Grand Canyon Hike

Our big event over the Holidays was Hiking the Grand Canyon! We have hiked in the Grand Canyon many times but on the main trails down to Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground. But this time we hiked the Tonto trail which is a primitive trail where you camp at large. This means no facilities of any kind. (No toilets) This is not so bad but the other thing we have never hike in the Canyon during the winter! My son who was visiting for the Holidays was the one to get the permits and set-up this hike. We had a party of six, my son and his girlfriend, another friend of theirs and her dad and of course Susan and Larry. We did this hike between Christmas and New Years. We all met in Flagstaff the day after Christmas and spent the night in a hotel. The hike was to cover about 30 miles in four days and three nights. The tricky part was that we needed to wear crampons on our boots when we were near the top because of the ice and snow. When down in the Canyon the weather was a little warmer and there wasn’t any snow. But it wasn’t snow we had to worry about. Our first day and night the weather was nice. It was snowing a little when we first started down and we had to wear our crampons on the first part of the trail but after we got down a ways the weather was nice. The second night the rain started and didn’t quit for 24 hours! Our tent didn’t handle the rain very well and everything including us got wet. The wind also blew making things worse. Early in the morning we finally had to get in with my son and his girlfriend to try and stay dry. His tent was holding up better but was still getting wet inside. Finally we just decided to pack-up and start hiking. We hiked all day about 7 miles in the rain. It was a beautiful sight seeing all the normally dry washes running full blast. The problem was we had to cross some of these washes. We hooked-up arm and arm and crossed as one group which worked out well. Some times it was quite treacherous with the trail caving in from the rain and the wind blowing so strong that it would move you off the trail. We thought we were in for another rough night but finally the rain stopped about an ½ hour before sunset. The next day we had to hike out about 5 miles not to bad but about a 4,000 foot elevation gain. And now there was more snow and ice at the top. The first half was nice and the sun was shinning but the last part was really hard hiking in the ice with our crampons. My son Nic, made it out and came back to help Susan carry her backpack out on the last part of the trail. It was quite an ordeal but we made it and felt good about our accomplishment. Back to Flagstaff to a nice warm shower at the hotel. And then back to Phoenix to celebrate the New Year!

Here we are in Flagstaff. We borrowed Larry's sister Forerunner and his brother-in-law's trailer to haul the backpacks.


Here we are just before heading down the South Kaibab trail which hooks-up with the Tonto Trail.


The leader of our group Nic DeMuth.


We weren't always alone on the trail.


Here's the gang on the second day before the rain started.


Susan and Larry on the second day. We did 14 miles on the second day.


The third day just before sunset trying to dry things out before it gets dark.


On the way out the sun is shining things our looking up. And we need to go up and up and up.


This is up at the top of the Grand View trail. Boy it felt good!

Christmas

We had a good Christmas with family. First with Susan's family and then with Larry's. It went by so fast! It was fun watching grandkids open presents, but even after 75 years Larry's dad is still opening Christmas Presents. We had some good family get togethers.


Here's Myka with a just one of her many gifts.


And Charles with a new bicycle helmet. He's giving his mean look.