Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Hike -- June 6, 2009

It is impossible to fully describe with words the vastness and beauty of the Grand Canyon. Pictures can't do it justice either. It is a true marvel.
For many years I have dreamed of hiking from the rim of the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River at the bottom and then back to the rim in one day. This is one of the truly iconic hikes in the world and I have been looking for a way to do it with some of my children (Rosie has cooled on my long "forced marches" for the time being). Months ago Steve, Marc and I decided that the first weekend in June would work perfectly for us (almost every day works perfectly for me in my new phase of retired life so the key was getting it to fit in their schedules). So last Friday, we all flew to Phoenix, rented a car and drove to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The classic rim to rim hike usually goes from the North rim to the South rim or vice versa. To get back to your beginning point you have to take a shuttle that takes some six hours as there is no easy way to drive around the canyon. We were on a very tight schedule and did not have time for that so we decided to go down to the river on the South Kaibab tral and back up on the Bright Angel trail. The hike down the canyon was over seven miles descending 4,500 feet and it took about three hours. The hike back up was over nine miles.

Friday evening we went to the Park Visitor's Center to firm up our plans. At every turn we found warning signs explaining the perilous danger one would find if he tried to hike to the river and back in one day. Check these out.
If you click on this one you can get a close up of a drawing of someone who is about to "pay the ultimate price".
While these signs may have had the desired effect on some potenital hikers we found them entertaining. In fact, we were anxious to hit the "Danger Zone" where temperatures reach 120 degrees and is only three miles down the canyon and where "occasionally a hiker pays the ultimate price -- death".

We hit the trail at 5:30 AM as we wanted to beat the heat in the bottom of the canyon. It was a perfect day for this hike as temperatures were moderate for this time of year -- we wore coats and hats as we began our hike.

Every step on the South Kaibab Trail descending to the river is gorgeous. As we watched the sun come up on the walls of the canyon we were amazed at the geology lesson each view gives the visitor. In these pictures you can see the sun hitting the canyon walls in the distance and the color changes in the layers of the walls.
The river looks small and very far away at the beginning of the hike. As we got closer we had a new appreciation for how large and powerful it is. In the middle of the picture below you can see the black bridge.
Marc determined he needed to go swimming so we found a sandy, secluded beach and he stripped down to his boxers for a quick dip. He was stunned and shocked at how cold the river was and made a very quick exit.
Here you see the river and the two bridges.
The trails were extremely well planned and maintained. There are countless switchbacks that ensure the grade is never prohibitively steep.
Here are a couple of shots of us on our way up and out of the canyon and the dreaded "Danger Zone".
As we made the final steps out of the canyon we encountered one more warning sign. Is Steve close to paying the "ultimate price -- death" for having gone to the river and back in one day?
It was an incredible hike and a day all three of us will long remember with great fondness. I'm grateful for children who are great companions and will join me on my crazy adventures.