Grand Canyon Village, Arizona, United States
time : Feb 14, 2018 8:04 AM
duration : 3h 4m 9s
distance : 8.3 km
total_ascent : 1 m
highest_point : 2096 m
avg_speed : 2.7 km/h
user_id : steenjunus
user_firstname : Steen
user_lastname : Pedersen
Day 1. After the traditional "start-the-hike-right" big breakfast at Bright Angel lodge, we hit the trail around 8am. We have on our micro spikes. The Canyon is in a drought, but there are a few patches of ice near the top. It's overcast. Good hiking weather. The mules we saw at the trailhead quickly catch up to us and we let them pass. There is also a group of Australians with a guide. We pass them and catch pieces of the information the guide is giving the group. I finally get to see the petroglyphs I knew were here.
It's a short day. Only 5.2 mi. I don't take many breaks, since it's downhill and overcast. I can move pretty fast and reach Indian Garden (our destination for tonight) around 11.30am. There's only one guy camping there and there are a few good campsites for our two tents. This is luxury camping with a covered picnic table, potable water (in faucets) and composting toilets...
We set up tents and hang out. Slowly more people come into the campground. At the end of day, it's about 1/3 full. A very nice park ranger comes to check our permit. We talk for a long time about hiking the Canyon and other places. She has a LOT of information for us and kindly offers us apples... Kudos to the park service for the people they hire these days...
Rick is happy sitting in his camp chair, but I'm a bit restless. I decide to head out to Plateau Point even though he looks at me like I'm crazy. I've had problems with my left knee for the last week, which he knows. I don't make it far. After 0.4 mi I turn around. The knee doesn't feel so good and the clouds above look more ominous all the time.
Back in camp, I relax and wait for dinner time. The Australian group and their guide pass us. They're "glamping", sleeping in nice soft beds at Phantom Ranch tonight. Two of the young girls look at Rick incredulously and ask "You're going to sleep right here? Tonight?". Rick is not phased by that and answers: "Yup!"...