Years ago, in the mid seventies, before my way days, when I planned nothing and followed the breeze ( and whatever I was smoking) I landed there and stayed for the entire summer. I stayed in the Indian Village for most of it,and made do by carrying tourists packs back up the canyon
That summer was filled with monumental sights and experiences that are only available in the Grand Canyon
My wife and I visited back in '82 on our honeymoon. I thought I was coming down with a cold so I stayed in the cabin. She hiked down and back in one day and took another day to recover.
The last time I had hiked like that was in 1970 in Glacier Park. I was 16 and trucked through those trails like it was nothing, back pack and all.
But going down last week my knees gave me hell. At times taking a step was like torture. I just needed to rest longer, but these 25 yr old rangers go up and down the trails every day. Even my brother and his wife can go all the way up the Bright Angel trail (9 1/2 miles) in 4 1/2 hours. Took me 12. It definitely helps to stay out of the sun.
The mule trains looked like fun, but the day after we hiked back up, a boulder fell near a mule, which bucked its rider off and over the edge. Just a 12' roll/fall; left him bruised, but OK.
I hear there's a club of people over 50 who can go rim to rim (21 miles down and up) in one day. Amazing. Don't know if I'll ever do it again, but I feel like I accomplished something significant, being as old and fat as I am.
I haven't hiked the Grand Canyon yet. I need to get my respiratory system in better shape before I do that. Since moving to AZ last year, I developed asthma. But hiking the Canyon sounds awesome!
I saw something on the travel channel a few weeks ago with the mules at Grand Canyon. I knew I didn't want to ride the little buggers. The person who got bucked off must have had the bajeezus scared out of him. I will definitely hike it when I go.
John, post some pics if you got them. I'd love to see them.
Yeah, my brother's wife took tons of pictures and said she'd send us a CD. I'm kind of remedial with all this computer stuff, but hopefully it'll get done.
My Dad did it last year at 70! He whitewater rafted and camped for several days and then made the 12 mile treck out....man he looked BEAT in the pics....
This guy was still running twice a week and even doing a marathon now n then, but I think this about licked him.
On further investigation, I found out that when he reached the rim, he solemnly shook hands w/ my bro in law n promised to do it again in ten years.
My brother and his wife gave us good preparation advice about what shoes to wear, what kind of hat to wear, and of course sunscreen. For that, we used zinc oxide, but all in all no blisters and no sunburn, for which we were thankful. Rascal your dad sounds like a gamer for sure.
We're already talking about doing a rafting trip on our next trip to the Canyon. We got some information from Wilderness Travel. It sounds like a lot of fun
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mstar1
Years ago, in the mid seventies, before my way days, when I planned nothing and followed the breeze ( and whatever I was smoking) I landed there and stayed for the entire summer. I stayed in the Indian Village for most of it,and made do by carrying tourists packs back up the canyon
That summer was filled with monumental sights and experiences that are only available in the Grand Canyon
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coolchef1248 @adelphia.net
i did the typical tourist thing back in the 60's we did the mule thing it was awesome
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Jim
My wife and I visited back in '82 on our honeymoon. I thought I was coming down with a cold so I stayed in the cabin. She hiked down and back in one day and took another day to recover.
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johniam
The last time I had hiked like that was in 1970 in Glacier Park. I was 16 and trucked through those trails like it was nothing, back pack and all.
But going down last week my knees gave me hell. At times taking a step was like torture. I just needed to rest longer, but these 25 yr old rangers go up and down the trails every day. Even my brother and his wife can go all the way up the Bright Angel trail (9 1/2 miles) in 4 1/2 hours. Took me 12. It definitely helps to stay out of the sun.
The mule trains looked like fun, but the day after we hiked back up, a boulder fell near a mule, which bucked its rider off and over the edge. Just a 12' roll/fall; left him bruised, but OK.
I hear there's a club of people over 50 who can go rim to rim (21 miles down and up) in one day. Amazing. Don't know if I'll ever do it again, but I feel like I accomplished something significant, being as old and fat as I am.
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Nottawayfer
I haven't hiked the Grand Canyon yet. I need to get my respiratory system in better shape before I do that. Since moving to AZ last year, I developed asthma. But hiking the Canyon sounds awesome!
I saw something on the travel channel a few weeks ago with the mules at Grand Canyon. I knew I didn't want to ride the little buggers. The person who got bucked off must have had the bajeezus scared out of him. I will definitely hike it when I go.
John, post some pics if you got them. I'd love to see them.
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johniam
Yeah, my brother's wife took tons of pictures and said she'd send us a CD. I'm kind of remedial with all this computer stuff, but hopefully it'll get done.
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rascal
My Dad did it last year at 70! He whitewater rafted and camped for several days and then made the 12 mile treck out....man he looked BEAT in the pics....
This guy was still running twice a week and even doing a marathon now n then, but I think this about licked him.
On further investigation, I found out that when he reached the rim, he solemnly shook hands w/ my bro in law n promised to do it again in ten years.
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Zshot
I have done the "morning" hike down Bright Angel trail. This is from the rim to where the restrooms are and back.
I love going to the GC!
Next time I go there I want to take one of the river trips. Anybody want to join me?
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rascal
ME!!!!
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johniam
My brother and his wife gave us good preparation advice about what shoes to wear, what kind of hat to wear, and of course sunscreen. For that, we used zinc oxide, but all in all no blisters and no sunburn, for which we were thankful. Rascal your dad sounds like a gamer for sure.
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johniam
We're already talking about doing a rafting trip on our next trip to the Canyon. We got some information from Wilderness Travel. It sounds like a lot of fun
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