Another Canyon Bites the Dust

I have my feet up in front of the TV after completing another crossing of the Grand Canyon. I have now crossed it 7 times without a stop over, 5 times South to North. Twice with Priscilla, who by the way did a kick ass job!

Betsy and David took off from our group to muddle along at their pace, a much faster pace. That left Pia, Autumn, Brett and myself to keep each other company for our crossing.

We dropped in on Bright Angel at 2am Friday morning. I had forgotten why I didn't go that way any more, it is longer and much rockier! 5 hours later and we were at Phantom Ranch, by far the slowest approach to the ranch I have ever made. South Kaibab would of been no more than 4 hours ever at the slower pace.

Phantom to Cottonwood was uneventful and covered in 3 hours, that's pretty much on the money for a leisurely pace. That put us into the campground at 11am.

I gave us an hour at Cottonwood because one way or another we were in for a hot afternoon, climbing out in the early afternoon is by no means ideal, or even close!

It was a good couple of hours to the bridge, not a pleasant time. Priscilla was suffering from the heat for sure, but set a good pace by not pushing it. I wasn't quite sure how I felt, pleasure and suffering are sometimes hard to tell apart. I did catch a little alone time and for a good minute or two I felt good enough to consider a return trip, then I came to my senses, remebered the bed we had paid for on the North side and the company, return trip? No way!

We all slowed but made it to the bridge. After splitting into 2 groups we set off on the final slog, to the summit! There is only one way to get out, and that is to keep moving. Pia was managing barely a shuffle, but you know what, it works! We came out right at 1800, right on the predicted time.

Autumn and Brett were about 20 minutes behind, and I do believe were happy to get out. Brett looked the same way I did the first time I crossed, that must just be the way the canyon treats

your virgin trip! Nothing a bit of pizza and coke won't cure. After the heat of the afternoon a dose of sodium helped him get water into those thirsty cells!

Awesome job to all, including me!

Betsy crossed in 7.5 hours, David went back to return on the South just within 36 hours, we crossed in 16 hours. You can do this challenge fast or slow, but it hurts at least the same either way!

We are already planning a larger group trip of 2009, this beast just won't let go of her grip. Wicked Adventure Tours is going to make it real for a group of 8 select hikers.

I was lucky to of invested some morning and evenings at BCOR, the bust ass boot camp workouts got my legs seriously in shape for the climbs and my mind in shape for the pain.

As always, there is a motion based for this, to prove I was there.

Ranger Repton