March 19, 2008

March 19, 2008

My sister Jean and her husband Ed flew in to Phoenix this morning. We picked them up at the airport and drove to the Grand Canyon. My sister has fond memories of the Canyon from when our family was young and she wanted Ed to see it too. We stopped at the first rim overlook for the required photos and jaw-dropping views and then hopped on the shuttle to the South Kaibab trailhead. Ever since last year when Aimee and I hiked to the bottom we have been telling them how wonderful it was. We couldn’t get a reservation at the bottom so we decided to hike partway down and back up. Unfortunately we are a month earlier than last year and the Rim had a big snowfall just a few days ago. The top of the trailhead still has ice on it. Ed took one step down the trail, slipped, and landed butt-first in mud and mule droppings. (He is NOT riding back in my car!) Thinking he barely escaped sliding right off the edge, the girls immediately veto this adventure. Instead we hike leisurely along the rim back to the car. We have dinner at the Arizona Room overlooking the rim and spend the night in Flagstaff.