Rim to Rim

So way back in the middle of May, Jer and I made another trip to the Grand Canyon.  This time we traveled in a 15 passenger van, on a trip organized by Sid Titensor, to hike rim to rim in a day.  Fred and Kara, Darron Kelley, Adam Couch, Megan Titensor and her friend and sister made up our group.  Andrew was so kind as to be our shuttle driver.  Our trip was quick. We drove down and camped at the North Rim on Friday night, hiked to the South rim Saturday, and drove home Sunday.  It was a really fun group, and I'm so glad we had the chance to go along.

We took very few pictures but here is one at the start, a few along the way, and one at the end.  Notice we get progressively worse looking as it goes along.  My cowboy bandana is a nice addition to my wardrobe...it was my cooling mechanism.  Have I mentioned that it's really hot, even in May, at the bottom of the Grand Canyon?  Jer and I used to do tons of backpacking and climbing pre kids, so it was really fun to get out together on a "grown up" trip again.  Hiking rim to rim is quite the experience—including our little side trip to Ribbon Falls (which was amazing) it was about a 25 mile day.  Hiking the full distance is highly discouraged by the Park Service, but it is very doable for a reasonably fit hiker or runner.  I did see some people along the trail that looked like they had no business being there, and I hope they made it.  I've heard people get rescued out of there on a daily basis.  You do have to be really careful about the heat and be sure to drink a lot and replace your electrolytes.

Jer and I hiked on our own to Phantom Ranch and then spent quite a bit of time there relaxing, eating, and hanging out.  For the second half of the hike we formed a group with Adam and Darron and finished it together.  We were all cussing the length and the heat a bit at the end.  I drank a bunch of Gatorade which was just a reminder to me of how much I hate that stuff.  My stomach just can't take all that sweet—not again!  The three red heads I hiked with were entertaining, and we had quite a few laughs along the way.  There is lots of elevation loss and then gain to get back up to the rim.  We encountered trail runners along the way that were running Rim to Rim to Rim...you know like 46 miles in the heat with about 20,000 feet of elevation change.  Yikes!  Maybe sometime in a fitter lifetime!  We didn't bother to run but we hiked along at a steady pace and I really enjoyed it.  The Titensor clan is lots of fun.  I'm not sure which caused us more trouble...the actual hike or establishing what time we were leaving that morning with the confusion between Arizona and Utah time.  It was seriously a 30 minute discussion Friday night.  The worst part for me was the bad migraine I got afterwards...they still continue to plague me after exertion.  Very annoying for someone who exercises fairly often!

I'm once again reminded of the terrible pics with our little camera.  Here's one at the trailhead.  It was chilly but that did not last long!  Somebody took a whole big group shot, but I don't have one.

 Coming down from the North Rim is really beautiful!

 This picture is awful but Ribbon Falls was gorgeous.

 Getting ready to cross the people bridge over the Mighty Colorado.  Adam and I were lectured by a lady driving a mule train.

 We were so wishing we were on a float trip instead!  :) I would love the chance to do that, but I would probably have to sell my first born or something.  It's not easy!

 A sweaty guy and his sad little cowgirl?

 That's Darron making his way up some switchbacks and way, way back in the distance you can see the trail we came on.

We made it!  Me and the "gingers" as they kept referring to themselves.  We were so dirty they actually looked tan.  It was quite funny when we got back to the trailhead.  There was this big, fancy reception thing there that John McCain was in town for to rededicate the trailhead or something.  We were literally right behind a podium with a microphone.  It was hilarious to us all but no one had the guts to make a speech.  I heard a guy comment, "they look like they've been in there a while!"

Since this little journey I have been continuing to trail run and train somewhat.  I'm still not nearly as dedicated as I should be, but I've been running up Prov canyon a lot and I will miss having that so close.  I have been really bad the last few weeks, but I'm going to buckle down now for a few things I signed up for in August.  Jer and I both ran the Wahsatch Steeplechase in June.  I did not get in nearly enough miles in preparation so I was very conservative but considering that it went well.  Jer got busy with the house and virtually didn't train—he's just tough!  It was 17 miles through the mountains and was quite a challenge.  The first 8 miles gain 4500 feet of elevation and 1 mile of that was so stinking steep I could hardly believe it.  The crags with the rock climbing moves at the top, that I was so worried about, were no big deal and actually the funnest part of the race.  The descent was insane.  I have never run down anything so steep and technical before.  It was actually pretty fun too although tough on the knees and quads!  All in all it was a great experience and I finished in under four hours which was my goal for the first time, so now I want to train hard and run faster next year.  They give out a "bloodiest" award at the end.  I'm proud to say I was not a recipient.  In fact, unlike a lot of other people I went fast down hill and did not fall, but I did do a number on my big toes.  I've never lost my big toenails before but this may be a first.  Jer and I are trying to get out at least twice a month on an early Saturday morning "date run."  We go for a longish trail run and then out to breakfast and are back before 11.  Our last jaunt was out and back on the Stump Hollow trail up Logan Canyon—absolutely beautiful.