We interrupt this blog with some pretty (for me) exciting news!!
This weekend, I will be hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon (and back).
One of the guys at work (Lloyd) has done it a few times and has been wanting to do it again for a little while.
Its a really popular hike, so you have to book a fair way ahead (~4 months), it just so happens that he got a date, this weekend. The guy from work that was going to go with him has a scheduling conflict, so he asked me along.
To say I am excited is a bit of an understatement.
Its all a bit of rush getting things together (I don’t have any camping equipment, so have been scrounging stuff – mostly from Lloyd), but I feel confident of having a ‘comfortable’ few nights.
The plan is to drive over Thursday night straight after work and get a motel for the night. Friday morning we then drive the last hour or so (motels are cheaper away from the Canyon) and park at the exit point (Bright Angel), get a bus to the entrance point (South Kaibab Trailhead) and hike down to the bottom.
Saturday we spend relaxing, taking photos, just looking around and checking out the river.
Sunday, we hike from Indian Garden to Bright Angel.
Monday we hike out and drive home.
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/corridor_map.pdf
This PDF is the best one I have found. You can see the upside down U that we will be doing.
Did I mention that I am super excited?
Will write more and share photos once we are back and off the expected high.
Of that there can be no doubt.
Here is the weather forecast;
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/hdfForecast?query=36.104%2C-112.095&sp=MAT680
We are really hoping that the forecast rain on Friday arvo does not happen. I am not really equipped for rain!
The freezing overnight temperatures could be interesting. (Click on the gear icon in the top right to change it to C.)
Anyway, its a really solid hike. We have to take everything we need, food, most of our water and stuff that we need for the 4 days with us. Its the first time I have done anything like this, so am really really excited…
Have I mentioned about how excited I am?