October 4, 2016

October 4, 2016

Because of logistics we had planned to hike back out the North Rim today.  That is where our car is, and where we have lodging tonight.  After assessing our aches and pains we don’t know if we can do the uphill fourteen miles before darkness and frigid temperatures set in.  So we fall back to our original Rim-to-Rim plan and head up the South Rim via Bright Angel Trail.  There is a shuttle back to the North leaving at 1:30pm.  To make sure we catch it, we leave camp at 5:30 in the dim morning light.  Thankfully the trail rocks are whitish and have a ghostly aura.  We can find our way if we are careful.  When dawn breaks we pick up the pace and take shorter breaks than normal.  We make it to the top in a personal record of six hours.

At the rim we have our lunch while staring out into the canyon.  I never tire of the view from the South Rim.  It is truly majestic and awe-inspiring.

Halfway up the trail at Indian Garden, we got a cell signal and called the Trans Canyon shuttle for seats.  There are two available.  My lucky charm of a wife has still got it.  Despite the high cost and the 4.5-hour length of the shuttle ride, we are ecstatic.  We don’t think we could have walked another step.  We have a great conversation with two of our fellow passengers and the long drive seems to fly by.