Trip to the Grand Canyon Dec. 22-29, 2007

After being in the planning stages for over a year, finally our much anticipated trip to the Grand Canyon took place. Already over a year in advance our friend Jill had reserved lodging for her family and ours at the Bright Angel Lodge at the south rim of the canyon and at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon. Jill's friend Marcy had reserved lodging for an additional 18 people. So in all, our group consisted of 26 people coming from all over the United States.

We all met up at the Holiday Inn Express in Scottsdale (outside Phoenix) where we spent the first night of our trip. Here the Paul-Gaddy families are ready to take the identical rental cars and drive up to the canyon. Unfortunately Chris and Anna were not with us, but we talked to them on the phone on our way up. It is amazing to sit in a car in Arizona and talk to Chris and Anna in Mauritania, Africa!
The first view of the canyon from the south rim is breathtaking. The weather could not have been more perfect. Admittedly it was cold, around 30 degrees F, but the sun was shining from a cloudless sky every day.

Kristina and Thomas standing right outside our rooms at the Bright Angel Lodge. Some of us were lucky enough to have the Buckey suite for a night, with windows facing the canyon!

The views are just so spectacular that it really is impossible to describe. Here you can see that the top of the canyon is covered with snow.

Later that evening the moon came up. Because of the clear sky and the full moon it really never got dark. The moon lit up the canyon so that it appeared as if it was a stage lit up by search lights.
After the sun has set and the moon has come up, it is time for everyone to get together in the Buckey suite to get to know each other and to listen to instructions about what will happen the next day. This was especially useful for those of us (our family and 3 others) who were going to hike the canyon for the first time.
The morning of the big adventure starts according to the established traditions of the Paul family - a huge breakfast at 6:30 am at the El Tovar lodge.

After taking a bus along the rim to the trail-head of the South Kaibab trail, here we are all 26 of us getting ready to start the hike. Only happy faces when we started and, although we have no photo showing everyone after arriving to the bottom of the canyon, everyone was just as happy at the end .

The first part of the trail was covered with snow and ice, so we were happy that we had bought yak tracks to put on our hiking boots.
Already at the first resting place it was a lot warmer. The jackets, gloves, hats, and yak tracks could be removed.
Jill and John eating a snack at Cedar Ridge, the perfect spot for looking back at the snow covered slopes and enjoying the sun and views over the canyon.

It was hard to believe that it was Christmas Eve! But these mule riders reminded us. But the people riding the mules up or down did not look very happy. Hiking on your own feet must be soooo much better than shaking back and forth on a mule. Especially when it is cold.

At the next rest stop some fatigue started to set in, and some feet started to get blisters and needed some moleskin.

The first view of the Colorado River! We still have a long way to go.
But now we are down! Thomas at the Black Bridge. Thomas and Kerstin stayed walking buddies and reached the bottom after four hours and forty five minutes. Kristina was the first one of everyone in our group, and she hiked in barely more than three hours. The last persons in our group were down in about seven hours.

Kerstin drinking a well deserved cup of coffee and eating a Snickers after reaching the Phantom Ranch.
The history of the Phantom Ranch dates back to the beginning of last century when hikers started to visit the inner canyon. If you want more information on the ranch, including prices for lodging and meals, see
http://www.allhikers.com/Allhikers/Visitor-Information/Phantom-Ranch/Phantom-Ranch.htm

Most of the people in our group slept in the dorms, with ten people in each dorm, men and women in separate dorms. Here is Jennifer and Aine in one of the dorms.
This is one of the cabins, which can also be rented.
And the real brave ones can camp! This is the group camp site where 11 of our group camped! And they camped without tents! Just under the stars or in this shelter. The temperature at night was in the 20-ties!
In the sunshine during the days it is considerably warmer, and the cottonwood trees are so beautiful.
This is the canteen where breakfast and dinner is served. During the rest of the time it is open and one can buy drinks and snacks and just hang out playing games or reading.
On Christmas Day our whole group gathered outside the canteen to sing Christmas carols and read the Christmas passages from the Bible. Everyone who heard us were very appreciative and thanked us so much for bringing this Christmas spirit to the canyon.
The Chrismas dinner in the canteen was just unbelievably delicious. Turkey, ham, steak, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, a vegetarian dish, vegetables, bread, and ten different deserts. Here Robbie, Laura, John, and Jill are getting ready to start.
Ben giving thumbs up!
There are many day hikes that can be done from Phantom Ranch. On Christmas Day we all hiked to Mindy's and Mark's point, which is on the top of the inner canyon.
Dan at Mindy's and Mark's point.
Aine and Laura resting in the sun.
Ellen and others eating lunch.
No doubt one of the best views of the river.
Ben, Robbie, and Cliff.
What can you do if you don't go for hikes, eat or sleep? Just like Cliff and John, you can read your books that you lugged down.
Or you can hang out in the canteen playing games, drink soft drink or wine and share hiking stories.
Or you can sit outside and play cards and eat snacks that the mules carried down for us.
Unfortunately, everything fun comes to an end. After spending three days and three nights at the bottom it was time to hike out. This time we were hiking the Bright Angel Trail, which is longer than the South Kaibab trail but not so steep. We started the day with an early breakfast at 5:30, and before the sun came up we were on our way. Here are Rachel, Maria, and Laura.
Thomas and Kerstin were again hiking buddies. It was a lot colder hiking out for several reasons. We started before the sun came up. But even when the sun finally came up, it did not help much since we were always in the shade. Coldest of all was Indian Gardens. It was like a refrigerator. We wanted to take a nice break and eat our lunch, but it was too cold to enjoy the break.

On the way we met John and Robbie resting up before the last climb.
And Benjamin at the three mile marker.
It was time to put on the yak tracks on finish the hike out. But a first a photo op with some ice...

Can Thomas make it?

Yes, he can. We made it! After 5 hours and 45 minutes we were back at the rim. Again, our team spread out with the fastest person up in about 4 hours and the slowest in about 9 hours.
But, admittedly, we were a bit tired. Here we are taking a nap in the El Tovar lobby while waiting for our rooms to be ready.

The next day we had to say goodbye to the Grand Canyon for this time. Cliff and Kerstin took a last drive along the south rim and asked a Japanese tourist to take this picture of us. We are certain to come back some time soon. Hiking rim to rim? Or rim to rim to rim?

Most of these pictures were taken with Kerstin's new camera. A few have been borrowed without permission from Kristina G., Laura P., and John H.

If you want to view more pictures, visit
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=761&id=1017655798