Sharla and I were up quite early this morning and back to the Grand Canyon to do the west side of the park. We started off by hiking 1 1/2 miles down the Bright Angel trail to the first stop called (one would think appropriately enough) Mile and a Half House. The problem is, it’s not a house – it’s actually a set of pit toilets and an outside water spigot! But it was welcome enough when we got there. In that mile and a half we had descended 1200 feet from the rim and were seeing things from a whole different angle. (We even had to stand aside for three different mule trains that were coming up from the bottom of the canyon.)
Of course, now that we had gotten there we had to go back up! Gaining 1200 feet in a mile and a half doesn’t sound like all that much, but let me tell you, it’s STEEP! We went slowly and steadily, stopping to rest for 2 or 3 minutes about 6 times, but we made it! Quite an accomplishment. Next year we want to take a mule train all the way down to the bottom and spend the night at Phantom Ranch. We’ll see what happens.
Our next expedition after a relaxed lunch was to walk and ride down the rim trail, which extends about 9 miles west of Grand Canyon Village, and is as far west as a person can go in the Canyon without rafting down the river. We hiked a little over a mile altogether and rode the free shuttle the rest of the way. After reaching the last viewpoint
, called Hermit’s Rest, we doubled back to Mojave Overlook to watch the sunset over the canyon. Very windy, a little chilly, but quite spectacular. After the sun was down, a shuttle bus took us back to the Village. We have now had dinner and are getting ready to bed down for the night – very tired, but very full of experiences.
My cough is better today, and so is my little toe!
Tomorrow we are headed to Hoover Dam, and then most likely on to California.
Love to all,
Pastor Will & Sharla