We made the decision to continue with the next plan, hiking down into the Canyon, in spite of the rain. The raincoats where packed in the bagpack, and we went out for an early breakfast. Se we left early heading north to the Grand canyon, one of the 7 World-Miracles.
After parking the car near Bright Angel Lodge, it stopped raining. At 7.45 we found the trailhead we where looking for, The Bright Angel Trail. The trail was about 13 miles, and the average time to hike the trail was 8 hours. Martin was again wearing this shorts, i was "dressed" in my jeans. The temperature was 19 degrees centigrade, foto and filma-material was in our back-pack.
The Bright Angel Trail. just from the beginning on, it was clear to us, that this hike would not be an easy one. We where not used to hike steep hills or canyons, you had to think about every footstep on this rocky soil of the Grand Lady. Sometime it went down steep, and somtimes the rocky trail was hard to conquer. Our hiking sticks made it more confortable, if we where in unbalance, we could rely on the hiking sticks. But martin had problems with this uncommon pressure on his legs.
After 10 minuts we had to stop. From somewhere unknown,mother Muledeer and her child, were looking at us from behind the Juniper Trees along the steep canyon wall. Both animals were as amazed about us, as we where about the Deer. We had even time to get our camera's from the back-pack and taking some shots. Then the deer disappeared, and we continue out hike. Chipmunks and a Blue Jay witnessed our hike into history.
We passed a tunnel (7 feet or so), and during our hike some younger people did tresspass us. Also a French couple, father and sun, did the same. But we where also passed by a mad young fat man (240 pounds). He passed us at full speet, sprinting, because he wanted to go down within a record time. Some yopunger hikers came allready up from the canyon-floor, they spend the night at Indian Garden, or perhaps even at Phantom Range. They all had some strange look on they face, and all whre not over 20 years young. We found out what the look on their faces ment, as we hiked from Plateau Point to the Top of the Canyon.
But what a hike down into the Grand Canyon. We enjoyed afer step we made further down, knowing that we had to come back the same way. Somewhere on the trail, rangers were working with heavy material on the trail. Their muels brought them and the material to the place where tehy had to work. A lot of small pools did mark the trail, of course it had rained also in the canyon. The trail was a save one, no need for ugly fences. After a fantastick hike we reached Indian Garden at 10.15 AM. Indian Garden is indeed an oase in the Canyon. Of course we had stopped a few times along the trail.
We did not stay long at Indian Garden, After refilling the watter supply, we continued on to "Plateau Point" the end destination of the day. A piece of a cake this short hike through complete open country, smoothly down to the Colorado River. We arrived at Plateau Point at 11 PM, some 1300 feet above the river. We had an awesome view of the muddy river down into the Steep Canyon. But too many visitors at Plateau Point, Dutchman, who could not stay quiet and simply enjoying the views. There was however a fence because the canyon-walls where too steep.
We enjoyed our stay at the inner rim of the Grand Canyon. The rock did look very solid and old. I picked a small piece of not so old rock, and put it in my back-pack. So, that rock was for my grandson. He should when he is a teenager brich back this piece of rock where i found it. And of course, he can take his sister with him on the trip. Perhaps my condition is good enough to join the two. A group of tourists arrived on the easy way, on the back of a muel, at Plateau Point. For us it was the sign for turning back. The temperature had gone up above 30 degrees centigrade. No sign of rain at all. On the way back, we met a chinese man who was wearing a sunscreen, not a bad idea. Back to Indian Garden did take 30 minutes, the same as the other way.
At Indian garden, where we arrived at 11.45 AM, we had anough shadow. We found even a creek with very fresh water running through Indian Garden (not for consumption). The lunch was tasteless, but i managed to eat the lunch completely. Pitty the cacty had no flowers anymore. As a a group tourists left Indian garden (on the back of a muel), it was time for us to take the hike up the Canyon. The thermometer showed 100 Fahrenheit, almost 38 degrees C. We had fresh water, so nothing could go wrong...
Wrong, we, prepaired for this hike did now make some bad mistakes. First we started the return hike at noon, instead of waiting for the afternoon when the temperature is not so extreme. Second we did start much too fast, it was no flat area, but we had to climb a mountain. Allready after a few hundred feet, it seemed to us that any minute our light could go out. That would be very dangerous, the hike was to steep for such foolish things. And third, our food was not in balance with our water-supply. We did drink too much compared to the food we had with us. The stops, up the mountain where much more than we had going down. And the frequency of the stops were amazingly high. We got the same light and expressions on our faces as the hikers which we saw early this morning. And sometime we even could whisper a "hello" to other hikers, going down.
We enjoyed saying hello to the other hikers, all people younger than 30 years, most even younger than 20 years. Five-and-a-half hour later, we finally arrived at the Rim at Bright Angel Lodge. A Dutch couple, who passed us on the hike up, where waiting for us, to congradulate us with our hike. They had promised to wait and then take a picture of our arrival. Other people clapped in their hands, congratulating us in another way. We did forget to ask the Dutch tourists, who took the pictures, for their name. Thanks strangers !! They made it also. Now we can proudly say "We hiked The Canyon"
That evening the spirit was gone In spite of the fact that we recovered fast from this hike, Martin had a stiff neck, and broken knee's. There was some energy left in me, but not enough to return to the Rim and see the famous Sunset.
The evening meal was a brilliant "Big Mack" at the same Mac Donalds as yesterday. And what a day, what an adventure was this hike on the Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point. We had to drive 15 miles to take this daytrip.