Back in college, my buds & I did a road trip across America, so of course we stopped at the Grand Canyon. Breakfast was just a peanut butter & bread “sandwich”, at which point we started hiking down the canyon. If you’ve ever been, they have numerous signs saying “Do not go past this point unless you are packing food”. But hey, we’re college kids, and we’re not going to go THAT much farther… Long story short, that night the rangers had to chaperone us as we fucking crawled back out. One of us ‘got’ to ride in a helicopter to the medical building. For the other 3 of us who could still move, they manged to find a dusty MRE at the last way station. That was the absolute best chicken & pea soup in a tin foil bag I have ever eaten in my life.
Woof, those choper rides aint cheap. That is exactly why all the signs/books/guides say “dont go past this point, unless you know what your doing” and “only stupid people do the rim to river and back in a day”. My folks and I did that last one back in the day, it was fun, but dont try it (seriously dont). It took us 20 hours and almost didnt make it back before sunset.
The best part of that hike is thanks to my mother, who froze an extra water bottle and hid it in each of our bags before we set out at sunrise. We are hiking back on the bright angel trail and get to the waysation half way up and find it. Its 3PM, at the height of summer in the grand canyon, and my father and I are sitting around drinking ice water, I have never see more envious hikers in my life.
10 hours, but I’m also a fatty.
Back in college, my buds & I did a road trip across America, so of course we stopped at the Grand Canyon. Breakfast was just a peanut butter & bread “sandwich”, at which point we started hiking down the canyon. If you’ve ever been, they have numerous signs saying “Do not go past this point unless you are packing food”. But hey, we’re college kids, and we’re not going to go THAT much farther… Long story short, that night the rangers had to chaperone us as we fucking crawled back out. One of us ‘got’ to ride in a helicopter to the medical building. For the other 3 of us who could still move, they manged to find a dusty MRE at the last way station. That was the absolute best chicken & pea soup in a tin foil bag I have ever eaten in my life.
Woof, those choper rides aint cheap. That is exactly why all the signs/books/guides say “dont go past this point, unless you know what your doing” and “only stupid people do the rim to river and back in a day”. My folks and I did that last one back in the day, it was fun, but dont try it (seriously dont). It took us 20 hours and almost didnt make it back before sunset.
The best part of that hike is thanks to my mother, who froze an extra water bottle and hid it in each of our bags before we set out at sunrise. We are hiking back on the bright angel trail and get to the waysation half way up and find it. Its 3PM, at the height of summer in the grand canyon, and my father and I are sitting around drinking ice water, I have never see more envious hikers in my life.