. But, also... because the longer you are out there... the more dangerous the day becomes. If I held everyone back and they had to be out there hours longer just because of me... that was hours longer that something could go wrong.

I didn't know exactly what I would do. I had $38 dollars on me (I had heard that Phantom Ranch had lemonade and cool shirts, if they happened to be open when we went by), but I figured there would be some way that I could make it back to the South Rim without going through the canyon.

At that point, I was pretty defeated. I knew I was making the right decision... but obviously, that doesn't make it any easier. I had been planning and getting excited for this trip for MONTHS now. And I wasn't going to finish it. I wasn't going to have that experience with everyone else or even for myself.

When I was almost to the top of the North Rim, I met Melissa coming back down and the guys were right behind her.

"I'm done." I told her. I told her that I couldn't be a liability and they all needed to just hurry and get back down the canyon. They had waited enough already on me.

There was some discussion on the trail of whether or not everyone should just quit. But, I was ADAMANTLY against that. This was MY problem. They needed to continue on, and I would figure out what the hell I was going to do on my own. I kept trying to shoo them off, but they had been talking to a few guys at the top and apparently, they had heard about the shuttle, too. They insisted that they walk back up to the North Rim with me and find out about the shuttles.

And The KoB looked at me and my dusty/dirty legs and shorts and said... "were you laying on the ground at some point?" 

"Uh... I was actually writhing around on the ground, but yes." I replied.

Turns out... there are shuttles that take you from Rim to Rim. You are encouraged to pre-book those tickets and they cost around $85. One of the guys had an extra ticket that he was willing to give me and after it was decided that these were legit dudes, I tried to memorize The KoB's phone number (I failed) and sent them off back down the trail. I told them I'd see them at the South Rim in a few hours.

After 9 hours and 23 miles on the trail, my day was done. I was exhausted, embarrassed, sad, and disgusted with myself. And all I had was time... lots and lots of time to think about it all. I had about 90 minutes before the shuttle was to pick us up and then there was a 4 hour shuttle ride ahead of me...

Part 1
Part 2 + Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

The Grand Canyon Part 6

We pulled up to Cottonwood Campground and The KoB told me that I needed to eat something. He was right. I pulled a 5 hour energy out of my pack and also ate a half of a little debbie brownie. Then I popped into the bathrooms that were there and before we left, I filled up my handheld with gatorade powder and water.

We were around 16 miles in and the sun was starting to get hot.

The line where the shade stopped.

That 5 hour energy and brownie, proved to be a LIFE SAVER. I started feeling much, much better. And before I knew it, we were at the Pumphouse. I got my bandana wet and wrapped it around my neck. 

It was after the Pumphouse that we really started to climb up the North Rim. Honestly? I was so fucking happy and relieved. I was SICK of running with my huge pack and wobbly legs and I welcomed the hiking uphill. You'd go up a really steep section and then have a little bit of a straight stretch and even though it was pretty hot, my head was feeling so much better and I had quite a bit of energy during this part of the hike. 

That probably lasted for about 90 minutes. It was glorious. And then all of the sudden, I started to feel like I needed to use the bathroom. Not a huge deal, except THERE IS NO WHERE TO GO! On one side of you... there is a steep cliff  and certain death and and on the other side... there's a rock wall. So, I was afraid that I was going to get to a point where I was just going to have to pop a squat right there in the middle of the trail. BUT, there were people coming down the trail, CONSTANTLY. No privacy. I started to stress out a bit. Melissa passed me and I took a break and took a couple of salt pills thinking that maybe my stomach was just a bit sour. I was pretty miserable. I kept making my way up and eventually the feeling passed. I was pretty fatigued, but I was so fucking ready to get to the top of the North Rim. I knew I had to pass one more water spigot before I got to the top, but I just never seemed to get there.

By this point, the gains were quick and at one point, I saw Melissa above me and I yelled up at her... I told her that when she got to the top, to grab the boys and go ahead and start back down and I would just turn around and start heading down with them. Screw the North Rim. I'd only be missing out on less than a mile and I was just ready to start heading back down. I was in full on survival mode.

And then I started contemplating just turning around and heading back down right then. But, I was afraid that Melissa wouldn't take me seriously and that she and the guys would stay at the North Rim waiting on me forever and forever. ARG! I knew I had to keep going up until I saw them coming down. Around every switchback I imagined that I would see them coming down. And then I'd get there and there just be more trail ahead and another switchback.

It's interesting. I knew that there were going to be some real lows on this trip. It happens in everything... races, runs, etc. And I knew that if just powered through it somehow... that I'd get through it. I guess I just didn't expect them to be such long and severe lows, though.

FINALLY I got to the Supai Tunnel and I knew that the water spigot was going to be right there. There were two guys standing around it and a woman sitting down behind it. Unfortunately... it didn't turn out to be the respite I was hoping for...

Part 1

Part 2 + Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Grand Canyon Part 5

Part 1
Part 2 + Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Let's back up for a minute, shall we? Now that I've established that no one fell off a cliff or got fatally bit by a rattlesnake you won't mind that I drag this out for another month or so, right? (Don't worry. I am going to try to wrap this shit up this week, because there are other things I want to blog about, dammit)!

I'm going to spend a little time talking about the Rim to Rim to Rim, for those of you who aren't very familiar with it. I just jumped right into these recaps, under the assumption that you:
1. had done the research
2. prepped for the trip like we had
3. had a boyfriend who had done it before, so you knew all about it!

Sorry, that was dumb and irresponsible of me. Although, probably not as irresponsible as not doing ENOUGH research beforehand.

So, if you'd done the R2R2R before or know all about it, then you probably want to just skim the post for pics and then exit. Back to the recaps tomorrow, folks!

The Grand Canyon from the South Rim

The Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim (aka R2R2R and double crossing) is crossing the grand canyon from one rim to the other and then turning around and going back to where you started. We started at the South Rim. Why? Because that's what The KoB said to do (and logistically, it just made more sense for us to fly into Phoenix and drive up). Depending on the route you take, the whole R2R2R is 42-46 miles. 

Our route choice was the longer*, but less steep 46ish mile distance. 

A deceptive elevation profile map of 

The South Rim to the North Rim

In Greek Meters.

It wasn't a race or even an "organized" group event. The water "stops" that I refer to are just water spigots that are along the trail for hikers, campers, runners, etc to use while on the trail! Those water sources are a true luxury and I am grateful to those associated with the National Parks who made them possible!

The day before.

Awww... look how clueless and overconfident I was.

The main water "stops" along the way from the South Rim to the North Rim and their mileages (roughly, I think) are:

Bright Angel Trail head to Indian Garden- ~ 5 miles in

Phantom Ranch ~ 10 miles in
Cottonwood Campground ~ 16 miles in
Pumphouse ~ 17.6 miles in
Supai Tunnel ~ 21.3 miles in
North Rim ~ 23 miles

Elevation (and if your eyes weren't glazed over  yet... now they will be...)
Bright Angel Trailhead: 6,860 feet
Phantom Ranch: 2,546 feet
Cottonwood Campground: 4,080 feet
Pumphouse: 4,600 feet
Supai Tunnel: 6,800 feet
North Rim: 8,241 feet

So much, vert, bro.

The KoB got a little frustrated with us during and after whenever one of us would say... "wow, I didn't realize there was so much elevation in such a short amount of time." He would sigh loudly, and say... I gave you a topographical map. Does anyone know how to read a topographical map?" NOT EVERYONE IS AN EAGLE SCOUT, KoB!!! 

Plus, I mean.. sure, I had looked at it. But, for chrissakes, I had done a little bit of climbing before:

From my Garmin in 2010 when I "paced" my friend

Craig during his Squaw Peak 50 miler.

I also did not really look at the elevation profile before that trip either.

Obvs.

But, ummm... 17 miles, with the last 10 miles downhill... ummm.. not a good comparison. !

Seriously... shit was real.

There were TONS of people on the trail. More than I imagined. Not so many that you were annoyed, but so many, that you never felt really alone. A lot of people were just doing the Rim to Rim, but we also ran into quite a few that were doing the Rim to Rim to Rim.

All business.

The trails are graded as steep as a donkey will tolerate. So, there are a helluva lot of switchbacks up the rims. And it's so deceiving while you are hiking, because you look up and you think you see the top. But, BUZZKILL... it's not the fucking top. You are NEVER getting to the fucking top. Well, eventually you do, but it's not when you think it is. 

Okay... hopefully this is a semi-informative recap of the trail. And if not... well... sorry.

*If there is a route that requires MORE mileage. The KoB will pick it every damn time. Swoon. 

ETA: Thanks to Melissa for pointing out that the word is spigot (not spicket, as I had thought/pronounced all my life). Learn something new everyday!

Grand Canyon Part 4

OMG, we're only on part 4, FFS.

Previous Recaps:
Part 1
Part 2 + Part 2
Part 3

After we crossed the Colorado River, we approached Phantom Ranch.

 

We all stopped at a picnic table and emptied our shoes of sand, rummaged around in our packs for various items and I filled up my hydration pack.

The KoB made his Pepperoni Burritos.

Yup.

And after just a few minutes, we were back on the trail.

It was at this point that I hit my first low of the day. Having that pack filled with water for the first time felt like I was lugging around a gorilla on my back. And not only that, we were running more during this stretch (because we could) and having that heavy pack on me, I felt VERY bogged down.

I tried to put it out of my head and keep plugging away, but man... it was a grind.

It was also a long stretch to the next water spicket, so I knew we would be traveling for awhile without much stopping. 

Melissa started checking in with me at this point and I was just kind of mentally a mess. I felt like I was falling behind. I felt like I couldn't keep up with the guys. I had this overwhelming feeling that we were trying to "make up time" from the descent and while... we probably were and rightfully so, I just internalized that into stress.

I finally shook it off after a couple miles and told myself to buck up and get over myself. For chrissakes, I was IN THE MOTHERFUCKING GRAND CANYON... ENJOY IT!

Once I got over my little pity party and started feeling better mentally... I magically started feeling better physically, as well. Doh. Unfortunately, during my little bitch phase, I had stopped taking care of myself physically... I had stopped eating... wasn't drinking enough... and was setting myself up for some dire times ahead.

FORESHADOW-Y CLIFFHANGER. You're welcome.

The Grand Canyon Part 3

Read Part 1 here
Read Part 2 here
Read Part 2+ here

At this point, I was loving life. We had made it down the South Rim and were able to run a bit and shake the legs out in the bottom of the canyon. All around us were rock faces and the sun was bouncing off of them as it was coming up. It was beautiful and felt surreal.

All the sudden, we turned a corner and were greeted with this view...

The Colorado River.

Pictures just cannot do it justice.

It was incredible. We couldn't resist stopping to take a few pics as we ran alongside it.

We continued along the path and passed quite a few hikers going in the opposite direction during this stretch. We got asked A LOT... "what time did you start?" Most of these hikers had just started their way back up the South Rim from Phantom Ranch. So, I knew we were getting close to Phantom Ranch. 

This stretch of trail was mega sandy.

It was like running on a beach.

 

And then all the sudden.... I see the bridge that will take us over the Colorado River.

 

We had some fun taking pictures on the bridge.

I was excited as we approached Phantom Ranch... it was time to fuel up and fill up my hydration pack with water for the next stretch of the trail.

 

Grand Canyon Addendum to Part 2

I anticipated being able to continue posting everyday this week with Grand Canyon reports. But, work/life/not interested in writing got in the way. I'll pick it up next week. But, for now, here's a mini-movie of us running through the section I was talking about in Part 2. Thanks to Jeff for taking the video and not falling into the canyon to his death while he did so.

Have a great holiday weekend!!

The Grand Canyon Part 2

Read Part 1, here.

Well, damn, I didn't realize anyone would really consider that last post a cliffhanger. But, sorry about that. I'll just say now, for the record... NO ONE DIES on this trip. Let's continue, shall we...

So, I left you guys at the point where I was standing at Indian Garden Campground alone and waiting to see how long The KoB took to find Jeff and Melissa on the other trail. I tried to think about how long he and I had been standing down the trail waiting for them, and wondering just how far they would be.

The problem was, they were probably trying to hurry up and catch up with us. They were probably frustrated that we had seemingly "took off" and were no where in sight. When in fact, they were just on the wrong fucking trail.

The blue line is the Bright Angel Trail. The Trail we

were supposed to be following.

The yellow line is the trail that Jeff and Melissa were on.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, but was actually probably only about 10 minutes, I heard the call of The KoB.

Blurry and taking a breather after finally catching up to

Jeff and Melissa.

 Jeff making his way back to Indian Garden.

We were reunited and back on the trail. This next section, ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trail. I had wrongly assumed that the descent was over. But we turned a corner and all the sudden we were surrounded by high rock cliffs and views DOWN into the canyon further. After hiking for so long in the dark, it was glorious to be bathed in the morning light bouncing off the canyon walls.

 Sadly, I just don't have pictures that do it justice. 

We were winding down and I kept thinking... oh god, this is going to suck in 10+ hours having to climb back up this way. 

My nutrition plan was to eat a little something on every hour. And so far, I had accomplished that. I was taking in about 100-200 calories and nursing the gatorade in my handheld. 

We pushed on and once we got to the actual bottom of the canyon, we were able to run a little and it felt good to get the legs moving a little. 

I could not get over just how beautiful our surroundings were. I would take my eyes off the trail for a minute and look up and it was like I'd hear angels singing in the background. It felt like I was running/hiking through a movie.

The KoB told us to just wait. We would be turning a corner soon and would be even more amazed with a view. I didn't know how he could be right... how anything could be more beautiful than looking up and seeing blue sky and rock canyon everywhere you look. But, of course... he was right.

The Grand Canyon Part 1

3:15am

Standing outside the Bathrooms at the South Rim.

Scenic!

Last summer, Melissa and I were running in PWP, when she randomly said... "You know what I've always wanted to do? The Rim2Rim2Rim at the Grand Canyon." To which, I immediately responded... LET'S DO IT! AND INVITE THE BITCHES! 

Fast forward a few months. After months of planning and feeling like it was so far away. We finally found ourselves taking our first step onto the Bright Angel Trail at 3:15am.

The KoB taking a step onto the trail the day

before. LOOKS EASY, DOESN'T IT???

There were months of planning, organizing, grilling The KoB (who was the only one in the group who had done it before) with dumb questions, and months of not REALLY looking at a topographical map (which The KoB pointed out to us about a zillion times while on the trail) of the R2R2R. 

I'll do other posts about the logistics, planning, training/not training, etc. But for now, let's just focus on the fun stuff: the actual run hike.

 

We decided to leave our hotel at 3:00am, which would hopefully get us on the trail before 3:30am. This meant a 1:30 wake up call for me and The KoB. 

 

 The food we bought.

About 50% of that was uneaten.

To be completely honest, I wasn't that nervous. I expected a hard, long day. But, I was deliriously excited. I had seen the Grand Canyon for the first time the afternoon before, but the idea of actually being down IN IT and seeing it and experiencing it, was so exciting. I actually don't think I've ever been more excited for anything. So, I really had no problems getting up and ready at such an early hour.

The moon over the canyon.

We started our descent down the Bright Angel Trail around 3:15. I was surprised to see other headlamps in the canyon and even people coming up as we were going down. The KoB stressed the importance of not running the descent, because the time gain wouldn't outweigh how trashed our legs would be so early in the game. It was sound advice and we joked and chatted and peed all the way down the south rim in the dark. Seriously. There was so much peeing. I've never been around such healthy bladdered people before. I think I peed once to everyone else's 3-4 times.

The trail was rockier than I had expected, but overall, since we would be hiking up and down the south rim anyway, I wasn't too concerned. It wasn't super dark, thanks to an almost full moon and we saw plenty of eyes in the canyons of deer and what I am calling a Javelina. It might have been something else... but, it was the shape and size of a Javelina, so, dammit, I'm calling it a Javelina.

 

A Javelina!

So cute!

The KoB had suggested that I not fill my hydration pack with water till later on the trail. There were plenty of water stops at the beginning and with the nighttime and downhill start, my handheld would be plenty. He was right and it was so nice to not be lugging around 2 quarts of water on my back. Particularly, since I was already carrying about 15 pounds of junk food and other random supplies. 

 

More shit that I carried.

Let's just say I was prepared in

case this turned into a

gilligans island scenario.

 

We finally hit the Indian Garden Campground which is about mile 4.5ish on the trail and I filled up my pack and took off my headlamp, etc.

 

 The arrow roughly marks where Indian Garden is, as you look

down from the South Rim of the Canyon.

 

The sky was starting to brighten up a bit and

I foolishly assumed we had finished the descent.

The KoB and I had left Jeff and Melissa at the water spicket and headed down the trail a bit figuring that they would be right behind us.After a couple of minutes, we backtracked to the water spicket and they weren't there. FUCK. We yelled for them. Nothing. There was another trail off the left, and The KoB quickly took off his pack and started sprinting down the other trail looking for them.

I stayed back at the campground and waited.

And took some pictures.

And waited...

 

 More pictures and waiting.

I started to get a little nervous...